It's that time of the year where coats come into their own: not just as an essential extra layer of insulation, but also as an immediate indicator of your new season style sensibility. However, with an abundance of choice on the market right now it's tricky to choose which style is right for you.
However, we've studied the catwalks and identified the five big outerwear trends for the coming cold months. Find out which toplayer tribe you belong to, not to mention where to where to buy one of the best examples from each, below. Take that, winter.
Camel, single-breasted topcoat
It didn't all start with Kanye - people have been using camel hair to make clothes since the 13th century. And while few of today's current crop will be crafted the soft, fine animal fibres that gave the material its name, the tan colour of the mammal is still having a moment. The most popular way designer have interpreted it for the season is in topcoat form, whether worn slim with sharp shoulders (best for preppier guys with narrow shoulders) or worn slouchy with a softer cut (best on men with broad shoulders, or hip hop megastars married to Kim Kardashian).
The best camel topcoats on the market:
- Gant "Harrison" coat (£400) [above]
- J Crew Ludlow topcoat (£450)
- Jaeger cashmere coat from John Lewis (£399)
- Sandro "Apollo" coat at Harrods (£380)
- Corsivo "Epsom" coat at House of Fraser (£240)
- Whistles textured wool "Crombie" (£276.50)
Buttoned suede 'n' shearling
Originally added to pilot's jackets for extra insulation during the Second World War, shearling jackets hit their stride in the Seventies on the backs of Hollywood's most stylish leading men: Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Ryan O'Neal.
However, while the original versions from last century were for the most part just brown and with white wool, this season designers have introduced a fresh range of colours from black, to green to electric blue - or even all-over fur. The key to getting this type of coat right to to pay attention to the length and the way it buttons: shorter guys should go for a shorter length (even something hip-length if possible) and slimmer men who want to give the impression of a broader chest should look out for double-breasted (and vice versa for stockier gents).
The best buttoned shearling jackets on the market:
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*** Coach shearling jacket (£735) [above]
- Zara double-sided coat (£99.99)
- River Island brown-borg lined coat (£95)
- Margaret Howell sheepskin coat (£2,285)
- Thomas Maier shearling coat at Farfetch (£3,533.61)
Need more choice? See our round-up of the best shearling jackets.
Black double-breasted topcoat
We've seen the DB revolution in suiting over the past few years. We've also seen lapels getting gradually more substantial, thanks in great part to menswear god Tom Ford. This season both tailoring trends have crossed into outerwear at the same time. This season, black coats are bolder than ever, with big, military-style lapels and two lines of buttons. Whether you want the material swinging sumptuously around your knees such as those at Dolce & Gabbana or cropped a little higher around your upper thighs like the ones at Corneliani, your black wool coat just got ballsy. And ignore what the traditionalists say, you can totally wear these DBs open.
The best black DB wool overcoats on the market:
- Topman belted cashmere blend coat (£150) [above]
- Ralph Lauren wool "Melton Polo" coat (£795)
- Marks & Spencer lightly padded peacoat (£69)
- Pierre Balmain wool "Colonial" coat at Harrods (£1,375)
- J Crew cashmere peacoat (£555)
Checked wool
Tartan, dogtooth, plaid: squares were all over the catwalks this season - and consequently should also be all over you. While historically, checks have been associated with the grunge scene or lumberjacks, designers have given the geometric pattern a more gentlemanly twist for the season - most notably by applying it to beautiful tailored overcoats, rainmacs and Gladstones cut from wool to make them that bit more winterproof.
The best checked wool coats on the market:
- Hugo Boss "The Logan3" coat (£600) [above]
- River Island check wool-blend overcoat (£130)
- Peter Werth "Green Mac" at Topman (£159)
- Bally wool "Raglan" sleeve coat (£1,450)
- Next grey check oversize coat (£120)
- Tiger Of Sweden "Dempsey" coat (£599)
- MP Massimo Piombo checked coat at Farfetch (£820.71)
Padded parka
The favoured outerwear of every Nineties Britpop band is back and more gentlemanly than ever. Not only is this new crop of parkas available in more colours and high-end fabrications than ever before, designers have padded out the traditionally thin cotton or nylon fabric shell with quilting or down while keeping the overall silhouette sleek and tailored. The ultimate way to keep warm (and look cool) in your suit this winter.
**The best padded parkas on the market:
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- Yves Salomon fur-lined parka from Harrods (£1,400) [above]
- Tommy Hilfiger down parka (£290)
- Diesel winter jacket (£280)
- New Look grey traditional parka (£37.49)
- Gap PrimaLoft two-pocket parka (£82.46)
