Take a glance at any retailer’s outerwear offering right now, and it’s more than likely you’ll be faced with a healthy dose of options in black, brown, beige and navy. And while black tends to be the dominant shade in this category, brown coats – in gabardine, leather, suede and wool – have increased in popularity in recent seasons, owing to the widespread appetite for chocolate, mahogany and toffee hues, which has been prevalent across both ready-to-wear and accessories.
Read more: 11 Winter Coat Trends That Will Stand The Test Of Time
As for the best brown coats to invest in for the winter ahead? With options spanning high-street, designer and luxury labels (new and vintage), it depends on your budget and preferences. What material are you most drawn to? Do you want long or short? How do you want it to fit?
Vogue’s pick of the best brown coats
Trenches are suitable for year-round usage. In the winter, they can be worn over swaddling knitwear, hoodies or a thermal shell puffer, while come autumn, trenches can be styled with thinner layers. When it’s bitterly cold, though, it’s best to invest in a style made from thicker fibres, like cashmere or wool blends, to ensure your body heat is retained when the mercury drops. Whistles, Cos and Liberowe excel in this department.
Brown suede coats, meanwhile, have been another choice, with premium options from The Row, Nour Hammour, St. Agni leading with charge, fashioned from buttery-soft suede. These may take more care, but they’re well worth looking after. (Worn-in suede coats can also be found at resale sites like eBay.)
