Cover Story

So winter is drawing near, and it is once more time for the annual coat search. As the weather gets rapidly colder, the sudden fear of 'practical shopping' dawns on me. I love whimsical shopping (too much), but it seems that whenever I actually need something, I will never find it. And so my apprehension to go on the hunt begins. After searching around my humble highstreet in a fruitless hunt for the famous camel cape, I have hit a fashion wall. Yet I will continue, and when I have found it, my only problem will be the shoulder bag/cape collision of impracticality. But then who said fashion is practical?

So now onto how to wear it. I can't say that my signiture look is minimalism, yet the cape calls out for clean lines and simplicity. And so to Phillip Lim I look. His A/W10 catwalk was a masterclass in how to wear a great coat, and in fact, a display of every kind of cape possible (even a shirt-cape combo).

This has to be my favourite coat of the collection. It's clean lines, short cut and striking black colour make this piece stand out. The minimalism is sustained with the unusual neckline and three straps, making it almost straight jacket-esque, adding that avant garde touch that makes designers different. The high waisted camel shorts and clean white shirt bring this look together. The mirroring of the buckles on the boots to the buckles on the coat shows you that you never need to accessorise again.

Being brutally honest, I don't wear black. I mean, the occasional belted coat with tights, but that's as far as I go. Criminally, I have always thought of it as being too dull for a full outfit. But now I realise just how wrong I am. This coat is at once simple and complicated, both short and long. The buckles add the interest instead of a fold-back neckline that it seems all coats have now. But clearly it's time to move away from the 1940s military coat. The wing detailing adds volume, and makes a simple coat become something oh-so-much more than that.

Ok, so technically the next two don't count in my coat search, because they aren't capes, but they were too good to ignore. This coat verges on 'cape' with its wide shape (no belt-duly noted), and contrasting edging, yet is far more practical. The buckles on the wrist tie in simple detailing (key to minimalism) yet this coat still has the ability to be worn with layers. The dress has a vintage feel, and I love the fringed shoes, which bring an outfit seeming almost relaxed, to a high maintenance status.

This look is my final choice of the collection. Tackling double denim, fur, flying jackets and boyfriend coats all in one, it has to be hailed as a fashion win. I love the denim jacket, and it works perfectly with the shorts by just showing a small gap of bare flesh inbetween. The sheer tights make this look edgy, and the oversized coat worn as a cape has a relaxed feel which brings this together.

Coat dilemma averted? Thank Lim for that.

Photographs from www.vogue.co.uk