Here's one way to look forward to chilling temperatures:
Buy a fashionable winter coat.
"There are so many choices in coats, which is wonderful," says Bridget Foley, executive editor of Women's Wear Daily. "From a big, belted coat to one with lots of detail, to those with prints and patterns. You also will see coats in lots of colors. Color gives you a little bit of a lift in these tough economic times.
"There will be coats with studs and grommets and some military detail," she says. "Coats that have embellishments add a bit of interest to outerwear, which a lot of people will see because you wear it so long -- especially in cold climates."
Look for durability as well as style in your choice.
"Some people call a coat the sofa of your wardrobe, because you will get a lot of wear out of it," Foley says. "It's also something a lot of people will see you wearing, so it has to last. You should love your coat. A coat is something that's definitely worth splurging on."
The fashionable woman owns an entire wardrobe of coats, depending on the destination, says Gregg Andrews, fashion director for Nordstrom. This year's collection offers many new looks to add to her closet.
"We are seeing a lot of coats that have dress-like silhouettes and detail with a lot of interesting necklines, color treatments, ruffles, oversize collars and different sleeve lengths, which show some of the shirt, sweater or jacket that's underneath," he says. "There also are military-inspired coats that are more of a toned-down look.
"Two important colors are camel and winter white," he says. "We haven't seen these colors in a while, but they are coming back. They convey a sense of luxury. You also will see reds and powder blues and navy. Black is always a mainstay. So you can't go wrong with black." The parka-style coat with a fur or faux-fur hood is a great look, says Michael Carl, fashion director for Allure. Neutral hues, such as putty, camel and army green; classic black and white; and bold colors give even more options. Burberry's pewter wadded-down coat with belt and fur-trimmed hood is "a slimmer take on a winter classic," says Karen Peter, vice president and general manager of Saks Fifth Avenue, Downtown. Or choose a black-amethyst-check goose-down belted vest by Burberry, which is perfect for travel, she says. "This season, coats are all about color and prints with a retro feel," says Lindsay Taylor Huggins, senior fashion market editor for Self magazine. "Some will have a banded collar with a flare at the hem. In the past, coats were more masculine, but you won't see as many of those style coats this winter. Shorter coats and coats with belts are on trend." If a belt on a coat is detachable, feel free to replace it with one of your own to express your fashion personality. When searching for coats, look for one that's big enough to cover a chunky knit sweater, heavy turtleneck or blazer. "In the store, put the coat on and bend and stretch and see if you can touch your toes, because there's nothing worse than a coat that doesn't fit," Taylor Huggins says. "If you can't button it or the buttons are pulling, go to the next size. "You definitely want a coat that fits. You can own the most fashionable coat in the world, but if it doesn't fit, what good is that?"
