Find the perfect all-season coat

FIND THE PERFECT ALL-SEASON COAT

You’ve probably resigned yourself to Autumn drifting into Winter by now, so, while your sweaters might have had a good airing, it’s time to start thinking about coats.

For some, the idea of wearing – let alone buying – a coat before December may well be about as welcome a notion as a spot of advanced Christmas shopping.

But the fact is, as many a seasoned spender will tell you, leaving these things to the last minute can only end in tears. It’s like trying to find the perfect swimming costume a week before your holiday in August — frustration, temper tantrums and, inevitably, it’s ‘made do’ not ‘made up’.

It may well be that you already have the perfect coat waiting to be pressed into active service. Many of this season’s trends have their roots in a previous season - such as last autumn’s military one. Great news if you like that look and stocked up on it the first time around. Or perhaps you have a fab full coat that just needs a wide belt to bring it up to sartorial speed.

But for those that fancy a little retail therapy and who know they can’t possibly make it though to April (May? June?) without the perfect cover up, here are seven of my favourite on-trend coats that won’t require a second mortgage.

Extravagantly full, pleated wool blend swing coat, £69.99, by H&M (www.hm.com)
Cashmere/wool mix classic, ladylike coat, £100, by Great Plains (www.greatplains.co.uk)
Checked wool collarless coat, 50, by Matalan (www.matalan.co.uk
Jewel bright mohair coat, £250, by Betty Jackson Black at Debenhams (www.debenhams.com)
Chunky knit cardigan coat, £65, by Per Una (www.marksandspencer.com)
Tweedy double-breasted coat, £50, by Florence and Fred at Tesco (www.tesco.com/clothing)
Slim, wool blend maxi coat. £79, by Freemans (www.freemans.com)