Purchasing a new item of clothing can be a beautiful moment – until you wear that item to death, which is why purchasing a coat is so important. You could potentially be stuck with it for a while (especially sufferers of British weather syndrome).

Investing in a good coat is like investing in a good pair of shoes – do it right and you could get a lot of wear from it. Do it wrong, and that thick, yellow and grey plaid fleece that once hung so proudly in your favourite shop now only makes an appearance on Buy, Sell & Swap five times a day – a joy for all of your Facebook friends (seriously, stop that).

The two most important aspects of purchasing a good coat is firstly its durability, of course. Nobody likes a coat with split pockets or a broken zip, so go for quality. Secondly, you want to make a statement, but not to the point where it eventually comes across gimmicky. Remember, you might have to wear this every single day.

If you’re very fashion forward, stick to a nude or dark colour rather than a print as this wont overshadow your outfits.

For the ladies, a long camel coloured trench coat with a strong and structured lapel or collar makes a statement as its both smart and stylish. Perfect for office days but also for evening drinks with a slinky little black dress underneath. For the men, the exact same thing would apply. A sexier but still appropriate alternative would be a navy blue or black trench coat. Unlike t-shirts and jumpers, it’s important that a coat fits like a glove, not to give the impression you’re playing dress up in your parents clothes. I think we can all come to agreement that there’s nothing more silly looking than when a boy is wearing a suit blazer that’s too big for him.

Good quality, structured, well-fitted, smart and not garish is exactly what we’re looking for – take any one of these qualities away and your coat will most likely end up at the back of your wardrobe formed like a used tissue.

Happy coat shopping!