The IMAGE staffers on the winter coats worth investing in
Practical puffers, mob wife-esque faux furs, Afghans to die for, and wool trenches to treasure — the scope of the team IMAGE winter coat shopping basket is nothing if not vast. Here are the pieces we’re investing in, and some old reliables we’re pulling out from the back of our wardrobes…
Shayna (Sappington) Healy, Branded Content Editor and Wedding Writer
I’ve had the same PJ Salvage coat for years and it’s a bit tattered now, so I’ve decided to treat myself to a new winter coat this year. I always see the most glamorous women walking their dogs in the park in those maxi puffer jackets but I’ve always been too short to pull one off. ASOS has this black one with a roomy hood that’d be perfect for chilly nights and it comes in petite sizing! I’ve also always wanted a herringbone jacket, something about them just seems so sophisticated, so I have these two on my wishlist – a double-breasted marbled coat from Mango (I love that the colour can be fastened in different ways) and this classic wool blend coat from Abercrombie & Fitch (also available in petite sizing!).
Sophie Power, Chief Operations Officer
I have been lusting after a Charlotte Simone winter coat for a while and so set my alarm for their winter drop earlier this month where I was delighted to nab her Naomi leopard print Mongolian fur coat before it sold out. I love that each coat is limited edition, one of a numbered few and are lovingly and sustainably produced by Charlotte and her team, minimising the chances of you turning up in the same coat as someone you know! What’s more, it came with a gorgeous lined leopard print tote which will be a staple holdall for my ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ this winter.
Sarah Gill, Featured Editor, IMAGE.ie
I require all of my coats to be that little bit oversized, because I was cursed with very long arms that love to poke out from the ends of my sleeves quite dramatically, leaving my bare wrists at the mercy of the elements. So, in winter, I like for my coats to be as large as possible, so that I can pile on as many warming layers underneath as is humanly possible. Think Joey wearing all of Chandler’s clothes at once in that one episode of Friends, but make it chic. This dark brown bomber from Topshop via ASOS looks big enough to allow me to smuggle at least three jumpers underneath, and I’m a big fan of the button-up collar. I’m picturing it with some lovely deep green and velvet-y purple knit scarves. Yes, you can layer scarves, don’t question it.
Édaein O’Connell, IMAGE Contributing Editor
I remember the first time I ever watched Almost Famous and saw Kate Hudson as Penny Lane on my screen – I had never seen anyone look so cool or chic. Her Afghan coat is the stuff of sartorial legend and I have spent years trying to find the perfect replica. And so, in the year 2024, the fashion gods smiled down at me lovingly and gifted me this Superdry beauty. I have never felt love such as this. Obviously, I adore my family and stuff but seriously, have you seen this coat?
Holly O’Neill, Editor, IMAGE.ie; Beauty Editor, IMAGE Magazine
If I were someone whose coat budget was €2,850 (!) I would give it entirely to the wool coat in the Rosie Huntington-Whiteley x WARDROBE.NYC collaboration. The timeless collection is a capsule of elevated, everyday essentials created from Italian fabrics, inspired by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s wardrobe and taking up all of my thoughts.
Amber O’Shea, Social Media Manager
My favourite thing to invest in is a fun jacket that’s never ever practical, but having a great jacket is something that can really elevate and change your look. I love to rotate my two favourite coats for the winter time and they’re both from Weekday.
I adore my cropped leather jacket that goes essentially with everything and then my vinyl trench from the menswear section. Don’t be shy to browse in the menswear section, because you might get lucky and come across your new favourite coat, just like I did. I have both of these for the last 3-4 years and they’ll be coming back out for this winter too. If you love Arket, Weekday and COS, but also want to shop sustainably then take a look at Sellpy.com. It’s a secondhand reselling site owned by H&M but you can find so many preloved gems on there.
Dominique McMullan, Editorial Director
I currently have to lean (hard) against my coat cupboard door to ensure it closes properly (yes my coats have a whole cupboard!), so I won’t be adding to my collection but I will be pulling my winter favourites out. I have a quilted, black velvet Massimo Dutti coat that can take on even the coldest Irish winters, and I am also lucky enough to have a Max Mara wool trench that I pull out for special occasions. One day I hope to add a Landskein coat to my collection – but I don’t think this will be the year!
Emily O’Neill, Marketing Account Executive
I have run out of space in my wardrobe so the majority of my coats and jackets hang on the back of multiple doors around the house. I think that is a sure sign I have enough. However, one coat I don’t have is a nice puffer for everyday wear. We are big rugby fans and spend a lot of time at Leinster games during the winter months so maximum warmth is essential. The Alaska Puffer from Tommy Jeans is top of my wish list for this year!
Similar to Dominique, a coat from The Landskein is my dream! Every so often I go onto their website and lust over their gorgeous designs. The style ‘Terry’ is everything I want in a ‘special occasion’ coat!
Lauren Heskin, Editor, IMAGE Magazine
I picked up this coat in Penney’s over the weekend, it’s super warm and comes with a central fleece-lined pouch so you can have a baby in a sling inside, nice and toasty. The top of it splits in the middle so you can have it open depending on which way baby is facing and, if like me you run quite warm, the sleeves also zip off so you can keep cool on a walk knowing the little one is cosy as. The bonus is that the panel also comes out completely, so you can wear it like a normal coat, with a cord to help give you a little shape.
Sarah Finnan, Deputy Digital Editor
Coats are one thing I have more than enough of so I won’t be investing in a new one this year. Instead, I’ll be giving some old favourites the wear they deserve. For autumn, I have a black Aquascutum trench that I love. I found it in the men’s section of a charity shop a couple of years ago and it’s still one of my most complimented pieces. When the weather gets colder, I swap that out for an old leopard print faux fur coat (from Topshop but bought on Depop five-ish years ago). It’s very ‘mob wife’ and makes even the plainest of outfits look luxe – great when you want to look like you’ve made an effort!
Joanne Kennedy, Senior Events Executive
After many hours of scrolling through the shops online, I made the decision to re-wear my favourite coat this season. I LOVE my Mango Totême-inspired faux-fur. Not only does it immediately dress an outfit but it is super cosy and warm.
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