No matter how much we love to shop; we never seem to get to grips with the prospect of buying the winter coat. It all seems a little too much hard work, there are so many to choose from it’s a question of ultimate fashion or warmth. The difficulty may also stem from that begrudging feeling dwelling in our chests; is summer really over again?

Well whether we like it or not, we will definitely spend a lot longer in our winter coats than any other clothing so it’s essential to get it just right.

You winter coat isn’t just a fashion item, it must be practical too. I realise that on-trend items aren’t necessarily practical but if you’re selective; you may just got that rarity with your coat lasting for a few more winters.

It may seem rather explanatory but your coat needs to keep the cold out. It’s extremely common for ‘winter’ coats to be as flimsy as a cotton vest. Your coat just has to warm, long-lasting and reliable.

When considering which to buy, you have consider every aspect including what you might wear beneath you coat, the length, the style and of course the colour. These are all factors in helping you choose the right coat for you.

The length of the coat is the first thing you need to consider when choosing your winter coat. If you are a person who tends to wear trousers, then you will get away with any coat length whereas somebody preferring to wear skirts; will not suit a long coat at all. You don’t want to feel embarrassed, choice your coat with your wardrobe in mind and you will complete an outfit. Rather than simply lumbering on a large puffy jacket ‘just because’ it’s winter.

The style of the coat is obviously very important; this needs to be chosen with your body shape in mind. An A-line is perfect for more pear-shared women; longer anorak style coats suit the fuller figure and belted are perfect for the curvier woman.

Finally, once you’ve made a decision on the style and shape you can now move onto the fun bit: colour. This completely depends on personal preferences, if you’re a more vibrant woman then bright reds, blues and greens would be great. A crisp sharp block colour will always be in style, adding a little colour to the dreary winters.