All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey, it’s time to throw on a coat over your outfit of the day.
The seasons are changing but that doesn’t mean your mood has to be as melancholy as that famous Mamas & Papas tune. We’re looking at it as an opportunity to breathe new life into our coat collection as temperatures tumble.
There’s no need to shrink away from wintry walks or dread the commute when you’ve got a gorgeous new coat to protect you from the elements. What used to be seen as a nightmarish shopping challenge - especially for those with curves to clothe - has become easier with every passing collection.
There’s more choice in plus size fashion than before, much to the relief of anyone who’s ever shopped for them. It’s out with the drab, shapeless tents marketed as outerwear and in with stylish coats that promise to keep you warm, dry, and looking and feeling sensational.
We’ve rummaged the rails of the best online shops in the UK to bring you the best.
From insulated (read toasty) puffers that feel like being wrapped in a high tog duvet, to lighter jackets that will see you through those transitional and unseasonably warm days, here are our favourite curve-friendly cover ups to buy now for winter.
See our favourites below
Lydia Millen Curve Italian Wool Blend Coat
This coat manages the impossible and actually has us looking forward to cold weather. The Italian wool green coat feels like something Royal fashion icon Kate Middleton might wear thanks to the smart tailoring, oversized patch pockets and pointed collar. Timeless and elegant, it’s fit for a Duchess.
Buy now £119.20, Karen Millen
Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Parka
No amount of poor weather will rain on your parade when ensconced in Uniqlo’s Ultra Light Down Parka, which is available in sizes to 3XL and comes in endorphin-raising colours. We think this lilac is particularly fetching, adding a pretty pop of colour to your ensemble. There’s also pink, white, black and navy to choose from.
It has a fold back hood which can be zipped away when needed and the whole design can be packed compactly into a stuff bag (a little like a sleeping bag bag), making it perfect to stash in the car for walks and shopping trips.
Buy now £69.90, Uniqlo
La Redoute Collections Plus Faux Leather Biker Jacket
There’s nothing like a classic biker to bring some edge to your everyday look. Recruit this faux design to toughen up wintry dresses and seasonal separates. It’s in La Redoute’s seasonal sale which means some sizes have already sold out, but there’s still UK26 and UK30 to nab if you’re quick.
On sale from £75
Buy now £30.00, La Redoute
River Island Plus faux fur lined parka jacket in khaki
Quick step around London in this wonderfully cosy parka, which comes lined with unbelievably soft faux fur. Deep pockets fasten with a zip to keep all your essentials protected while the hood will keep your head nice and dry.
Buy now £115.00, ASOS
Karen Millen Curve 2 In 1 Quilted Gilet Coat With Zip Off Sleeve
Country-style glam made for a plus size? Erm, yes please! You can pick up this double breasted padded wine-coloured coat with a self-tie belt over at Karen Millen, which now offers a plus size collection so good we’re struggling to choose just one thing we want. This smart coat comes in a size range spanning UK18 - UK20 and has equestrian feels. When spring arrives, you can unzip the sleeves and wear it as a gilet instead - genius!
Buy now £119.20, Karen Millen
La Redoute Collections Checked Wool Mixed Coat
There’s a reason why sheep wouldn’t be seen in anything but wool over winter. Aside from it being biologically impossible for them to grow any other kind of fur, the texture is naturally waterproof yet breathable, and great for keeping warm.
It’s used here in this checked coat, more smart than sheepish. It features a single-button fastening with slightly puffed, rounded sleeves and pockets at the front. Finishing just below the knee, it offers a good amount of coverage for mild autumn-winter days.
Available in sizes to UK24. On sale from £155
Buy now £100.75, La Redoute
Yours Oversize Balloon Sleeve Fur Jacket
Feel the warmth of your winter outerwear investment in this impossibly soft jacket, covered in fur - including the hood. Its available up to a size 36 and comes with a drawstring hood and pockets to help keep you toasty against the elements.
Buy now £70.00, Next
Girlfriend Material Curve coat in checkerboard faux fur
If you’re after a new coat but you’re not sure about colour, you can rarely go wrong with monochrome. It needn’t be boring though, this statement coat with a checkerboard print promises to get you noticed for all the right reasons. Available in sizes 18 - 24, it’s a short but toasty coat with two front pockets to keep your mitts warm.
Buy now £89.00, ASOS
ASOS Weekend Collective Curve onion quilted jacket in lilac
Reach for this the next time you want to pull a duvet day - the long quilted coat will make you feel like you’re in an upright bed. The lilac design is available in sizes to UK30 and finishes mid-shin. It’s collarless, so you won’t feel swamped when adding a scarf, and there are two side pockets to keep your mask and keys safe when you’re popping to the shops.
Buy now £65.00, ASOS
Regatta Waterproof Remina Jacket
We Brits know that rain is just part and parcel of living in this part of the northern hemisphere. But as our Scandi cousins say, "there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes". Stay upbeat even in winter’s downpours with Regatta’s waterproof jacket, offered in sizes UK10 to UK32. As well as a water-repellent finish, there’s warming insulation too, all helping to keep you dry as a bone.
Buy now £100.00, Simply Be
