Mary Smith

Buying a good quality, long lasting winter coat or jacket is a serious investment. And even more so these days when times are tough and money is tight. You need something to keep you warm on those frosty days, but you also want something affordable and stylish.

Buying the right coat for you is actually all about personality – you need a coat to match yours. Also, because you will be wearing your coat more than anything in your wardrobe, it will have to be comfortable, practical and flattering.

Some points to consider when purchasing a coat or jacket:

• Do not buy a sweeping, ankle length coat if you are constantly driving, taking the bus or Tube or taking escalators. Your coat needs to be comfortable, and a long, thick coat will not do in these circumstances.

• Don’t choose a coat that is too tight. Remember that you will be wearing clothing under your coat, so buying a tight coat will make it uncomfortable. Opt for a size or two bigger than your usual size. Generally, coats tend to look better if they are slightly looser and slouchier on the body. Also, your coat should last you for years, so you need to consider possible weight gain.

• Don’t be put off by a coat with an existing belt. You can always chop and change the belt if you prefer.

• Experiment with colour. A bright red coat is vibrant and will cheer you up on even the most dreary winter days. But also be practical. Choose a colour that will match the majority of the clothing in your wardrobe.

• Buy two in different colours if you want to. You can use the lighter one for day wear, while the darker one can be worn at night.

• Think about what you will be wearing underneath the coat. If you are the type who only wears a coat in the cold and immediately takes it off once you get indoors, then a normal size coat will do. But if you shiver at the thought of winter and usually wear several layers of clothes, consider a bigger size coat.

• Make sure the sleeves are big enough to accommodate a thick winter sweater underneath. Also, make sure that the hemline is long enough to cover dresses and skirts.

• Do choose a classic coat that will stand the test of time. Trends are never a good thing to follow, as they are in the one season and out the next. A coat is an investment, so it needs to last you a long time. You wouldn’t want to spend a lot on a trendy coat that you cannot wear next year.

• Check that your coat or jacket has sufficient buttons or fastenings so you can wrap up from the neck all the way to the knee. Some coats do not have a button at the neck, so you will need to wear a scarf to keep the chill out.

Author bio

This article was written by The White Company and offers tips on purchasing a coat or jacket for winter.

There are some people in this world who already have everything – and more – that they can possibly want. They have all the gadgets they want, they can take as many vacations as they want, they can even drink as much coffee as they want without getting heart palpitations.

These are the type of people for whom it is incredibly difficult to buy a gift. Nothing – or very few – gifts are eligible to excite them: they’ve seen it all, they’ve been everywhere and they’ve experienced so much more than the regular Joe and Jane Soap.

Or perhaps you want to spoil or surprise someone who is just a general all-around nice person. Someone who would appreciate the thought that goes with a dressing gown you had personalised especially for them.

The good thing is that pyjamas won’t ever go out of style so something such as a dressing gown as a gift will always be a classy way of showing appreciation or as a gift, no matter what the occasion. Couples who are about to enter the world of marriage are often the recipients of dressing gowns – or other pyjamas such as nightdresses – that have their initials embroidered on the lapels.

But other people, even those who are not about to jet off to a honeymoon in the Maldives, can benefit from getting pyjamas that proclaims their ownership. There is a reason why dressing gowns lend themselves to showcasing their owners’ initials. One of the most foremost reasons is that these pieces of clothing are highly personal and people are aware of that. This is why they enjoy wearing pyjamas that contain something about themselves.

The obvious place that showcases such a design the best is in front, on the lapel, which is a little piece of cloth that is folded over. This is something that is peculiar to dressing gowns; nightdresses and other types of pyjamas do not have this feature.

Choose the best type of dressing gown that you can get and ensure it is something that the recipient will treasure for a long time afterwards.

Author bio:

The White Company wrote this article about how to ensure the recipient of a dressing gown enjoys it for a long time.