Outerwear: Getting to Work is One Thing, Getting There in Style is Another

Mackage is known for their luxurious and stylishly modern coats. They are pure sophistication. Toggle closures are popular this season, and can give off a sporty vibe. Here though, they are sleek and polished to a matte finish with leather closures and trim – a perfect way to interpret a sportier trend and make it a beautiful piece to wear to the office. But it stays practical with it’s 2-way zipper, ideal for a long car rider or commute on the bus/train. The material is a wool and cashmere blend, so it’s soft and luxe looking, while the back belt tab provides a slimming shape at the waist. It also has a detachable hood – but this is no ordinary detachable hood. When zipped off, it leaves behind a gorgeous wide collar (there is a snugger inner collar, as well, for additional warmth). Click through the “shop it” button to see it in action.

J. Crew has found one of our favorite ways to add additional warmth to a sumptuous Italian wool coat. They have added Thinsulate ® lining, which is a thin fiber insulation used in clothing. And boy does it work. Since it’s thin, it doesn’t add bulk to the look of the coat, which is designed simply, with a clean waist detail and button closure that comes to the knee. Like the J. Crew coat we featured in Clothes & Conversation this week, it also comes in a large array of sizes (petite to tall, 00-16) and a beautiful array of colors – the bittersweet chocolate (shown) and the misty lilac are our favorites. This versatile coat looks great with sporty or dressy scarves, hats, and gloves, so you’ll get plenty of use out of it.

Of course, we’re going to select a Burberry style when talking about outerwear. In Clothes & Conversations this week, we showed you our favorite quilted piece from Burberry. And here is our favorite wool/cashmere blend. It’s a wintery take on Burberry’s iconic classic trench style. We love the camel – again playing up that trench feel – but the black is equally amazing. The double-breasted buttons are not overly wide, and the belt elegantly cinches the waist, so it looks great on all body types. There is zippered slash pockets that add just another fine detail to a coat that has every fine detail accounted for. This coat is the epitome of subtle luxury.

When wearing a coat, there are really only a couple ways to get any waist definition – through a belt, or through some kind of waist detail. Via Spiga took inspiration from a fit-and-flare dress style to create the silhouette of this feminine coat. The swingy, skirted bottom looks beautiful over dresses (and pants), and is especially great for someone with a pear or hourglass shape, as it shows off the waist so effortlessly. We’re showing the winter white because we love the simple sophistication - it’s especially stylish with camel and grey – but it comes in classic black and navy, too.

If you are petite, don’t be intimidated by the longer length of this DKNY coat. Everyone can – and should – embrace this look. A quick trip to your local tailor (or a Nordstrom store) for a quick hem to the length is worth it. The faux leather trim at the sleeve cuffs and back belt create some chic details, and are practical in all kinds of weather – we love how they pop against the deep navy of the coat. It’s long length accommodates all types of work wear, which is it’s biggest selling point – a long cardigan, blazer, or longer skirt/dress all work effortlessly with this coat.

Cinzia Rocca makes exceptional coats from the highest quality Italian fabrications. They’ve been doing it since 1953, so they’ve got it down. The aesthetic is geared toward what the Mark Shale woman likes best – modern and timeless luxury. That is perfectly illustrated in this absolutely yummy 100% wool coat with hidden snap closures. Sure, the simple lines and rich tobacco color are gorgeous, but it’s modernized with an extended knit trim at the cuff and color. This detail works easily over whatever you’re wearing, as will leather gloves and any scarf. Cinzia Rocca is more of a relaxed fit, so consider sizing down if you are between sizes, for this one.

The rabbit fur and leather detailing on this Andrew Marc asymmetrical zip front coat is ideal for anyone looking for a little stylish update to their everyday coat. But that bit of style adds more than a bit of function – when you snap up the collar, you will experience tons of cozy warmth from that rabbit fur. You won’t even need a scarf. And the leather details sleekly work with in any black leather gloves. Back waist detail provides a slimming look, but not too much taper, so it easily works over most work wear.

There’s no reason we can’t have a little pop of color in our work coat – especially when it’s in this timeless red (that also happens to be a very stylish color this season). The boucle fabric keeps the color rich and sophisticated, while the A-line silhouette is very waist flattering. The buttons are tortoise color, so it looks beautiful with a rich brown leather gloves.