As the proud owner (hoarder?) of many coats and jackets, I have become familiar with an endless number of coat brands over the years, but there are a select few that can be relied on time and again for their quality, design and, above all, durability. A good coat should last a lifetime, not a season. That many of my favourite coats are vintage and pre-loved, sourced from eBay and vintage stores worldwide, is only testament to that fact.
While I personally prefer to shop for vintage styles—it’s hard to replicate the worn-in feel of an aged leather jacket—I can also vouch for the unmatched silhouettes of Prada, which has long specialised in timeless outerwear. (Fall/winter 2024 saw letterman jackets, double-breasted tailored coats and funnel-neck coat-dress hybrids take to the runway.)
Dries Van Noten is another designer that has an affinity for expertly-crafted coats. At his final show for his eponymous brand he, like Prada, explored funnel necklines—a cut that has also been championed by Phoebe Philo, another outerwear aficionado. And during his tenure at Ferragamo, Maximilian Davis has made beautiful coats his signature.
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Prada
“It’s strange, because, every single morning I have to decide if I am a 15-year-old girl or an old lady,” Miuccia Prada told Wendell Steavenson in Vogue last year. Ms. Prada was referencing a personal dressing conundrum, but polarisation of age is something she explores in her collections, too. When talking specifically about the coats she designs, her “old lady” side came through in the Barbour-like barn jackets of spring/summer 2024, and the aforementioned tailored styles the following season, while any “15-year-old girl” would relish the youthfulness of the lettermans and fitted cropped leather jackets from fall/winter 2024.
Prada coat, $5,700, available here.
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Cos
Any seasoned high-street shopper will attest to the quality and endurance of a Cos coat. The brand has permanent stock of timeless styles, which this season includes double-breasted wool takes, quilted jackets and puffers, some of which debuted on the runway in New York at the brand’s fall/winter 2024 show.
Cos coat, $390, available here.
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Toteme
Toteme founders Elin Kling and Karl Lindman—partners in life and work—pride themselves on their hero pieces. “We believe from a creative point of view, it’s extremely important to challenge ourselves and keep developing. But, at the same time, if something works we like to keep working with that, we don’t like to dismiss things if they were made a few seasons ago. We like to embrace past styles,” Lindman previously told British Vogue. Among them: the brand’s viral scarf jacket—which has been in and out of stock (and aggressively copied), since its initial release in 2022—and the signature, double-breasted trench coat.
Toteme coat, €810, available here.
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Frankie Shop
A hat-trick of staple items formed the foundations of The Frankie Shop’s label—an oversized blazer, tailored trousers and an Oxford shirt—and founder Gaëlle Drevet has since added an array of jackets and coats to the product roster. “Frankly I couldn’t find what I really wanted to wear,” Drevet previously told British Vogue of starting the brand. “I was looking for everyday clothes with a twist; something simple and minimal that had an edge—think business attire, but not boring.” Now, a decade on, Drevet has kept her word.
Frankie Shop coat, US$505, available here.
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Arket
For several years, it’s felt like a large proportion of London—and other parts of the UK, and its native Stockholm—has gravitated towards Arket’s longline puffer coats. The styles have been sold out and restocked multiple times and have become a key facet of the label’s winter offering. For 2024, alongside new takes on its trusty puffer, the brand also delivers pile jackets, wool outerwear (short and long), plus leather and nylon styles.
Arket coat, $399, available here.
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Flippa K
Filippa K is to thank for my favourite black coat. The brand’s soft belted wool coat—a relaxed yet tailored style crafted from a heavy, recycled wool-blend— can be easily layered atop knitwear and basics; fastened with either buttons or the enveloping belt for extra warmth. This season, I’ve got my eye on the light brown, double-breasted brushed-wool coat and padded parka.
Flippa K coat, US$990, available here.
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Massimo Dutti
Minimalism defines Massimo Dutti’s outerwear offering. Cut with clean lines and simple, no-fuss shapes, its range is made for people who prefer pared-back style. You’ll find coats of every kind in store and online, with buttons, poppers, zips, wrap and toggle closures to choose from.
Massimo Dutti coat, $795, available here.
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Uniqlo
A top-tip for shopping for outerwear at Uniqlo? Don’t forget the men’s section. There are plenty of worthy styles to pick from in both women’s and men’s—but be sure to try several sizes before buying. Our current favourites: the Hybrid Down Coat (women’s) and the Utility Blouson (men’s).
Uniqlo coat, $129.90, available here.
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Ferragamo
“I’m developing new fabrications and introducing new silhouettes to the brand, and trying to understand what the younger client needs to make it a success,” Maximilian Davis explained of his inaugural spring/summer 2023 collection for Ferragamo. Technical field jackets featured at his debut, followed by hooded nylon outerwear for pre-fall, an intricate leather bathrobe coat for fall/winter 2023 and cropped greatcoats for fall/winter 2024. Time will tell where Davis will take his Ferragamo coat propositions next.
Ferragamo coat, $10,071, available here.
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Vestiaire Collective
It’s no secret that Vestiaire Collective is brimming with hundreds of incredible vintage and pre-loved pieces, spanning clothes, accessories, jewellery and footwear. The trick to unearthing these hidden treasures? Go in with a brief of what you want—if you’re looking for a coat, try specific fabrics, shapes or even brands—be patient and set notifications if you don’t find something the first time round. After all, good things come to those who wait.
Mugler coat, $514, available here.
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The Row
“The whole exercise was to see whether, if something was made beautifully, in great fabric, with good fit, it would sell without a logo or a name on it,” The Row founders Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen said of their approach to design in 2019. “And it worked.” The label’s outerwear, indeed, is meticulously considered; crafted from luxury materials with not a whisper of branding. Akin to the rest of the ready-to-wear and accessories, the price points of The Row coats mean they’re the definition of investment pieces.
The Row coat, $6,221, available here.
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Acne Studios
Hailing from Stockholm—where temperatures are, at times, bitterly cold—it’s no surprise that Acne Studios is a go-to label for outerwear. Its biker jackets and bombers have become cult items among the street-style set—specifically, the coated leather versions, which boast a slouchy, relaxed fit with dropped shoulders.
Acne Studios coat, US$2175, available here.
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Dries Van Noten
Dries Van Noten no longer heads up his eponymous brand, but he has left behind a delightful history of designs, which avid buyers can snap up on resale sites, in addition to a wondrous archive that his successor can take inspiration from. The design studio oversaw spring/summer 2025, which featured plenty of new-season coats that weren’t necessarily limited to wear in the warmer months: the show opened with a knee-length snake-print style, followed by cinched-waist trenches and a dark-olive zipped jacket.
Dries Van Noten coat, $5,350, available here.
This story was originally published on British Vogue.
