The Coat is the Outfit

over 30 curated picks, my personal lineup and how I wear them

The coat is the outfit might be my favorite styling hack of all time. A stellar coat or jacket can do all the heavy lifting for you in the fall and winter months. You can be wearing the simplest basics underneath — even just jeans and a tee — but throw on a beautifully cut wool coat or a perfectly oversized leather jacket and suddenly you look effortlessly pulled together.

And because I live in SF — a really nice excuse for having an extensive jacket collection — I get to wear layers year round. Throwing on a third piece to complete my outfits has become central to my style philosophy. Over the years, I’ve slowly curated a lineup of jackets and coats I constantly reach for season after season. A standout coat is like a style multiplier in your closet — it transforms everything it touches. One investment piece can turn dozens of basics into endless elevated outfits. That’s the real magic of great outerwear.

For this edit, I’ve focused on natural fabrics and included a range of price points, sprinkling in some thoughtfully chosen high-street options. You won’t find fast fashion pieces from Zara, Mango or H&M in this roundup though (sorry not sorry.) Whether you’re in the market for a classic coat or want to explore a new silhouette this season, I’ve got you covered.

The wool wrap coat

COS belted double-faced wool coat // Aligne George wrap coat (more sizes here) // Other Stories voluminous belted wool coat // COS oversized double-faced coat // Alex Mill Georgia coat // The Curated modern coat

Investing in a neutral wool wrap coat might just be the wisest addition you’ll make to your wardrobe — it’s a piece that will pay dividends for years to come.

The scarf coat

Club Monaco double-faced scarf coat // Club Monaco double-faced cropped scarf jacket // COS leather-trimmed wool scarf coat // Banana Republic double-faced wool scarf coat. The Club Monaco and BR coats feature a detachable scarf.

The scarf style has been trending for a few years now, but it’s a classic in my book. Opt for one with a detachable scarf, so you can wear it multiple ways.

The leather coat

Reformation oversized leather bomber // Nour Hammour cropped leather jacket // Nour Hammour belted leather coat // Nour Hammour sleek leather coat // Worn Vintage Luna coat

I previously mentioned that my favorite leather jacket is an $80 vintage find from eBay. If you want to save $$, vintage and pre-loved is the way to go. My gal

Katie Casper

has a weekly roundup every Tuesday — I can vouch that she always delivers the gems. I also love

Glenn Mae

’s finds on Trash Panic, to whom I owe the pleasure of owning the vintage suede jacket of my dreams. If second-hand clothing is not your thing, that’s ok too, check out my picks above.

The suede jacket

Veronica Beard suede chore coat // Madewell suede shirt jacket // Reformation suede jacket with shearling trim // Worn Vintage nubuck jacket // Veronica Beard suede lady jacket (more sizes here)

Yummy options in a variety of silhouettes that might persuede you.

Barn + quilted jackets

Alex Mill waxed cotton jacket // Shoreditch Ski Club quilted jacket (more sizes here // Pixie Market barn jacket // Alex Mill quilted jacket

For the lucky ones who live in places with mild winters, you can probably get away with a barn or quilted jacket until January.

Bonus: Alex Mill winter drop

Italian twill double wool peacoat // reversible polar bear jacket // merino wool sweater jacket

Alex Mill dropped their winter collection just in time for this letter. I’m personally eyeing the sweater jacket (reminds me of that Toteme jacket), which I’d wear over a slim turtleneck, and who doesn’t love a cozy two fer??

My leather jacket, trench coat, and blazer picks below.

My fall wardrobe MVPs

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My FW lineup

My perennial favorites that have become the backbone of my cold-weather wardrobe — these are the pieces I reach for again and again, the ones that instantly pull any outfit together.