I Only Buy Designer Coats When They're on Sale—Here Are My Top Picks This Winter

Hi, I'm Emily, and I'm a coat addict. Okay, not actually, but I own more coats than probably any other item in my wardrobe (much to my husband's dismay). Hear me out though. As a stylist and editor who's worked in the fashion industry for over a decade now, I've worked out that (for me at least) feeling great about my outfit is as simple as adding an amazing coat (and maybe a great bag or pair of shoes) to my favourite basic T-shirt or knit-and-jeans outfits. I basically live by this rule whether I'm dressing for Fashion Week, fabulous industry parties or just popping to my local pub—and, yes, if you were wondering, I do seriously struggle in the summer when wearing a coat isn't an option. So anyway, I like to consider myself somewhat of an outerwear expert. 

The thing is, although I'm incredibly tempted by all the gorgeous new designer coats out there, I certainly don't have the budget to be spending thousands every time I invest in a new style. I often look to the high street, as our favourite brands have some really impressive, expensive-looking options these days, and I just make sure to look out for good-quality fabrics and design features. However, I do have a hack I wanted to share with you for getting my hands on the very best coat styles for less, and it's as simple as shopping designer coats exclusively on sale.  

This might sound really obvious, but I only ever buy designer coat styles when they're discounted. I'm the first to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of sales as a general rule—mostly because I find it overwhelming having to sift through the noise to find the really classic buys I know I won't regret. And often, sales can be full of end-of-season, trend-led buys that you'll never really wear more than a few times. But, when it comes to coats, most styles are in fact timeless from the get-go. It's easy to spot the classics, which makes them the perfect pieces to buy on sale. Whether it's a camel wrap coat, a perfect beige trench or a black, tailored wool style, finding designer coats on sale can mean being able to access the very best quality pieces (that look basically identical to the season's new-in styles) for much lower prices. It just makes fashion sense!

Keep scrolling to see the on-sale designer coats for winter 2023 (and beyond) that I've got my eye on…

Next Up: 5 Low-Key Coat Trends People in London, Paris and New York Are Wearing Right Now