AUTUMN/WINTER COATS & JACKETS

We are looking at lightweight coats and jackets this week before the big chill sets in as our weather forecasters tell us that the winter in the UK is going to be one of the coldest for many years.

Anne C is giving her trusty M&S Chanel-style jacket another outing before the weather gets too cold.  This lovely jacket was a bargain buy in the sales earlier this year, and works well with either tailored black trousers or jeans and a T-shirt. They don't have anything similar to this style this season, though they do have some tweed-style jackets here.

Her straight-leg denims are a budget buy from Florence & Fred at Tesco, while the boots are black patent mock crock from Faith, and are a couple of years old.

Anne H has for once admitted to a bit of an impulse buy while recently in John Lewis, but then she thinks they are often her most successful buys.  It was a particularly cold day and she was drawn to looking at the various quilted style coats in stock.  She loves these for cold winter days but doesn't like them to be too bulky as it is easy to look like a Michelin Man if you are anything over a size 10.  

This one, however, caught her eye as it is in a thinner material but is still made to keep you warm in temperatures up to -13C, which will suit her fine as she is not planning to venture out if colder than that!.  It is from Ralph Lauren and comes with 90% down and 10% feather filling hence its lighter weight.  There is a hood tucked into the funnel neck and she particularly liked the two buckled waist tabs that allow for a flattering cinching in at the waist. It is lovely and warm and she has had loads of compliments since she started wearing it so she's really pleased with this impulse buy, which was not cheap at £270 but will last year after year.  She has teamed with some Ted Baker jeans and velvet boots from TopShop both of which are from last winter. 

Anne C's  camel coloured coatigan is a recent purchase from Kaleidoscope, and features a lovely waterfall front heavily trimmed with black lace.  She has teamed it with her trusty black lace top from Kaleidoscope (which she wears a lot!) and black crepe tailored trousers from Florence & Fred at Tesco (they originally had bizarre elasticated bottoms which she took out, but bought them because she liked the fabric.  Too often tailored trousers are made from limp fabric which loses shape and doesn't hang well, but these were perfect after a little alteration.)

One of the many advantages of having a daughter who is a blogger (shot from the street) is that you can raid her wardrobe when she is starting to move things out of it.  Generally Anne can't fit into her daughter's clothes as she is only a size 8/10 but she likes bigger sizes in chunky knits and coats so Anne keeps a careful eye out and was really pleased to see she was about to sell this lovely leather coat from COS.  

Obviously it had Anne's name all over it - classic styling, simple lines, great colour .... one could go on and on.  So it never made it to her Depop shopping site (link here in case anyone looking for some bargains)   It is the softest leather and is something they have not had in store for a number of years, (note to COS  - something you should re-consider as everyone loves it, young and old). 

She is wearing with some Uterque boots also handed down from her daughter and some 7 for All Mankind jeans and a merino wool polo neck from COS, both of which did come from her own wardrobe.  The other Anne better not go and look at the Uterque link as there are some very funky boots in this season's collection with lots of colour and jewels! (Note from the other Anne - thanks for the tip-off!)