Best winter coats for women 2022: Elevate your cold-weather outfits

The best winter coats are an investment, both in terms of style and money. Pick well, and you'll be both snug and stylish not just for the season ahead but for many winters to come. 

As temperatures plummet, the best winter coats are there to help you beat the chill in style. The first thing anyone will see of your outfit on any given day, aside from worrying about aesthetics, you need to consider fabrication and occasion to ensure your winter coat meets your needs. 

A practical parka will help you beat the elements on a weekend walk, while a tailored wool style or trench coat will keep you cozy and smart on your commute, so before investing in the best winter coats, drill down exactly when and how you'd wear them. As with accessories, the most enduring styles will come in neutral hues of black, brown, or navy, however, the best coat trends 2022, should also be a consideration, as many traditional silhouettes in trend-led hues can still hold their own the following season. 

Best winter coats for women 2022 as selected by a fashion editor 

1. Best wool coat

There aren’t many pieces that can make even the most laid-back outfits (think a slogan sweatshirt, leggings, and a chunky trainer) feel instantly more polished - but this is where a wool coat excels. A timeless classic with boundless styling potential, it’ll take you seamlessly from work to weekend wear. Straight-cut, single-breasted styles that skim your ankles or calves will add an androgynous feel to your look (especially if you size up) while a belted wrap coat exudes effortless elegance. Just stay true to size with this shape to avoid veering into dressing gown territory. 

Reiss’ Agnes Blindseam Wool Longline Coat is our top wool coat for this season. The word “blindseam” refers to a method of hand stitching that means it’s almost impossible to detect the stitching, which adds to the premium feel. It’s unlined, allowing you to fully enjoy the smoothness and fleeciness of the wool and recycled polyester blend fabric. Wear yours open for a more casual feel (or on milder days) or belted for a cozy fit that adds definition to your frame. If you didn't love Reiss coats already, you will now.

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2. Best puffer coat

For those days when leaving the warmth of your bed feels almost impossible, snuggling into a puffer coat makes for a fair compromise. A style that was once reserved for casualwear or extreme weather conditions, the puffer coat has undergone quite the sartorial reinvention in recent years. For the fall 2022 fashion trends, Chanel and Dior sent models cozying down the runway clad in puffer jackets, while supermodel Gigi Hadid fully embodied duvet-day chic in her OTT puffer Met Gaga look. Of course, you don’t need a designer budget to get in on the action, with many straight-to-market brands creating their own versions of the fashion trend 2022 look.

A brand that manages to combine fashion and functionality when it comes to puffer coats, is Lululemon. Its Wunder Puff Waist Jacket is both extremely warm and seriously chic, with a removable hood and waist-cinching elasticated belt, that means you still maintain your silhouette in the puffed-up style. The lofty down used is certified to the Responsible Down Standard, but as the coat does contain both feathers and down it may not be suitable for all shoppers. 

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3. Best parka coat

A style of coat most associated with practicality, the humble parka is a hardworking wardrobe essential and one of the best winter coats to invest in. A quality parka will earn its keep in your wardrobe in a number of different ways, from providing a protective outer layer to bringing a utility feel to smart casual outfit ideas. Prada’s parkas were navy and belted for fall/winter 2022, while Proenza Schouler’s were forest green and flowing for the season just past. Wear yours with distressed denim or as a tool for how to style leather pants and your best Chelsea boots to lean into its cool, indie connotations. A constant when it comes to what to wear to a festival, if the parka is good enough for Kate Moss, then it's good enough for us.

With the parka's connection to the Mod scene (and prevalence in the cult film Quadrophenia), it feels right to invest in one from a British clothing brand. Best known for its wax jackets, Barbour has taken everything it knows about creating hardwearing outerwear and applied it to its Scarlet Jacket. A checked lining, gold poppers, and tapered cuffs add to the premium feel. It’s also available in black and cream, but the classic green has our vote. 

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4. Best camel coat

No piece is quite as classic as the camel coat. This season neutral hues made a return to the runway, cementing themselves as one of the biggest fashion color trends 2022. Camel in particular played a large part in this trending look and although there is a spectrum of hues often attributed the camel label, spanning from rich toffee to warm nutmeg, true camel has tones of beige, brown, taupe, and gold. Long been considered a neutral like white, black, and grey, camel is versatile enough to wear with all hues on the color wheel, making it one of the best winter coats, if you want something that will go with pretty much everything.

Italian clothing brand Max Mara has become notorious for its gorgeous camel coats, which are as coveted as a Burberry trench coat or the best Chanel bags. The price varies wildly depending on the line you’re shopping from, with its Weekend and ‘S branded pieces available for far less than the standard and Studio lines. Expect quality craftsmanship at all levels though - these are coats designed to be treasured winter after winter. 

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5. Best rain coat

A forecast of rain might dampen your day, but it needn’t dampen your outfit. Banish any thoughts of dated pack-a-macs or anoraks from your mind, the next generation of the best waterproof jackets and coats are powered by high-tech fabrics and have very much taken appearance into account. They’re not just for festivals either and have been dripping their way into our everyday wardrobes. The likes of Loewe and Lacoste have clad models in color pop raincoats in recent seasons, offering a hint of dopamine dressing in the most miserable of climes, and cementing their reinvention from fashion faux pas to fashion must-have. 

Leading the charge is the brand Rains, whose classic rubber raincoats are contemporary, cool, and completely waterproof. A Scandinavian clothing brand, its style signature means the cuts are understated and low on detail. Its Curve Jacket features a belted waist alongside deep patch pockets, with seven muted shades to choose from, all of which would slot neatly into any capsule wardrobe. 

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6. Best faux fur coat

Faux fur is synonymous with luxury, and it’s no longer just about traditional hues of brown and beige. British designer brands like Shrimps are leading the way when it comes to making faux fur bigger and bolder. For this season the silhouettes are wider, and the colors brighter than ever before, with runway-worthy options spotted at the FW22 shows of Stella McCartney, Elie Saab, and Balmain.

The White Company might be better known for its luxe homeware than outerwear, but it can be relied upon to bring a touch of opulence to your wardrobe too. We love the longline length of this faux-fur coat and the sumptuous feel of the plush fabric. The pinkiness of the mink hue is just enough to set it apart from the crowd, without being so bold, rendering it wearable for AM to PM.

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7. Best trench coat

Few coats have such all-year-round appeal as the trench. Wear yours as a lightweight layer during the seasons of spring and fall, or wear it on top of knitwear in the depths of winter. The traditional trench is straight-cut, a mid-calf length, and features both a collar and a belt, but this sartorial blueprint continues to be tweaked and reimagined season after season. Alongside classic shades of biscuity beige are prints, patterns, and bold hues. This season, while the classic structured cotton fabric remains the key option, for a more fashion-forward feel, swap it out for a more modern sleek faux, or real leather iteration. 

Burberry trench coats are always high on our wishlist, but if it's out of your budget, look to straight to market brands for similar styles. Everlane’s Long Mac Coat provides timeless quality at a snippet of the price. The cut is clean and sharp, with storm flaps to the chest and a slightly curved collar. Wear yours with a Breton top, jeans and ballerina pumps for a chic everyday look. 

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8. Best shearling coat

Blending textures is a failsafe way to add luxe to your look - the more tactile the better. Shaggy and soft, shearling is satisfyingly soft, and a premium way to stay warm when temperatures drop. It’s important to note that shearling is an animal product akin to fur, and faux options are widely available if required. The most popular style of shearling coat is undoubtedly the aviator, recognizable by its oversized shape, broad lapels, and cross-body fastening (usually a zip). The style was originally worn by pilots, before becoming a popular fashion piece. 

All Saints Serra Shearling Coat is a smart choice for anyone looking to max out the cost-per-wear of their winter coat, offering the option of two different looks. Wear with the smooth suede on show, or reverse to showcase the textured shearling. Black and deep khaki are the most timeless colorways but we’ve got a soft spot for the dusky pink and rich brown too. 

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What winter coats are in for 2022?

Want to know a fashion editor's tip? The earlier you shop for your winter coat, the better. Most brands launch their winter ranges as early as August, so it pays to invest early while there’s still plenty of stock. 

So, which are the best winter coat trends for 2022 to know about? First up, it’s all about texture, with shearling and teddy coats still giving us the fuzzy feels. Look to muted tones like black, brown, and beige for timeless appeal. Leather is also still having a moment, now adorning trenches and straight-cut coats instead of just biker jackets. 

When it comes to print and color, the bolder the better. Add some zing to your winter looks with a pop of playful Crayola brights or an eye-catching check. Keep the rest of your outfit on the quieter side to let them have their moment. 

For a coat you’ll wear winter after winter, you ideally need to think beyond trends. Instead, make your first priority understanding where you’ll wear your coat the most. Will it be to work? When walking the dog? For a special occasion? Keeping these factors in mind will not only help you to avoid splurging on something you won’t use but allow you to start visualizing how it will fit with the existing pieces in your wardrobe. 

Which coats are the warmest in winter? 

Winter coats can normally be divided into two categories: the ones that prioritize style, and the ones that prioritize warmth. But that doesn’t mean there’s not a crossover in the middle. In fact, this central section of this sartorial ven diagram is much bigger than you might think.

The first consideration when understanding how to pick a warm winter coat is fabric. Wool is a brilliant insulator, and as the fibers have gaps between them, is also nice and breathable. Keep in mind that “wool mix” doesn’t always mean substantial wool content, so check the label. Ideally, you’re looking for at least 80% to keep you toasty. Cashmere is also great at keeping the chill at bay, but this luxe fabric does come at a premium. 

Now, when most of us think of a warm winter coat, it’s normally a puffer that springs to mind. Created from down, feathers, or a vegan-friendly synthetic alternative, tiny pockets of warm air are trapped between the gaps in the padding, which works to retain heat.

Fabric and filling aside, it’s the little details that make the biggest difference. It doesn’t take an expert to understand that the longer coat, and the longer the sleeves, the warmer it will be. Taped seams that won’t let in a whisper of breeze or rain are great, as are cuffed cuffs. If you’re really facing the elements, consider investing in a coat with a hood, additional lining, and waterproof outer.