What women wear & why coats count all the way through winter
In the name of style, we have given up waiting for a glimmer of spring and taken to the streets (in our Heat Tech) to see what women are wearing. Groundhog Day may have been and gone, but winter certainly hasn’t. So, when pulling on cosy layers and draught-excluding clothes – it pays to remember that what’s worn on the outside, counts.
‘Always a pop of colour, in fact quite often a whole paint pot!’ is Catherine Boardman’s style mantra. The former BBC news producer – she worked at the Beeb for 20 years specialising in business and economics – is the founder of the website Cultural Wednesdays. Where you’ll find her recommendations for ‘out of the ordinary’ culture, arts and books. Catherine’s colourful Zara coat is in fact a replacement, bought a couple of years ago after moths had tucked into her favourite wool outerwear. She’s wearing a knitted tank top over a floral print M&S dress (also a few seasons old), leather knee boots from Duo (‘they have size 43 and do variable calf fittings’), a handbag from Coach and a necklace by Sarah Cavender from the V&A shop.
Photos: Neil Mackenzie Matthews
Having been bundled up in a winter overcoat for months, I recently conducted a Style Swap, replacing my darker outerwear with a lighter herringbone wrap-style. In addition, to acknowledge the amount of Corduroy Joy going on around these parts, lately; I have reverted to faded denim. Doubling up in my very old Levis’ Trucker Jacket and flared jeans from 7 For All Mankind. The tank top from Charl Knitwear (a thank you gift) with an Extra Warm, long-sleeved Heat-Tech T-shirt underneath keeps the body warm. And I am as snug as…
Outside the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) we bumped into Angela Kennedy, a former style director. Having spent 40 years working on women’s magazines, running the fashion department at Woman & Home, followed by a stint at Good Housekeeping, directing fashion shoots and offering expert advice on what to wear. Over the course of our careers, we have bumped into each other at numerous fashion shows and press events, sharing news, ideas and the occasional Devil Wears Prada experience, with each other. And, it is always lovely to catch-up.
‘It has occured to me how few items of clothing I have bought since leaving the world of magazines,’ she tells me, ‘ These striped trousers are from Toast, bought about five years ago and rarely worn as I practically live in black trousers, black leggings, joggers etc these days. My navy roll neck is from Hobbs, perhaps the newest purchase . You can never have too many plain simple roll necks in winter and I especially like this one as it has tiny gilt buttons on the cuffs which jazz it up a bit. My navy classic coat is also from Hobbs, at least four or five years ago. I always worked a lot with Hobbs on fashion editorial projects over the years and I feel the love for their coats , as I do for Jaeger coats . It all starts with a good coat!’
Admitting she never considered herself a sneaker freak ( and thinking about it, I have rarely seen Angela without her loafers), but now a culture critic, she spends more time running around town. ‘ My wonderfully comfy, slip-on trainers are from Russell & Bromley. It’s goodbye loafers – I have succumbed and will never look back,’ she continues, ‘My squishy soft leather tote bag makes me feel happy. It was a gift from Carolina Herrera when I interviewed her many years ago to coincide with her opening a shop in London.’
‘What to wear when it’s bloody freezing and grey… rich colour, layers and lots of jewellery and texture – like velvet and cashmere!’ laughs Melissa Byrne founder of PR and marketing communications agency, BYRNE Communications. Melissa does the PR for the NPG shop – I’ve had a few meetings recently in the gallery’s cafe, and always use the ‘Tracey Emin’ entrance ( the artist designed the doors you can see in these photos); the main shop is just there and great for cards, prints and gifts. Anyhow. Wrapped up in a lovely olive faux fur coat (found in Paris), Melissa is getting the most from Textural Therapy. Below the faux she’s wearing a Uniqlo cashmere jumper and Pilcro barrel-leg jeans; her gold necklace is from Alighieri, ring and bracelets from Lalique and SL72 trainers are Adidas Originals ( check out the animal print version!). Introducing small bursts of colour – through nail polish, a just-seen cashmere sweater and snazzy phone case – is a sure-fire way to boost the winter mood.
We had all been to the press preview for The Face Magazine: Culture Shift exhibition – more on which coming soon. And more style updates in the TNMA SHOP.
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Discussion (14 Comments)
I hear you, Angie. Last week, I was up north and it was bloody freezing! I had my Uniqlo lightweight down jacket underneath my big overcoat, plus a cashmere beanie hat and gloves.
Angie says:
You do understand! I like the idea of a down jacket (or gilet maybe?) underneath a more glamorous coat. I shall buy any topcoats and jackets a size or two bigger in future!
Sarah P says:
I think you’re overstating it a wee bit. Angela Kennedy’s outfit wouldn’t look out of place in Edinburgh or Glasgow. I was out in Glasgow last week in a wool dress, thick tights, warm socks and leather boots, topped with a a wool coat plus scarf and gloves. A decent wool coat wool is viable down to zero (without too much wind) provided one has the right accessories. A thick pure wool coat (which high street coats are not) is significantly warmer, and I have a one bought in the Faroe Islands that is too warm to walk around in unless it is below zero. IMO the bigger issue is staying dry!
Love this post! All great outfits, but the top one inspies me most. I need to plar around layering jumpers over some dresses and then different coats 🙂
Cindy from Canada says:
Alyson, great post today. I find it refreshing to see pops of color instead of seeing dark colored parkas, down coats and jackets in the part of Canada where I live ( the temperatures for the first 3 weeks of February have been cold and frigid). Today, we had a heat wave of sorts (-10C) and I went from my light gray knee length winter jacket to a bright, wine colored Aran wool coatigan. I felt amazing.
LAH says:
Once upon a time I owned one long black cashmere coat for winter and one classic trench for spring. I took them off as soon as I reached the office and put them on again when I went home. It didn’t seem necessary to have more. My business life has changed and I am out and about more often now and my coat is often all that’s visible and I assumed this is why my coat collection has proliferated. More likely it’s because social media “street style” is my primary source of fashion news these days…and everyone is always wearing a coat when they are “on the street”. And, it must perfectly coordinate with their outfit. This fall I bought a long black cashmere coat…since I haven’t had one for years…and guess what…I found myself wearing it all the time. So, I am left to wonder…do I really need all these coats…or is one beautiful black cashmere coat enough!!
Personally I would love to see the coat collection and new cashmere one. Are you on Instagram?
Karen Carpenter says:
In Northern California I wear coats all year. Some are vintage. Some are Eileen Fisher dusters. A final perfect layer of confidence.
Diane from Alaska says:
Here in Anchorage, Alaska, where winter can last 6 months or more, I have acquired a whole wardrobe of coats. All different lengths and weights, but brightly colored. It’s dark up here in the winter! Nothing brightens the mood like a colorful coat.
Mrs Tonia says:
I enjoyed seeing your report of colleagues spotted at the NPG press preview for the Face exhibition. Will see that in due course. Two London exhibitions to recommend to you and others I saw last week. At the Hayward gallery on the South Bank : two in one ticket to Linder collage artist and the large glittery tableaux by American artist Mickalene Thomas. Recommend both. At the Saatchi gallery in Chelsea I saw Flowers. Mixed media on all things Flora. A joy on a cold grey day.
On the topic of winter layering I’ve alternated between old duvet coat and thick tweed coat. Black lined boots but a rotation of colourful scarves and beanies and wool or leather gloves. Pops of colour provided by these accessories.Krysia Davis says:
I agree that we do all seem.to head for dark colours in winter. But one of my warmest coats ( (and one I received so many compliments on) is a 20 year old M&S faux white sheepskin jacket. It belonged to.my.mych missed best friend and feels like a big cuddle from.herbeach time I wear it. Great with jeans, black slim trousers and even dresses. It goes into the washing machine and comes out good as new. Oh for M&S clothes like that now!
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Cosy looks for London maybe but as you well know, Alison, it is FreezingUp North and a mere woolly coat is not going to keep anybody warm unless you travel to work in a car and dash out across a very small car park to get to a heated office. Nope, up here we are in thermals from October, Heatgen (M&S) underwear and layer upon layer pf polo necks jumpers, fleeces and woollies, wrist warmers, scarves, hats that cover our ears and socks so thick we have to buy one-size-bigger boots. Not to mention the scarf that has a heat generating pad, pocket warmers and the ultimate luxury, a down filled puffy jacket/coat that comes down to our ankles. Lovely though a snazzy wool coat might be it is only for nipping into a coffee shop (and not coming out for hours and hours) or trekking round a heated shopping centre!