coats

Gentlewoman style: Max Mara archives



Max Mara archive

I have a soft spot for Max Mara. In my first job, I had a favourite Max Mara black coat that made me feel very grown up and stealth-chic (until it was swiped off the back of a chair from Costa coffee in Broadwick Street as I sat in a meeting across the road from my office at The National Magazine Company). It was the era of understated, 90s style and a Max Mara coat conferred a certain minimalist sophistication mixed with style anonymity.

“It’s about the logic of a man’s wardrobe, but for women,” (more…)



Sale picks: classic buys under £500



neck wallet

Sad but true, I don’t get excited about sales like I used to. Does anybody? I think we’re so used to discounts all year round that we take them when we find them. The end of year sales are a good time to look for staples though, especially if you have Christmas money burning a hole in your pocket. I usually put Christmas money towards a good coat, knit or bag I’ve been eyeing; I’m definitely more of a winter sale person than summer.

Anyway, in the spirit of buying better, here are some sale staples I think are worth a look. This Mackintosh puffer* is excellent – super-warm and lightweight (I bought it in black) and I have a version of this coat* as well. If you’re petite, Mackintosh is always good option for coats. (more…)



Buy it now: the Burberry car coat



Burberry car coat - single breasted trench

I would call this a single breasted mac. Burberry is calling it a car coat. Either way, I like it, especially with the looser, more casual styling that Burberry’s gone for here. It’s less high fashion and more girl-on-the-go and this soft ‘tumbled gabardine’ reminds me of all the vintage Burberry macs I used to love before Burberry went posh. (more…)



How to wear a trench coat now



How to wear a trench coat

For all the fanfare around puffy jackets and duvet coats, it has to be said – they don’t suit everyone. I was reminded about this at the weekend at the sight of a diminutive soul in her blue Bacofoil number, hoisted slightly askew a la Vetements, but not really fooling anyone. No wonder then that the sensible stalwart, the trench coat, is more popular than ever, on and off the catwalk.

The Telegraph ran a piece unpicking the whys and wherefores of the trench trend a week ago (more…)