How to Choose a Winter Coat

Warmth comes from insulation and how well the coat traps air. For a cold, damp UK-style winter, a padded or fleece-lined coat with a high collar does the heavy lifting. For milder days, a wool or lighter quilted style is enough.

Details make the difference: a hood, storm cuffs and a collar that zips up over the chin keep wind out. A coat that stops warmth escaping at the neck and wrists feels far warmer than its thickness suggests.

Try it — or size it — with a jumper underneath. A winter coat that's snug over a t-shirt will feel tight over a knit, and squeezing layers actually makes you colder by flattening the air that keeps you warm.

You still want a defined shape, not a duvet. Look for room through the body and shoulders with sleeves that reach past your wrist bone, so cold air can't creep up your arms.

Longer coats cover more of you and cut wind at the hips and thighs — worth it if you wait for buses or walk a lot. A shorter length is easier to move in and better for driving or cycling.

For wet climates, a water-resistant outer shell earns its keep. Whatever the fabric, check the seams and zip feel solid — a coat lives or dies by its zip.