Winter Coats for Women

Every woman visiting or living in a cold region should invest in winter coats for women. Cold months regardless of how styling you are dressed under your winter coat is the first thing a person sees, which means it creates your first impression.

Winter coats for women should be at least as stylish as the clothing you are wearing underneath it.

Wearing beautiful and trendy clothes under a shoddy jacket or windbreaker is pointless. However, there have been many women who have dashed out to get the paper in their long overcoats with sweats (or even their skivvies) underneath, only to look fabulous. Winter coats for women should make statements about you even while the rest of your ensemble is in shambles.

Winter coats for women should be thought of as an investment.

A flattering winter coat is a big ticket item, but if you make the right selection you will wear the coat for many years, so think of buying a coat as a long-term investment. Remember to:

• Select durable fabrics like cashmere, and alpaca wool blends, or newer high quality synthetic blend fabrics.
• Look for indicators of low quality construction such as loose buttons, ill fitting seams, hanging threads, uneven hems, or exposed linings if you find any of these signs, put the overcoat back on the rack and walk away.
• Spend as much on an overcoat as you possibly can afford.
• Only buy it if the coat fits you beautifully.

Choose A Enduring Style & Color

Like all lasting investments, you want to avoid choosing an overcoat that is too trendy or au courant. You want something that is fashionable, but do not want to be stuck with a dated coat people will look at in a couple years time and say, "That style/color was a hot topic two years ago. Too bad it's not popular anymore".

Instead, choose a winter coat with a classic, timeless cut in a neutral color that goes with most of the clothes in your wardrobe. If you wear a lot of black and rarely wear navy, then for heaven's sake, do not buy a navy overcoat. Choose black or gray. Likewise, choose navy if that is a common theme in your wardrobe. If you've got a preference for earth tones, choose a chocolate brown, olive green or camel color.

Join in on trends by accessorizing your coat with the new scarves, hats, brooches and gloves of the season.

Get the Right Winter Coat for Your Body Type.

To get a coat that makes you look long and lean, make sure that you choose the style based on the shape and proportions of your body type:

• Short: A shorter woman (around five feet tall) looks best in a coat that stops at the knee; this accentuates her legs from the knee down, and makes her appear taller. She will appear to look like she is swimming in a full-length or 7/8 length coat, and it will actually make her look shorter than she is.
• Tall: A woman who is taller than average should seek an overcoat with proportions that are appropriate for her height. She may need to seek specialty cuts, since even a maxi coat will look too short on her and a 7/8 coat on most people will probably look like a 3/4 coat on her.
• Plus-sized: Women with fuller figures need not wear A line coats, which tend to make these ladies appear that she is wearing a tent. Instead of throwing a tarp like jacket over their clothes, more voluptuous women can create the appearance of a leaner silhouette with a long, body skimming coat. Not hiding their body is one of the best fashion practices plus size women can adopt.
• Coats to suit your bust line: Women with large breasts look best in single breasted overcoats, and double-breasted styles are best for women with a smaller chest who wish to create the illusion of a fuller bosom.

Coat Lifestyle

Aside from choosing a coat based on your height, you should also consider the climate in which you live and your lifestyle:

• If you are frequently getting in and out of a car, you should choose the shorter car coat length for ease of movement.
• If you are always getting on or off trains or buses, you will need a 3/4 or 7/8 length coat that you do not need to worry about constantly stepping on.
• If you walk a lot or live in extreme cold you will want a full length coat to shield you from the elements.