We Try Before You Buy: The Very Best Winter Coats on the Market

Our We Try Before You Buy series aims to take the stress out of shopping and eliminate the number of Post Office visits you make each month to return failed online orders. We test new-season buys and styling ideas so you don’t have to, and this month our editors road tested dozens of new winter coats to bring you their edit of the ones that are truly worth investing in.

It’s been a bright (but crisp) start to autumn, and although we usually spend the last few months of the year wistfully remembering summer, this time around we’ve been keen to pack away our shorts and sandals and lean into the cooler weather that comes with autumn/winter. Why the haste to hibernate, I hear you ask? It could only be one thing: cosy coats. Every editor I know starts thinking about the one as soon as September rolls around. That is, the one winter coat that will transform our wardrobes and often the most expensive purchase we will make all year. A good coat should be considered in the same category as handbags and boots for their longevity, after all, and once you find a coat worth investing in, what you wear underneath becomes less important than the true star of the show.

So for our latest instalment of We Try Before You Buy, we’re taking the hard work out of outerwear shopping this season and bringing you our selection of the very best coats on the market. Expect the usual suspects: wool, shearling, checks and wraps, alongside some new favourites (like my personal favourite, the scarf coat). Each is strong enough to warrant a place in your wardrobe, but we’ve thought long and hard about the styles that will cater to every personality. From sleek investment designer buys (Toteme, Max Mara and Filippa K always score highly) to some impressive affordable finds from the high street (bravo, M&S and COS), our goal is to give you the practical tips you’ll find handy when shopping for specific sizing or look and feel. So, ready to upgrade your coat collection for 2024? Keep scrolling to see and shop the winter coats that get the Who What Wear stamp of approval.

Mango Fringe Wool Blend Coat

“The moment I saw this Mango coat online, I knew I had to try it. First thing I’ll say is that it looks so expensive. I know it’s not the cheapest coat on the site, but the extra expense is justified for the 72% wool (28% polyester) and just how premium it makes an outfit look—it really elevates any outfit worn beneath it. As part of Mango’s latest Western edit—which I can’t get enough of—I love the fringed hemline at the bottom and the detachable scarf (which also has a fringe trim). For me, these details subtly allude to the Western trend and add something a bit different to an otherwise simple outerwear staple but don’t go so far you can’t consider it timeless. I guess the only concern is that it’s such a fresh, creamy hue, so you need to be careful when wearing it. I personally would save it for special occasions.” Rebecca Rhys Evans, Senior Fashion and Beauty Editor, Branded Content

Shop the Mango Fringe Coat: