5 Ways to Style Your Big Winter Coat
Small tweaks to switch up your look.
We’re in the first week of December, which means we’re Officially In Winter. Christmas is scarily close, the diary is full of various festive get-togethers (stuck on party outfit ideas? Read my guide here), and most days involve wearing the warmest items you can find… with, of course, your Big Winter Coat.
Now, I love a coat (I write about my can’t-live-without-them coats and jackets here), I love a chunky knit and I love layering. I lived in Sydney for three years and I had a bloody brilliant time. But it never being cold enough to wear a big coat, even in winter? Not to be dramatic but that was up there with the reasons I came back to the UK.
All that being said, there does come a point when wearing your Big Winter Coat day in and day out gets a little… boring. A bit samey. So I come to you today with the five different style tweaks I make to the same black coat so I still feel as though I’m wearing something different each day, and not falling into styling staleness.
This particular coat is an oversized black coat in cotton canvas, which I bought a couple of years ago from Louisa Charlotte Oates (DM her on Instagram if you’d like to buy - all of her pieces are made to order in the UK). The relaxed fit and hardy fabric make it a great versatile piece. I can wear it on its own with lightweight knitwear or I can layer it on top of my thickest jumpers, quilted vests and even other jackets.
The Wrap Scarf
I love a wrap. Mostly because they’re so large, you can wear them in a bunch of ways - wrapped around the neck like a big scarf, draped over shoulders, or wrapped around the back and tied at the front as I’ve done here. It keeps that extra bit of chill off and having that contrasting colour and texture to the coat adds another element to your look.
The Bright Vest
I’m a big fan of an all-black outfit. It’s timeless, it’s easy and it exudes effortless style. But sometimes it’s nice to break it up a bit - especially in winter when we’re all lacking vitamin D and could do with a boost of brightness. So when I’m feeling like I want to lift that canvas of black, I reach for this Cawley vest which not only gives me that colour I crave, but the quilted cotton fabric adds a touch more warmth too.
The Big Blanket Scarf
There are days in winter when let’s face it, going outside feels like a challenge. Days when there’s a biting chill in the air and being inside, wrapped in a blanket, is where you’d much rather be. This is the next best thing. A huge, cosy blanket scarf to wrap right around. I go for a contrasting colour to break up the black - this one’s camel which feels easy and effortless.
The Base Jacket
Speaking of super cold days… I mentioned earlier that one of the great things about this coat is its oversized fit. In winter I regularly pop my quilted jacket underneath - it gives me loads of extra warmth and (miraculously) doesn’t look so bulky that I resemble the Michelin man. Lots of brands do ‘liner jackets’ or quilted jackets that aren’t super puffy and could slot underneath your coats for extra warmth and a touch of extra style.
The Colourful Trainers
This is another very simple but effective style trick I’ve gone for here: a pair of colourful trainers. Having that colour pop instantly freshens up a black coat (and otherwise monochrome outfit) and breaks up the dark of winter. Adding a feature piece like this cross-body from Hebden Bridge-based Ruby Creagh brings another sculptural element to the outfit too.
Next week: My December wish list, and how I’m layering knitwear this winter.
Any items marked with * have been kindly gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.
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love all of these looks 😍