THE LONG COAT TREND

Coats are the most crucial part of a winter outfit, it can make or break your style throughout the colder months. A coat can be quite the investment is you are looking for high quality and sustainability within your coat so its important to find the right one for you. A microtrend I have really noticed for autumn/winter 2019/20 is long coats. They have been around in stores

My black long coat (2016)

over the last few years but it never really caught on as much as it has this season. I actually owned a long black coat back in 2016, which was the first time I saw them come about and a few of my friends were buying them and I loved the way they looked so brought my own. It was quite a dressy coat as it was so long and flowy, therefore I only wore it for special and dressy occasions and then it quickly fell off trend by the end of the year and I didn't wear it again. Last year I jumped on the trend again as they came back into stores they were very focused on the fluffy, blazer type coats. They popped up all over instagram and influencers at the end of 2017 but I tried to resist the trend and gave in early 2018 when I brought a burgundy long line coat. I wore this coat religiously as it was so universal, I could wear it with joggers and a jumper to uni or jeans and a nice top for a special occasion and the colour went with more than I had anticipated. I noticed them pop up in stores and online around September this year, I noticed that there was a much greater variety of types and styles this year and they were available in majority of stores as they all caught onto the growing market. Bloggers and influencers began posting and promoting various brands and styles of long coats worn in a variety of ways to suit everyone.

What sparked my interest on the trend was when I visited website called 'Who, What, Wear' and read a blog named 'If you buy a new winter coat this year, make it one of these beauties' by Hannah Almassi (https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/best-winter-coats/slide19). In this she explains she has looked through the breakout coat trends seen on the catwalks. From smart checks to shearling, there are so many styles to choose from. She identifies that one coat style alone provides nowness - the outerwear world is your oyster right now. She then lists 32 coats she thinks are the this seasons must have and every single one is a long coat. She shows a wide variety of styles and stores to suit all.

After I read this and had my initial thoughts on the trend I would research it more and see how big it really is. I started when I went shopping for the day around Nottingham on a cold Sunday in November, to have a look in stores and have a look at other peoples outfits with this in mind as I may not notice them as much when I'm not looking for it. I started in Topshop as I had been in there recently and noticed they had a large collection of coats. The first once I saw was a very long, past the knee tartan grey and cream button up wool coat,

then as I moved into the store more I saw a collection of various coloured teddy faux fur coats, which if you want to feel like you have a blanket around you at all times, this is what you need. With these, you can get that super-soft fur feel without hurting the animals. They also stocked a longer overcoat style in various colours and fabrics, these have a sleek, simple silhouette look to them with buttons to keep you wrapped up in the cold months. But Topshop coats do not come cheaply so they are quire the investment but the quality is worth the price tag.

I went to look in Zara as they are usually on very up to date on trends and I wanted to see what sort of approach they took to long coats. I straight away noticed so many different styles of long coats, from fabrics, colours, lengths and features. The first I noticed was a simple beige knee length coat, without buttons or extra details, the perfect over coat for autumn. The next was a dark navy long line coat with a tie belt, this was the first I had seen of the tie belts and it gave the coat quite a trench coat feel. The next one I tried on because I really liked the look of it, its a beige knee length coat with tie belt and a loose hood, which was something I hadn't seen before and loved it as it makes it so much more practical (I actually ended up buying this one oops). The next was a more traditional coat with the tartan pattern and long length blazer style it would suit almost anyone. The next rail held so more classic long coats, the style that was quite raved about over the last few years, a long line thick blazer style, which was available in several different colours, proving its a popular style. The next one I saw is very much on trend with this years rave, long puffer coats and bright colours. With the bright yellow inside contrasting with the dark navy, it's a very trendy and warm coat. I saw so many other long coats in the store all varying in details, but Zara are really on to this trend so if you are looking for long coat with a little bit of edge and high quality its definitely the place to go.

I then went into Urban Outfitters but I actually didn't find any long coats, they had lots of cropped puffers and jackets but not a single long coat. Urban Outfitters are known for trying to be different and not follow high fashion so it looks like they avoided this winter trend.

I finally went to look in Primark for more affordable versions of the long coat trend and they did not let me down. Primark have really stepped up their game recently and are producing amazing things at such low prices. The first coat I saw was a traditional long teddy coat, which was the craze last year but this one was in pink, a very out there colour but I think it could work great with a basic outfit. They also stocked similar to Zara the long puffer coats with hoods, perfect for the colder months, however these were all black and basic but definitely on trend. They also had the classic long blazer coats which were nearly identical to the ones in Zara but at a fraction of the price. I also found a classic trench coat in Primark for only £25 where as Zara is charging £90 for nearly the same thing and of course Burberry sell them but for £800 minimum.

After looking through the stores I started to look for people out in public wearing them, to see if the trend had caught on and the different styles people wore and how they styled it with their outfits. The first women I saw in Zara wearing a very fury light brown coat, she was in about her 40s and styled the coat with a black dress, black tights and basic shoes, the coat is a statement piece to her outfit. The next women wore a very long dark brown blazer style jacket with a light brown scarf, black jeans and slide on shoes, she looked very professional as though she had been at work. I then passed by these two people wearing a classic beige trench coat. One of them was in about her 20's and styles the coat with a white hoodie, light blue jeans and chunky trainers and the other was in her 40's and she styled the coat with a black top, dark blue jeans and black DocMartens - both very different people and styles but they both made the coat look amazing, proving that the trench coat is an iconic classic. I then saw a girl wearing an ankle length black puffer coat, she was in her early 20's and paired the coat with sports leggins and trainers for a much more casual look.

I then moved to Instagram to see how influencers are wearing the long coats. My favourite fashion inspo influencer is Sophia Tuxford, she's also from Nottingham so she knows the cold weather struggles and I had recognised from previous posts that she was enjoying the long coats. Her first look was this full length dark grey teddy bear coat, which she paired with an all black outfit, with statement boots and small under arm back for a day to day look. The next was one of her in Paris, she is seen in a faux leather trench coat style jacket, this is unlike any I saw in store or around town but I love it and it really embrasses the faux leather trend there has been recently, she paired it with light blue jeans and chuncky trainers for another daily look with a bit of edge. Her next look in Paris was wearing a classic trench coat, paired with a plain white tank, light blue jeans and she dresses it up with simple white heels, for a very classic look. The final one I looked at was a flowy, thin, cream coloured full length coat, she dressed this with a white hoodie and grey joggers to make it more casual and I feel the two work so well together.

In conclusion it seems everyone has jumped onto the long coat trend, it can be adapted to fit absolutely anyone. With so many different styles and ways of dressing the coat the possibilities are endless and honestly it keeps you so much warmer than a cropped jacket so I am loving this trend!