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The Fall Coat Edit: What to Wear with Every Kind of Outfit

Written by:Staff ReporterPosted on:


The Fall Coat Edit: What to Wear with Every Kind of Outfit

Written by: Amanda Chung

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Published on: October 11, 2022

Fashion editor: Sandra Slusarczyk

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Photo courtesy of Anouk Yve

Choose an outfit. Change your top. Internally debate which shoe goes best. Change your top again. It’s not until the final mirror check that you realize you forgot to factor a coat into this whole situation—which, in some cases (parkas, puffers, peacoats), will ruin the look you just spent the last 10 minutes on.

We know the struggle. So this fall, we decided to assemble an outerwear cheat sheet. These are the best options to zip, fasten, layer, or drape, depending on what you’ve got on underneath.

BEST FOR:

Wide-Leg Pants

You want something that either hits high on the hip (the impossibly cool sherpa-collar leather jacket from our September G. Label drop comes to mind) or falls around your shins, like this chic wool coat. What you don’t want is something that hovers awkwardly in the middle—it’ll interrupt the elongating A-line silhouette of the pants.

FROM LEFT:
MANSUR GAVRIEL BAG, goop, $495;
G. LABEL SHIELDS WORKWEAR JACKET, goop, $625

model posing
model posing

  1. G. Label Typhaine Sherpa-Collar Leather Jacket goop, $1,495

    G. Label
    Typhaine Sherpa-Collar Leather Jacket
    goop, $1,495

    SHOP NOW

  2. Toteme coat Toteme, $1280

    Totême
    coat
    Totême, $1,280

    SHOP NOW

  3. Alex Mill Jacket goop, $285

    Alex Mill
    Jacket
    goop, $285

    SHOP NOW

  4. G. Label Kaplan Vintage Flare Jeans goop, $295

    G. Label
    Kaplan Vintage Flare Jeans
    goop, $295

    SHOP NOW

  5. Proenza Schouler White Label pants goop, $395

    Proenza Schouler
    pants
    goop, $395

    SHOP NOW

  6. Proenza Schouler Boots goop, $995

    Proenza Schouler
    Boots
    goop, $995

    SHOP NOW

BEST FOR:

Suiting

If you’re in a suit or even just a blazer and jeans, reach for an overcoat that’s equally tailored. Ideally, it’s done in a substantial fabric like heavyweight wool or felt, which will give the relaxed cut some structure. As for the color? You’ll never go wrong with a neutral (what that means, exactly, is for you to decide).

ALEX MILL BLAZER, goop, $395;
MARA HOFFMAN VEST, goop, $325

  1. Max Mara coat Max Mara, $1,675

    Max Mara
    coat
    Max Mara, $1,675

    SHOP NOW

  2. Alex Mill blazer goop, $395

    Alex Mill
    blazer
    goop, $395

    SHOP NOW

  3. Mara Hoffman Vest goop, $325

    Mara Hoffman
    Vest
    goop, $325

    SHOP NOW

  4. Totême Denim Totême, $330

    Totême
    Denim
    Totême, $330

    SHOP NOW

  5. Mansur Gavriel BAG goop, $495

    Mansur Gavriel
    BAG
    goop, $495

    SHOP NOW

  6. Aeyde flats goop, $275

    Aeyde
    flats
    goop, $275

    SHOP NOW

If You Own Too Many Camel Coats…

  1. Cos COAT Cos, $350

    COS
    COAT
    COS, $350

    SHOP NOW

  2. Loewe Coat Net-a-Porter, $4,600

    Loewe
    COAT
    Net-a-Porter, $4,600

    SHOP NOW

  3. Khaite coat Khaite, $2,900

    Khaite
    coat
    Khaite, $2,900

    SHOP NOW

BEST FOR:

A Miniskirt

Every fall, we’re reminded that the mini—worn with socks and loafers or bare-legged with knee-high boots—is truly a moment. Up the ante with a double-breasted peacoat that hits right at the hem of the skirt or a strong-shouldered plaid number that plays with proportion.

NILI LOTAN COAT, goop, $1,595;
MATIN MINISKIRT, goop, $470

model posing
model posing

  1. Miu Miu Coat Miu Miu, $4,900

    Miu Miu
    Coat
    Miu Miu, $4,900

    SHOP NOW

  2. G. Label Anna boiled-wool miniskit goop, $395

    G. Label
    Anna boiled-wool miniskirt
    goop, $395

    SHOP NOW

  3. Bottega Veneta Eyewear Net-a-Porter, $470

    Bottega Veneta
    Eyewear
    Net-a-Porter, $470

    SHOP NOW

  4. Aesther Ekme bag goop, $450

    Neous
    Crossbody
    goop, $950

    SHOP NOW

  5. Johnstons of Elgin socks Net-a-Porter, $50

    Johnstons of Elgin
    socks
    Net-a-Porter, $50

    SHOP NOW

  6. loafers

    Prada
    loafers
    Prada, $1,150

    SHOP NOW

BEST FOR:

Black Tie

Lean into the elegance of an evening gown with a cropped jacket that can be draped over your shoulders like a cape. (The cascading collar and silver hardware on Totême’s has landed it on multiple editors’ wish lists.) Other solid options: a satin-crepe topper or a burgundy stole draped gently around your shoulders.

G. LABEL PANELLA SQUARE-NECK DRESS, goop, $725

  1. Westman Atelierr Mascara goop, $58

    Westman Atelier
    Mascara
    goop, $58

    SHOP NOW

  2. Bondeye Jewelry Earrings goop, $775

    Bondeye Jewelry
    Earrings
    goop, $775

    SHOP NOW

  3. Mason and Books ring goop, $4,750

    Mason and Books
    ring
    goop, $4,750

    SHOP NOW

  4. Lee Mathews dress goop, $830

    Lee Mathews
    dress
    goop, $830

    SHOP NOW

  5. Cult Gaia clutch goop, $428

    Cult Gaia
    clutch
    goop, $428

    SHOP NOW

  6. Neous goop, $535

    Neous
    slingbacks
    goop, $535

    SHOP NOW

Because Dress Codes and Puffer Jackets Don’t Mix

  1. Totême Jacket Totême, $1,140

    Totême
    Jacket
    Totême, $1,140

    SHOP NOW

  2. The Row cape Net-a-Porter, $2,250

    The Row
    cape
    Net-a-Porter, $2,250

    SHOP NOW

  3. Loro Piana stole Loro Piana, $1,225

    Loro Piana
    stole
    Loro Piana, $1,225

    SHOP NOW

BEST FOR:

A Midlength Hem

While there’s no one-size-fits-all advice for how to stay warm while in a skirt or dress, we will say this: A curved-sleeve silhouette complements an elegant LBD, a quilted shell offsets a whimsical skirt nicely, and a short shearling jacket and a cozy tartan coat are two pieces you’ll tap all season long.

FROM LEFT:
MARA HOFFMAN DRESS, goop, $395;
AEYDE FLATS, goop, $275;
GANNI JACKET,
goop, $395;
CARA CARA SKIRT, goop, $395

model posing
model posing

  1. G. Label Camberlyn Pleat-Neck Midlength Dress goop, $645

    G. Label
    Camberlyn Pleat-Neck Midlength Dress
    goop, $645

    SHOP NOW

  2. Loewe coat Loewe, $3,300

    Loewe
    coat
    Loewe, $3,300

    SHOP NOW

  3. LouLou Studio Jacket Net-a-Porter, $1,265

    Loulou Studio
    Jacket
    Net-a-Porter, $1,265

    SHOP NOW

  4. Brunello Cucinelli Coat Brunello Cucinelli, $7,995

    Brunello Cucinelli
    Coat
    Brunello Cucinelli, $7,995

    SHOP NOW

  5. Esse Skirt goop, $645

    ESSE
    Skirt
    goop, $645

    SHOP NOW

  6. Cult Gaia Crossbody bag goop, $398

    Cult Gaia
    Crossbody
    goop, $398

    SHOP NOW

More Styles to Choose From

Diamond quilting, interesting collars, sharp patterns and color combos to pique your interest—any of these eight cold-weather picks would be a worthy investment.

  1. Totême Jacket goop, $600

    Totême
    Jacket
    goop, $600

    SHOP NOW

  2. Sea Jacket goop, $565

    Sea
    Jacket
    goop, $565

    SHOP NOW

  3. Khaite leather jacket Farfetch, $4,160

    Khaite
    leather jacket
    Farfetch, $4,160

    SHOP NOW

  1. Loewe coat Net-a-Porter, $4,200

    Loewe
    coat
    Net-a-Porter, $4,200

    SHOP NOW

  2. Totême Coat Totême, $1,800

    Totême
    Coat
    Totême, $1,800

    SHOP NOW

  1. goop x Ecoalf Navy Puff-Sleeve Jacket goop, $550

    goop by Ecoalf
    Navy Rain Jacket
    goop, $600

    SHOP NOW

  2. Nili Lotan Jacket goop, $795

    Nili Lotan
    Jacket
    goop, $795

    SHOP NOW

  3. goop x Ecoalf Colorblock Collared Jacket goop, $550

    goop by Ecoalf
    Colorblock Collared Jacket
    goop, $550

    SHOP NOW

Related Reading

5 Fall Boots Worthy of Your Collection (and How to Style Them)

The Guide to Winter Layers

Boots, Coats, and More Cold-Weather Musts

We hope you enjoy the products recommended here. Our goal is to suggest only things we love and think you might, as well. We also like transparency, so, full disclosure: We may collect a share of sales or other compensation if you purchase through the external links on this page.