A winter coat is probably one of the biggest and best investments you will ever make for your wardrobe. This is especially true if you are on a limited budget!

At Aine’s we take great care to try to find the most stylish and timeless pieces we can with you, our customer in mind. We have chosen from brands far and wide to offer you timeless classics in wool to the latest colours and trends in material technology from your favourite designer brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Cain, Betty Barclay, OOF Wear, Normann and Superdry.

Here is the Aine’s quick guide to investing in a Winter Coat:

1. Embrace you personal style

Understand your personal style and how your new investment coat will fit in with your existing wardrobe. The first thing that springs to mind here is how this new coat will work with your handbag(s)? 

Needless to say this is just one important consideration…but you get where we are coming from …right? 

2. Price per Wear

As we live in Ireland you will probably wear this coat for up to 8 months of the year. So it’s important to honestly look at your investment in terms of ‘Price Per Wear.’

If you wear your coat for up to 5 days a week, 8 months for 5 years (that’s 960 approx. occasions) and you invest €350 then it is really only costing you about 36c every occasion you wear it!  That is mega value over the life time of your coat.

3. Choose Colour Carefully

To really get the most out of a winter coat, we recommend you choose a timeless colour like; camel, navy or black that you can wear for years to come and; accessorise, accessorise, accessorise, darling! 

Yet again this advice really is about expressing your personal style. If you love bright colours and camel just seems too boring, then buy the pillar box red coat by all means!

4. Be cautious of trends. 

Trends are great fun, but they date very  quickly. Finding that perfect winter coat, is an investment for years to come. The better the cut, the better the fabric and construction the longer it will last. Which leads me to my next point….

5. Two’s Company

Consider investing in 2 coats…Invest in both a light and dark coloured coat. Use the darker for day-to-day activities and keep the lighter-coloured coat for special occasions and evenings out as nothing can beat the glamour of a winter white belted coat or the sensuous line of a good-quality shearling.

6. Your coat should reflect your lifestyle

If you are a football mum, a creative soul, or a busy executive then you need a coat that works for your lifestyle. A coat should be practical, and highly functional. Does it have pockets to keep your hands warm? Will it get caught on and off the train?  Do you need a style that you can wear to the office but also to gigs and events? These are important considerations before you make your investment.

7. Scale Up

Don’t forget that you need to allow space for layers underneath your coat. Don’t be afraid to go up a size to allow for this. Buying a size or even two larger is a wise move. Coats tend to look better if they are slightly looser and you don’t look like a tied up ham! Another good thing to check is the line of the coat both buttoned up and undone to check how it sits and, if the coat is belted ensure the fabric hangs nicely without clumping when belted.

8. Shapes that suit your body type

• Choose a belted coat for Pear Shapes to help make the most of a small waist.
• Double Breasted coat will flatter an Inverted Triangle.
• Longer lengths are perfect if you are leggy, and will make you the envy of the rest of mere mortals!
• Waterfall or Cocoon are great for Apple shape or ladies with a fuller bust, these shapes skim over the top half of you figure and add length to your legs.

Pop into Aine’s to find your perfect Winter Coat. We have a wide selection of wool, camel, down and leather to suit all tastes and budgets. You’ll be spoilt for choice. If you are not sure what style and cut suits you best, just ask any of the team for help. We want to see you invest wisely, so that you can look and feel your best!