Do you follow Andrea Cheong on Instagram or TikTok? If you don’t, you should. She has become a trusted and approachable authority in an arena that many find daunting to step into—sustainable fashion. On her platforms, Cheong breaks it down into easily digestible, bite-size pieces of information to arm you with more sensible shopping tactics. With her wealth of knowledge and very good taste, we just had to knock on her virtual door. In this month’s column, she guides us through the only, yes only, designer coats she’d consider adding to her capsule wardrobe this winter. Take it away Andrea…
To buy or not to buy? The question around designer coats is always contested. On one hand, outerwear is one of those categories that always warrants a healthy investment. These garments are supposed to last a long time, if not a lifetime and they’re supposed to be extremely practical. However, we also know that it’s totally possible to find an affordable winter coat that’s a fraction of the cost of a coveted MaxMara or a covetable Khaite. The allure here is partially extraordinary quality but also buying the original. These three coats in particular have lead the way or been the quintessential style for coat trends that we’ve seen return, season after season: the teddy coat, the shearling or borg style jacket and the full length, vintage-looking shearling and leather coats. If that’s not a testament to what a great investment this could potentially be, I’m unsure what else would be.
MaxMara’s iconic Teddy coat is celebrating its 10th year of being the ‘It Girl’ in our winter wardrobes. This is a very heavyweight piece that’s unique to most of the other fuzzy iterations out there – this is made from luxurious camel hair and spun with silk for an unparalleled texture. Camel hair is unique in that it does shed naturally, making it rarer to obtain. The underhair is the highest quality and most desirable, which is used for luxury clothing. This is the kind of piece that is the outfit and it kind of really doesn’t matter what else you wear underneath! However, style it with a turtleneck of the same colour and some baggy jeans for an instantly chic, everyday look.
This is the jacket that inspired a hundred different dupes that has also sold out. Speaking to friends that own the original and also seeing it in real life, the differences are huge – but then again, so is that price tag. What I do love about the original is that every element of it is highly considered. The leather piped edges have the most beautiful, neat finishes and do not wear down easily over time. The interior isn’t lined (and it doesn’t need to be as this is quite an oversized fit) but even the back of the pocket which is typically ignored has been paid some special attention to and given a fleece covering. It’s the intentionality of a design like this that makes it stand out in a very oversaturated market. It’s minimalism at its best. I think this looks fab with everything – a baseball cap and leggings if you’re still loving that athleisure look, to a pleated black mini skirt and cable knit jumper combo.
There’s one coat in particular that I always remember from my childhood and it’s my mother’s reversible leather and sheepskin jacket. Every time I’d open the coat closet, imagining that there might be a Narnia waiting for me beyond the tweed, wool and raincoats, I’d take the chance to brush my hands over its surface. There’s been an enormous resurgence of vintage-inspired coats in the last few years. Leather and shearling coats are a staple of a secondhand shop and it’s no wonder it’s made its way back into the mainstream. In part, it’s thanks to a growth of interest in thrifting but also shoppers are looking for higher quality, natural materials. Joseph’s reversible offering has the best of both worlds: the choice of a soft, fluffy side that’s best for elegant evenings or a leather exterior that’s perfect for everyday wear and the benefit of an insulated lining. While expensive no doubt, this is the exact sort of style that should be with you forever. Style this with a knitted maxi skirt and with your hair slicked back, for an ultra polished look.
