Photos (from left): Anna Wintour, Emma Stone and Jenna Lyons; Courtesy of tumblr.com, fabsugar.com, vogue.com.
In my last entry, I shared with you three of my favorite holiday party outfit ideas. But they are not complete without–a stylish coat! Coat is the first thing people see every day. During busy holiday season, a high quality yet fabulous coat is especially needed to ensure you look effortlessly chic in various occasions.
I always need at least three coats in my fall/winter wardrobe: one in neutrals (like black, grey or ivory), one in bright solid color (my favorite is hot pink and cobalt), and one in bold, eye-catching prints. That’s why I picked the three inspirational looks above: the coats on them are exactly what I consider as winter staples: from Jenna Lyons’s classic navy coat (above right), to Emma Stone’s gorgeous cobalt one (above middle), to Anna Wintour’s statement printed version.
Let’s start from the basic coat on the right side: as the president and creative director of J.crew, Jenna Lyons not only leads the brand to a multimillion-dollar empire, but also gets mass followers for her own fashion taste. For the look above, she toned down the wildness of her bold print ensemble with understated masculine coat. The red heels and matching lips, along with her metallic clutch add evening glamour.
This look shows the versatility of a classic coat, great for women in any age. By changing one piece (either switch the printed top to a black or white button-down shirt or change the pants with straight leg trousers), you are office-ready!
If you already have coats in go-with-everything neutrals, the next step is bringing in some colors to your collection, either bright pink (love this one), sunny mustard, elegant burgundy, or cobalt blue, like the one on Emma Stone. She was wearing a night blue peplum top and dark green sequined skirt for CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund awards ceremony (check it here). This classic, sleek coat complemented the glittering pieces underneath without competing, while the bright cobalt color makes her look polished and sophisticated.
To complete your coat collection, you need something more special, either the coat with an artful silhouette, like the one we featured here, or in a bold print, like the one on Anna Wintour above. With a coat like that, you don’t need anything else. Just belt it, and throw on a pair of classic pumps or boots, you are party-ready.
For a more classic vibe, you can try timeless black and white print. For a more youthful look, you can try dynamic stripes. Want more wildness? Try a leopard print! Be creative and open-minded when hunting for a printed coat!
Below are my favorite choices for each type of coat this season. Good luck for your hunting!
From left:
Vince loose overcoat
Vince drape hooded coat (also here)
See by Chloé classic coat (great style here)
From left:
MSGM stretch wool coat (how adorable it is!)
Marc New York double breasted tail coat (similar on sale here)
Helene Berman lantern coat (great style here)
From left:
Miu Miu print coat
Kate Spade New York ‘lea’ coat
Chloé snake print coat (a youthful version here)