Option one: Buy a coat which is going to last you, well, forever. My mum is an expert! She swears that your coats should be as expensive as you can afford. Look after it well by brushing it down after each wear, hang on a proper hanger with lavender pouch, get it altered when you change shape (most expensive coats have extra material on seams for that purpose) and then give to your children or grandchildren.
Option two: Buy a coat you can wear throughout the year. Make sure there isn’t too much weight in the material but wide enough to play the layering game.
Consider which colour works best for you - black/brown or maybe teal/raspberry.
The correct shape is vital, and there are lots to choose from: pea, princess, trench, wrap, the list goes on.
So with all the above taken into account and a bit more besides, this is my tried and tested capsule coat collection for .................1. Wool Holmes Short Coat, (above) Stewart+Brown, £310, ascensiononline.com. Wear throughout the year great for layering.
Colour- bluey-plum. Material- boiled merino wool from ‘annually renewable free-range resources without petro-chemicals in their processing’. Cut -Dolman sleeves (can be rolled up) length hitting mid thigh (approach with caution if this is problem area). It has a nice self tie belt to draw in the waist and is single breasted, which is great for leaving open and wearing with chunky knitwear.
Verdict – a really great classic investment piece to wear throughout the year! A big thank you to the fantastic Abbi at Ascension who tried every coat in the boutique.
2.Elizabeth 1 knee length, Eloise Grey, £899, eloisegrey.com. Going to last you forever.
Colour – Brown. (can be made to order in other colours check fabric swatch.) Material – organic and ethical undyed tweeds from the Isle of Mull weavers lined with organic cotton or silk blend. Cut – Classic flared with pleat down the back. Raised ruched collar adds a little twist.
Verdict – I think one to keep for the grandchildren. Fantastic for the smaller bust and curvier bottom half.
3.Elizabeth 2 knee length, Eloise Grey, £880, eloisegrey.com. Also going to last you forever.
Colour – Silver grey (can be made to order in other colours check fabric swatch. Material – Ethical Silver diamond twill lined with black hemp silk lining. Classic cut.
Flared loden style with pleat down the back and large collar. Because of the pleat in the back it does go into a princess shape, great for curvier bottom halves.Verdict – classic work wear coat that skims the figure.
4. Illusion coat, Julia Smith, £325, juliasmithfashion.co.uk. Wear thoughout the year albeit in the evening in Summer!
Colour – Black. Material – Scottish wool with hand painted cotton lining from Ghana. Has a narrow envelope collar with concealed buttons. Verdict - fabulous classic coat, amazing with vintage dresses and seriously cool with jeans.
5. SJ coat, mid thigh, Julia Smith, £275, juliasmithfashion.co.uk. Wear thoughout the year . If you dare, wear on its own with a vintage 80s shimmery top and sparkly American Apparel tights.
Colour – Black, Material Recycled polyester mpb and hemp/silk. Cut extremely deep. Has a smoking collar and is single breasted with great cape like sleeves. Verdict – Looks fantastic worn with trousers with the belt tied. The only coat to wear if you’ve bought into the 80s shoulder power dressing. 
6. Riding hood coat, mid thigh, Cecilia Hammarborg, £250, ceciliahammarborg.com. Wear throughout the year.
Colour – Turquoise teal but also in black and rose pink. Material- Melton narrow pinstripe made and sourced in London. Fitted cut made of medium weight wool. It has a lower neck line so is good for a curvier top. Although the lapels are wide, the notches on the collar draw your eye upwards. Can be worn military style with all buttons done so great for flatter angular top halves too. Fitted at the waist, it has a half belted back with pleats so great for curvaceous derriere. Verdict – a great piece to suit a lot of different figures. 
check more on http://www.daisygreenmagazine.co.uk/fashion/features/find-your-perfect-winter-coat/
Earlier on this week Julia Smith opened her fab shop
in Connaught Village together with the shoe designer Joanne Stoker. I didn't manage to get to the vernissage but I did pop in the next day which was even better, as I didn't have to fight through the hoards and got to try on mostly everything. Also managed to talk to Julia who is difficult to pin down as she is back and forth from Ghana quite a bit.
The Shop Julia explained is the result of winning a competition - run by the Church Commissioners in conjunction with London College of Fashion- to kick start their own retail fashion business with a rent and rates -free retail unit for six months in Connaught Village.
Not only is the shop filled with both girls lovely creations but there is also a studio in the offing for made to measure.. and a lovely selection of cosy knitwear knitted in the UK just for them.
Prices are amazing starting at £135 for the gorgeous organic jersey throw on for all occasions dress below... + its so so easy to get to just 5 minutes from Marble arch.
Julia Smith & Joanne Stoker - 4 Porchester Place W22AZ
