Wrap up warm this winter

But now it seems winter is well and truly here to stay. That means a wardrobe change is in order. Although those pretty summer tea dresses and wedged sandals will have to move to the back of the wardrobe, that doesn't mean their replacements should be in the form of dull, unexciting clobber in various shades of grey. The weather might shout dreary mizzle from the rooftops, but your wardrobe won’t.

What better place to start than with a new coat. Your coat will be your identity to the outside world when going about the daily grind: commute, office, commute. So don't let your coat fool people into thinking you are not even remotely interested in style. Your coat should be as fashionable as the clothes it covers. However, don't put fashion above all else and wear a flimsy denim jacket when it is 5 degrees outside and raining cats and dogs.

Thankfully, coats and jackets manage to combine style and practicality these days. It used to be that you either had a practical coat that your mum would be proud of, or a tiny, barely there jacket which was only meant to be worn in an LA winter. This season however is awash with macs that protect from the rain yet speak sexy sophistication, faux fur jackets to snuggle up in against the cold and utility jackets for casual cool, crisp winter days. You can even match your coat with your LBD for all those Christmas and New Year’s parties you’ll no doubt be attending as sequin jackets are the jackets to be seen in this season.

Well known high street brands such as New Look offer a great selection of coats online and in store, and because they are such good value you can afford to have a few different coats, depending on your mood, style of the day and what on earth the weather is doing. It offers everything from macs to duffels in various colours, all of which are easily livened up with a bright and luxurious pashmina for when the temperatures dip with the sun.