Style Birmingham

As the nights draw in and temperatures drop, its time to start swooning over this season’s plethora of elegant cover up options at Bullring.

Form and function collide in all of autumn’s key coats, ensuring you keep fashionably weather-proofed all season long.  From strict military tailoring to loose trapeze shapes, traditional heritage fabrics to sumptuous suedes and leathers; and dramatic black to hot punchy colours, these covetable cover ups toy with the concept of shape and texture to produce some of the most elegant designs we’ve seen in years.

This season, coats are effectively the new bags and one simply may not be enough!  Whether you want mannish and oversized or neat and prim, no one style dominates so find a silhouette that suits you and let the shape do the talking. 

Slouchy shapes vie for attention with girlie princess lines, classic pea coats measure up to broad shouldered wrap coats with full width lapels, high buttoned ‘Little Drummer Boy’ military greatcoats tussle with bold trapeze styles and the classic trench, tightly belted to give added shape, continues to make the grade and take any outfit from fine to fabulous in seconds. 

Short jackets are also back with a vengeance with the ‘aviator’ look enjoying a huge resurgence this season.  Top styles to look out for are zip up leather bomber, biker or boxy double breasted jackets, but for something a little different opt for one of this season’s capes and team with slim lines down below.  Top Gun eat your heart out!

For an altogether softer look, textured knits have emerged as the alternative cover up option, with the chunky bold knit taking centre stage and becoming an important status symbol for those seeking instant style kudos.

 Gorgeously feminine luxe knits are worked into enveloping volume shapes for a soft and relaxed feel, either worn with leggings or wide trousers or doubling as slouchy dresses, cable and hand knit textures are layered to create a sexy rugged weekend look, ribbed belted cardi’s have a charming retro appeal and shaggy finishes and boucle textures are simply made for touching. 

TOP TIPS FOR GREAT WINTER DRESSING

1: The look this season is all about layers so mix different tones, patterns and weights of knitwear.   Keep warm by layering generously sized snoods and floor sweeping jumbo scarves then add gloves (preferably elbow length) for the final finishing touch.

2: Choose a coat style that’s best suited to your body shape: longer lengths for taller figures, short and cropped for petites.

3: If you are playing with big volumes on the top half of your silhouette, keep the bottom half lean

4: Belts are this season’s secret weapon in the battle to avoid the possibility of creating a bulky silhouette.  Simply nip in at the waist to instantly give shape to voluminous, puffed up coats and jackets, or alternatively belt an oversized knit for a sexy stance.

5: Money per wear, a camel coat is the best investment you can make this season.  When you make your pick, think classic, classic, classic.

6: To add an edge to your look invest in a chunky boot and go for a heel if you’re feeling brave.

7: For a tough chic statement, choose patent fabrics and zipper details

8: Keep make-up natural and carefully apply luminous cream, beige and soft pink tones to softly sculpt the face then finish with a wash of lip gloss that’s close to your natural lip colour.

Pictured – From French Connection, this coat is £230