Slip into the new spring coats: They’re grown-up, flattering and effortlessly elegant

What’s longer than a jacket, lighter than a parka and trickier to find than daffodils in December? The perfect spring coat, of course.

For something that sounds so simple, I’ve often found the notion of the ‘transitional cover-up’ a fiendish wardrobe riddle. Arctic blasts, patchy sunshine, endless drizzle … the only way to survive early spring in style is with lots of removable layers — and your coat needs to work over the top of them all.

Finding one that looks and feels good is surely all the more important at the moment, when all our sartorial attention is focused on the one daily walk many of us are taking. 

Coat, £325 & trousers, £150, lkbennett.com Top, £79, baukjen.com Shoes, £39, topshop.com Bag, £35.99, mango.com

Green coat, £48, River Island at very.co.uk Shirt, £110, jigsawonline. com Jeans, £99, baukjen.com Shoes, £120, dunelondon .com

Green coat, £48, River Island at very.co.uk Shirt, £110, jigsawonline. com Jeans, £99, baukjen.com Shoes, £120, dunelondon .com

Shed the tracksuits, and step out in style – you’ll feel so much better for it. For many moons, come February, I’d step out of my Yeti-style faux furs and wool maxi-coats and brave the next few months in a denim jacket. But last year, I decided enough was enough and embarked on a mission to find the perfect in-between coat.

I hit the jackpot with a cool, check belted mac from the Uniqlo collaboration with London designer J.W. Anderson. 

It’s made from a rubberised cotton that is both paper thin and structured. Cut large and capacious, but with a belt to cinch in the waist, it’s one of the hardest-working pieces in my wardrobe.

Coat, £400, essentielantwerp. com Top, £6, marksandspencer. com. Trousers, £68, jigsaw-online.com Shoes, £120, dunelondon.com

Coat, £400, essentielantwerp. com Top, £6, marksandspencer. com. Trousers, £68, jigsaw-online.com Shoes, £120, dunelondon.com

Coat, £95, asos.com Shoes, £59.99, zara.com Bag, £21.75, topshop. com Hoop earings (worn throughout), £230, dinnyhall.com

Coat, £95, asos.com Shoes, £59.99, zara.com Bag, £21.75, topshop. com Hoop earings (worn throughout), £230, dinnyhall.com

Zero in on a thin material for maximum comfort in fluctuating weather, but avoid anything too flimsy. If you have a fuller figure, a fluid coat over chunky layers will give you curves where you didn’t even think you had them.

This season, there are fabulous flared styles online like the gingham swing-back coat from Hobbs (£249), and this pleated white trench from Reiss (£385). There are other delicious new takes on the trench, including pastel hues, such as the duck-egg blue option from Topshop (£79).

My award for Best in Category goes to Asos for this version with a contrast-check collar (£95). I’m also in love with Essentiel Antwerp’s sumptuous pajama-style long jacket with turned-back sleeves. Perfect for giving cosy knits and jeans a bit of pizzazz, and for slipping on over summery dresses when the time comes. Layering difficulties won’t get the better of me this year!

Pleated trench coat, £385, reiss.com Courts, £25, asos.com

Pleated trench coat, £385, reiss.com Courts, £25, asos.com

Coat, £85, topshop.com Dress, £310, Stine Goya at irisfashion.co.uk Bag, £215, russelland bromley.co.uk Shoes, £65, topshop.com

Coat, £85, topshop.com Dress, £310, Stine Goya at irisfashion.co.uk Bag, £215, russelland bromley.co.uk Shoes, £65, topshop.com

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