The dog days of summer have come and gone, and chilly temps mean it’s high time to welcome in the season’s hottest accessory: the coat. This year, coats are more than toppers for warmth; they’re the sizzle, the style and the must-have finishing touch. So start building your coat wardrobe now.
[street smart]
Clean lines and sleek leather accents add a sophisticated edge to Helmut Lang’s versatile city coat.
Katherine Barclay dress, $199 from Distinctions
[caped crusader]
Sometimes you feel like a coat, sometimes you don’t. When weather permits, reach for a smart cape, a good complement to your warmer toppers.
Kate Spade wool capelette, $678; Kate Spade earrings, $78; both from Nordstrom
Badgley Mischka dress, $355; Stuart Weitzman boots, $785; both from Neiman Marcus
Kate Spade clutch, $298 from Kate Spade New York
[luxe be a lady]
Don’t underestimate the versatility of the moto jacket—especially one made of sheared mink. It really revs up a fit-and-flare dress.
Mahogany sheared mink moto jacket, $3,800 from The Fur Boutique
Alexander McQueen dress, $1,985 from Neiman Marcus
Topshop necklace, $35; Louise et Cie pumps, $158.95; both from Nordstrom
[break out a little]
Who says coats have to be practical? Leave it to Italian master Etro to give us a wild and crazy three-quarter length coat perfect for skinny jeans and basic blacks.
Etro collarless cotton coat, $2,560 from Neiman Marcus
Kate Spade Netta bootie, $398 from Kate Spade New York
Joe’s Jeans, $179 from Crescent Coast
Topshop earrings, $28 from Nordstrom
[boho babe]
Vests count as outerwear, especially when they’re cute and furry, like this one in jewel-toned knitted rabbit fur by Joie.
Joie vest, $798; Haute Hippie blouse, $295; Diane von Furstenberg skirt, $798; Jimmy Choo pumps, $895; all from Neiman Marcus
House of Harlow locket, $58 from Nordstrom
[style authority]
Take charge of the season in a belted, military-inspired jacket by Burberry. This one’s a classic you’ll have forever.
Burberry wool coat, $1,295; Jimmy Choo handbag, $3,050; both from Nordstrom
Kut from the Kloth jeans, $69 from Crescent Coast
Sunglasses, $99 from See Eyewear, St. Louis Galleria
>> Style coordination by Emily McGehee; makeup by Randi Davis ; model Haley Zink, courtesy of West Model Management and Harrison Parker Davis; pecial thanks to Bar Les Frères, Martin and Malcolm Penton, and Eddie the dog