Womens Winter Coats- A Masculine Twist.

Womens Winter Coats- One For Every Style

Womens winter coats can be a tricky choice but it’s one that’s on every womens mind coming into the winter season. Wool, tweed, trench, army, waterproof, hood, no hood, fur, pockets, double breasted aaaaaand so on. The list is endless in the variation of coats you can choose from, and that’s not even including your choice in colour. However, one of this seasons biggest (and we mean that in more than one sense) trends is masculine coats. So many runways sported the masculine coat on the AW 2013 catwalks. Today’s post talks you through the past of masculine coats, the catwalk looks, a style guide to what you should be wearing with it and a little nudge towards a more feminine style option.  

Womens Winter Coats- It’s A 1940’s Rework

We knew we had seen this look before, but what we didn’t realise is that it comes from way back in the history books. Masculine shapes began emerging during WW2 but it wasn’t until after the war that those shapes became integrated into the latest fashion trends. We loved looking through all the images of old magazine covers and picking out our favourite womens coat shots. Well illustrations but you know what we mean! The image left showed a more tailored look tying in with natural womanly curves but with all the features and fastenings that resembled mens coats. On the right a French publication showed how the look could still be chic (as the French do so well) with oversized shapes teamed with an almost pea coat style. A previously mens only coat style.   The trench coat also became a popular style for womens fashion with more delicate features and detailing than that of the mens coat style. Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca would have been one of the style icons for men wearing trench coats (and no wonder, he was such an amazing character … swoon.) but they would soon have to work hard to stop their girlfriends stealing their coats. Every woman wanted one, and could look great in a mens coat too simply by tightening the waist. As a womens winter coat of choice, the trench coat was a hit and a half.    

Womens Winter Coats- The Catwalk Edit

So, we have covered how the masculine coats got here (well a basic overlook anyway) and now it’s time to look at what they are up to in the current trends. A touch of the trench coat was seen in a wool rework at Phillip Lim. It’s all in the detail with this one. The unusual cut on the lapel creates an almost layered shape. The belt buckle detail at the waist gives not to a feminine shape without taking away from the mens coat feel. We absolutely love the rich teal colour choice too, luxury in a tonal way. Alexander Wang also gave a nod the more traditional shape with a reworking of the pea coat another mens coats essential. We love the trim along the lines of this wool coat. The lines themselves are plentiful with an interesting waist shape and double layer lapel. The double breasted style is one of our favourites this season, double the layers, double the warmth right?   The quilted chain-strap bag also worked the pea coat shape, but in their own way with a longer back and block cut out front. Despite the interesting bottom half, the rest is quite traditional with everything from the buttons to the pockets strongly resembling the mens version of these coats. A different, simpler shape was seen at The relaxed bohemian blouse with an oversized blazer shape. The simple cut is complemented with a tweed style fabric and a navy panel. Navy is pretty big this season too, did you read Navy The New Way?  If not give it a look and see just how to wear navy this season. After more of a colour pop?The structured leather tote showed a bright cobalt blue ensemble with an oversized off the shoulder coat. Yep it’s bright it’s bold and it’s down right gorgeous. Oh and a touch of blue in the shoe brings the whole thing together. For a more subtle pop look to Jil Sanfer who opted for a charcoal grey long line double breasted coat with a burnt orange stripe in the lower layer. The stripe draws the eye down creating a longer silhouette as well as giving a slimming effect. Not that models need it, but we IKRUSH girls love a flattering design.   Our final designer brand was actually involved in the 1940’s style evolution introducing what they called the ‘New Look’ with nipped in waists maximum volume hips and shoulders and an overall hourglass shape. That’s right it should sound familiar, becauseThe elegant couture dress are still going for these kind of shapes from season to season in one way or another. The retro vibe at the shoe was seen in interesting collars, nipped in waists and simple subtly volume giving lines.     Despite this classy shape, the show it’s self was a bit more modern, almost verging on the odd side of things…     We do however love the overall look in the make-up department. The brand even tweeted to show off the make up style in a video, check it out!  

Mystic Metallics Fall Makeup collection, the film. More on http://t.co/qhOFOtSg4r https://t.co/0ZAT61wNkDThe luxury fashion house August 23, 2013

    Womens Winter Coats- What To Wear It With One of our favourite bits about thinking ahead and looking at what style coat we want for winter, is being able to prepare exactly how we will wear each of these looks. Time for an IKRUSH style guide to masculine coats. When it comes into winter, one of the things most of us will be doing is working out how to keep warm and dry with out loosing out on our own style and the latest fashion trends. This outfit gives just the right combo with an oversized knitted jumper (check out An Update On Your Knitwear for more knitwear trend and style guides.) and some super cute but rather practical biker boots. For the perfect warm bottom layer that will look good even as you warm up indoors why not try our cowl neck jumper dress teamed with leggings? Wear this look with a charcoal grey oversized blazer style for a versatile coat.     When you want to look glamorous on a night out a chunky masculine oversized coat may not sound like the best of ideas but we have just the idea. As we mentioned before mens coats look great when they are worked to enhance your curves. Why not work this underneath too with our party ready sequin skirt matched with a gold chain detail black peplum top. This will create hour glass figure that will dazzle on the dance floor. Our fav heels for this look are a pair of strappy heel shoes with gem detailing. Delicately lady like. Wear this look with a oversized trench coat for the ultimate in retro inspired glamour. For more of this trend why not give Vintage Style- In a Cinematic Fashion a read?     Our last look takes not from a whole other era and is in keeping with the Tartan Trend. Mod isn’t a look for everyone but if your feeling a bit brave, you’ll get some massive style kudos with this one. Wear our panel tartan leggings with a plain polo neck with mid length sleeves for a look that will take you back decades. We love our cut out boots teamed with this for an other on trend extra. Wear with a black or charcoal oversized pea coat to give your modern a bit more mod.  

 

 

Womens Winter Coats- Why Not Try a More Feminine Touch?

If your thinking masculine coats are a bit too ‘well they are just mens coats really’ then not to worry, there is a whole other side to masculine coats that will satisfy your girly side. In our blog Grey and Pastels we look at how pastel has worked it’s way into the AW 2013 trend. The sneaky devil…   By Mhairi O’Neill @IKRUSH_Mhairi