It's not Just a Coat.....It's a first impression!

The Coat

It is not a tip that we may encounter rain over Royal Ascot week, The question is what to wear when the inevitable downpour comes. Most importantly your coat should be a fashionable addition to your outfit and not an inconvenient distraction from your careful styling. Whether you are opting for a statement piece to wear all day or a mac to pop on in the momentary deluge, it is as vital a selection as are your shoes or bag...

Do I look good in this?

The coat is ultimately an additional accessory, one that should be chosen with care to accentuate and compliment the areas of your body and your outfit that you really feel good about. I am a true believer in simplicity, clever tailoring and classic lines do more to flatter almost all body shapes over flouncy, shapeless and over detailed 'on trend' pieces. It is important to remember that the coats are expensive and therefore an investment rather than a whimsical purchase; for a timeless elegance why not invest in a trench coat?

Burberry are the long undefeated champions of every variation of trench coat; whether double breasted or cinched in at the waist these classic investment pieces are the epitome of shower proof elegance. When the belt is drawn tight around the waist it will be flattering on almost all body shapes, both giving and accentuating curved. These may be beautiful but they also require a small fortune. 

High quality replicas of this can be found on the high street at both Zara and LK Bennett, making this quintessentially British and highbrow look more achievable on a budget.

From the right to left: Zara, Double breasted raincoat, £69.99, L K Bennett, Kiki trench coat, £345.00, Burberry Prorsum, £1,095.

 Making a statement

The trench coat is ideal to compliment a wide variety of outfits, an elegant and unobtrusive addition. A coat can alternatively used as a statement, adding a splash of detail to a simple outfit. If your hat and dress are extravagant keep the flamboyancy of your rain protector to a minimum. However a dress coat can be a powerful statement over a block colour dress. Try pairing a coats dramatic block colouring and intricate detailing with an inexpensive or beloved wardrobe favourite. Worn with muted or complimentary colours these beautiful dress coats will be a statement of elegant simplicity

From left to right: Miu Miu, embellish Cady coat, £1,790, Zara, mint crew neck coat, £79.99, Red Valentino
Floral-print lightweight faille swing coat £710

Ultimately your coat should be such a fabulous addition to your outfit that you almost secretly long for a smattering of rain. Make sure that yours enables a glamorous alternate outfit change, rather than miring yourself further in the devastation that comes with English summer rain with a terrible choice of coat