Wrapping Up This Autumn

As is typical of the twenty-first century, we seem to be presented with an overwhelming excess of choice. In every field of society and culture, there are more and more options to choose from, with less and less definition to separate or distinguish.

The aisles of the supermarkets are filled with identical cereal packets, all vying for the crucial choice of the customer. So too the high street bursts with shops selling the same clothes on the same mannequins, with the slightest variations in colour and style.

So how do you make the right choice and retain your own individuality? It seems increasingly tough to know what you want, and who you are. The more choice we have the more we look the same. Perhaps the key is to make the decisions using your needs rather than your wants – what does the weather call for? What is sensible and versatile for my job and my personal life? What clothes are easy to wash or easy to travel and pack?

One staple that really does require a sensible decision is coats. The right winter coat can last you for life – I am sure we all have one infamous family coat, perhaps an old sheepskin creature from the 70s, or one of mum’s big camel-haired cover-ups that teaches us this.

And a good coat should be stylish whilst never quite being in fashion. After all, fashion fades but style remains. And we certainly don’t want a coat disappearing on us in the middle of winter. Of course the obstacles between us and the ideal coat are time and money. We don’t want to spend weeks searching for this one item of clothing – nor do we want to have to take out a second mortgage to get it.

It is worth taking a look at the high street options, as well as the sales in large department stores such as House of Fraser. New Look and similar high street brands have a range of tailored coats and parkas which combine durability with stylish touches like bows and pinched waists. Check out the New Look website for a wide range of coats to suit the upcoming seasons.