Every October at the end of half term, I drag my winter coats out of storage, dust them off, bemoan the fact they are still covered in what I like to call “random child crap”, trawl through said pile of winter warmers and claim that I have nothing to wear. Despite this pile, I then promptly wear the same two or three coats that I wear every winter! This year, I have another coat to add to my regular winter repertoire collection, and have gone one step further…. the cool, checked pattern will hide all kinds of child related gam.
I have been obsessed with plaid since it hit the fashion radar circa 1994 ( is that 25 years ago?!) when I saw Cher from Clueless wearing a red gingham coat. An unlikely style icon, I know, but there is nothing better than channelling a retro style to make this shattered mum of three feel rocking again! With my new Netflix obsession of Stranger Things 2 taking inspiration from all those awesome 1990’s movies, I have every excuse to do the same.
I have plaid shirts in all kinds of variations and have always wondered why I haven’t come across a plaid coat that I liked- one that is both subtle and fun. Until now. Good old Isabel Marant has clearly done it again with this Gino Oversized Checked Wool blend coat from her Etoile collection, that I can literally throw on over anything. All I want to do, when it is late on a Monday evening, and I have to collect my son from his after school club in the dark, is kick off my slippers, put on some shoes, and throw a coat over my tracksuit bottoms and run out the door. This coat does that job perfectly – casual but also a bit glam, so I don’t look like a bedraggled slob at pick up.
It is also oversized, which means I can wrap it shut and feel like I am snuggling into a lovely soft coat, whilst standing in the dark. And yet, despite being oversized, this little beauty has shape thanks to the subtle tailoring details, so it is super flattering. Here at NotSuchAModelMum, we are big fans of dropped shoulders – this design detail adds a relaxed vibe to any item of clothing and suit every shape and size, and loads of designers are now adding this feature to their winter coats, and we love it! The heavyweight wool blend gives this winter warmer some added weight despite the fact that it is unlined. So, in really cold weather, layer this one up with a cosy jumper.
Jumping on the plaid coat bandwagon, I have found lots of other high street and non high street designers doing their version of the gingham coat and have lined up some beauties below. It seems like everyone is going retro, and style leaders are coming from unlikely places. Right, now its time to wrap up in my Cher- style coat and watch episode 4 of Stranger Things 2. Anyone else care to join me?
Gino oversized coat here.
Joseph trousers here.
Run DMC t shirt here.
