It is now officially cold, and so a reliable winter coat is an absolute essential. While a Max Mara or Totême coat will always be my dream purchase, I’ve been really impressed by some of the tailored wool coats that have been on offer from more affordable retailers recently. The key to an expensive-looking coat really is the silhouette, after all. Some of the best high-street wool coats are oversized, falling on the ankles and with plenty of room on the body so you can layer it over a chunky knit. There are four high-street coats in particular that really stand out right now and all have basically this structure in a mix of neutral shades from camel to grey. My favourite is a perfectly tailored classic black style from Zara which could so easily pass for something from The Row. Closely followed by a more relaxed camel number from Arket—a style that will absolutely make you look rich despite its price tag.
Of course, if you want a wool (or wool-blend) coat over polyester, these won’t be the cheapest coats you’ll find on the high street. And I wouldn’t feel genuine recommending anything that didn’t have the quality you really need from a coat you’ll wear again and again. But you can rest assured that the styles below are still relatively affordable for a top quality outerwear piece—especially when they look like they could have stepped off this season’s catwalks.
If you’re still on the great coat hunt, below you’ll see the four best high street wool coats (in my opinion) that defy their price tags. And then, scroll on to see some of my runners up…