The Fashion Journal team on the coats we’re investing in this winter
IMAGE VIA @STANDSTUDIO.OFFICIAL/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY FASHION JOURNAL
Rug up.
A Southern Hemisphere winter is coming and the fashion girlies are ready to rug up. Whether you’re a puffer jacket, trench coat or leather blazer lover, there is a new (or old) outerwear staple waiting to be worn.
Looking for more ways to procrastinate? We’re with you. Come on over to our Fashion section.
Our team are voracious internet trawlers with various degrees of shopping organisation (some use spreadsheets, others choose to make purchases a few wines deep) – but we’re all actively trying to think more consciously before we purchase. After much deliberation, here are the outerwear pieces our team is investing in this season.
Ella Taverner, Fashion Journal‘s Account Manager
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I’m on the hunt for a dark, long-line coat that can seamlessly transition through my day. Sitting somewhere between a trench and a long-line blazer is this black Travel Trench from Australian brand Bassike. Despite the hefty price tag, I can really see myself wearing this for winters to come.
There’s something about the relaxed silhouette that I’m drawn to, and I think the concealed button closure adds an extra level of elevation that will make it perfect for dressing up when I need to look a lil fancy. I envision myself wearing this with a white shirt, tailored pants and a big coloured scarf to keep me cosy and warm.
Daisy Henry, Fashion Journal intern
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I have always said, if I could dress in nothing but St. Agni, I would. The pieces I’ve saved up for or been able to nab in a good sale have remained in my wardrobe as staples. Those black knit pants in particular have been well worth it, getting me through both workdays and date nights alike.
Knowing the brand’s eye for quality and unique yet classic styles, their black and khaki Layered Trench is at the top of my winter coat wish list. Featuring perhaps the most unique trench coat design, it embodies a classic silhouette with a sleeveless black overlay – designed to be worn over or underneath the coat.
Lauren Payne, Fashion Journal contributor
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I love a good coat, but I also live in Queensland. It can make coat shopping difficult. Wool winter coats usually aren’t an option up here, as the temperature usually doesn’t drop below 20 degrees in winter. However, my love for coats is strong. I recently bought this oversized trench from the Josefine HJ x NA-KD collaboration collection, because I decided I still needed a coat this winter.
This trench is great because it’s light enough for Queensland temperatures, waterproof, and makes me feel like I’m walking the streets of Denmark when I catch myself walking past a shop window.
Cait Emma Burke, Fashion Journal‘s Digital Editor
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I was lucky enough to go to a media preview last year for the most recent Uniqlo and Jil Sander collaborative collection. It was bedlam in there, with people piling their arms high with blazers, puffer jackets and coats – oh my god, the coats. Putting these two brands together is a match made in sartorial heaven.
United they become +J, and their collections are always about sleek, understated pieces that you can wear time and time again. I picked up an oversized black cashmere blend coat last year which I’ve worn repeatedly, and plan to continue doing so for many winters to come. While that particular coat is no longer in stock, they have a similar version in this year’s +J collection, which you can find here.
Amy Focic, Fashion Journal contributor
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Having always lived on the east coast of New South Wales, I’ve never really thought of myself as someone who needs a coat for the cooler months. Winters here are pretty mild, so my well-worn Sister Studios jumper usually suffices.
But this year I’m headed to Europe in their winter, so a coat feels like a sartorial necessity. When I saw a vintage trench on The Conscious Exchange last week, I couldn’t resist getting my hot lil hands on it.
I’m already brainstorming stacks of outfit ideas – it’s such a timeless piece that goes with legitimately everything and layers like a dream. I’m keen to wear it with a Highrack Studios mini, a vintage Oroton bag and trusty black boots – perfect for when the temp in Newcastle drops below a ghastly 18 degrees.
Cait Emma Burke, Fashion Journal‘s Digital Editor
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I’m currently searching high and low for a lightweight, mid-length black patent leather (or faux leather) coat. You wouldn’t think it’d be so hard to find, but I’m annoyingly particular about the little details when it comes to clothing. If the buttons aren’t right or the sleeve length is ever so slightly off, it’s not the one for me.
My housemate has the perfect black patent coat from Gorman, and try as I might I can’t find a secondhand version online anywhere. In my dreams, I’d just drop a sizeable chunk of change and opt for this one from Stand Studio or this offering from Norma Kamali – but I’m trying to save my funds.
Instead, I’ve been scouring Depop, and keeping this style of coat front of mind when browsing the racks at consignment stores like Goodbyes. I’d prefer to give an already-loved patent coat a second lease on life rather than purchasing something brand new.
Izzy Wight, Fashion Journal‘s Editorial Assistant
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My most worn coat/jacket – by a mile – is a military-style vintage bomber jacket from Grailed, which I purchased a few Melbourne winters ago. I’ve worn it so much that it’s become one of those clothing items my friends instantly recognise, sparking questions like ‘do you own any other jackets?’ and ‘what happens when it’s in the wash?’. It’s called a wardrobe staple for a reason, hun!
In all seriousness, I do need to expand my outerwear wardrobe. This Flower Jacket from Korean-born Uzbekistan designer J.Kim (stocked at Shifting Worlds) has been on my wishlist for months now, and this winter I might just bite the bullet. It’s so interesting, beautifully constructed and I know I’d get the wear out of it.
Ella Taverner, Fashion Journal‘s Account Manager
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I’ve always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with coats. They’ve been that wardrobe staple I’ve never felt intrinsically drawn to, possibly as a result of previous fashion trauma (red velour trench, I’m looking at you). Now that my style has evolved (thank goodness), I tend to lean towards boxier and more traditionally masculine shapes that I know make me feel confident and comfortable. I recently purchased this Uniqlo U Recycled Down Jacket, which has already found a top spot in my wardrobe. It’s super lightweight – making it great for layering – and I love how it looks with dark-wash denim and boots.
Giulia Brugliera, Fashion Journal‘s Managing Editor
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I’ve slowly built my coat collection by investing in really classic pieces and vehemently avoiding anything tied to trends. I’ve come to play by the rule that a coat should be worn for at least eight seasons, or it’s not worth purchasing. It’s a really high bar to meet for clothing in general, but surprisingly achievable for coats.
This season I’m rotating through a Suku Home puffer jacket, a Burberry parka from Vestiare, and an oversized Zimmermann cocoon-style coat that I bought on Facebook yonks ago. They’re all quite old purchases, but I’ve not felt the need to ‘update’ my coats for years as each has worn so well.
For more on winter fashion, head here.
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