Trend Hunting for Autumn/Winter 2014

Coats are an essential aspect of any wardrobe during the chilly winter months, being as they are a piece of clothing that you want to keep for several seasons, even several years perhaps, they are some of the most coveted items from the runway.

Numerous choices were offered on the podiums, and with an increasing emphasis on comfort, oversized, enveloping coats were heavily featured. Other desired elements include long sleeves and high collars, and soft material based on wool and cashmere.

Christophe Lemaire, artistic director at Hermes, spoke about the coats offered by the brand this season. “There is a generosity in the volumes, in the size and comfort; something that frees movement. I like liberated and determined women who can move in their clothes,” he said.

Neutral tones are popular, but many labels also offer coats with more vibrant colors, and capes also seem to gain a little more popularity with each passing year.

Lightweight parkas were a feature of Stella McCartney’s collection.

With outerwear offerings seen on the runways of all of the best designers, including Damir Doma, Giorgio Armani, Jil Sanders, Lacoste, Celine, Michael Kors, Cedric Charlier, Derek Lam, Hermes, Haider Ackermann, Costume National, Jacquemus, Leonard, Christopher Kane, Barbara Casasola, Etro, Burberry Prorsum, Kenzo, Saint Laurent, Public School, Fendi, Prabal Gurung, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, DSquared2, Donna Karan, Chloe, Thankoon, Yohji Yamamoto, Stella McCartney, Christopher Kane, Zadig & Voltaire, Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant, Moncler Gamme Rouge, Chloe and Topshop Unique, there has never been a better time to go coat shopping.