There’s nothing quite like a good coat. You could be wearing the shabbiest outfit underneath (or maybe even nothing at all underneath, if you’re that way inclined) but with a good coat on top, you’ll always look polished and pulled together. A good coat is the ultimate tool for the lazy fashionista.

I was sent this timeless trench coat by Lands’ End – I have a couple of trench coats that I usually save for spring, but the cosy button-in lining (which can be removed for warmer weather) makes this one winter appropriate.

Trench, c/o Lands’ End | Sweater, French Connection | Jeans, Levi’s | Heels, Clarks c/o Sarenza | Necklace, Primark | Clutch bag, c/o Carried Away

I kept my accompanying outfit quite classic – there’s something about a trench coat that makes me come over all Parisian. I dressed down in denim and stripes with a flash of leopard print and a slick of red lipstick, but that’s the beauty of the trench – it works over an LBD for a fancy night out or over jeans and a tee for a trip down the shops. The ultimate wardrobe multi-tasker.

My pièce de résistance (there’s that French thing again) is this beautiful handmade clutch bag, kindly sent to me by Becky, the lady behind London-based Carried Away. It’s a custom design featuring lots of little birds and I just adore it. And it matches my nails. Perfect.

This amazing illustration of the bloggers involved in the Lands’ End project, wearing different pieces from their outerwear collection, was created by Natalie Lines. 

Do you have a classic trench coat in your wardrobe? Let me know how you’d style it!

I’ve lived in Yorkshire for 27 years but surprisingly, have never owned a wax jacket (or a flat cap or a ferret, stereotype fans!). I remember my granddad’s – creased with use, smelling strongly of wax, worn when out walking in the bitterest of weather. A wax jacket – or more specifically, a Barbour jacket – is the staple of the traditional Yorkshireman, but it’s only recently that the brand has enjoyed a rather fashionable revival.

British heritage is huge right now, and Barbour is up there with Hunter as a classic brand coming back into the mainstream. Collaborations with Liberty and William Morris and sightings on celebs like Kate Moss and Alexa Chung mean Barbour has found a place with the fash pack, as the countryside coat du jour. 

Over the past year I’ve developed a slight obsession with British heritage brands (first Hunter, then Mulberry) and a classic Barbour wax jacket has been on my wishlist for some time. So my day was made when Barbour contacted me about working together, offering to send me a jacket of my choice. I went for a style from the Liberty collection (of course, I mean… look at it!) – the Liberty Beadnall in Olive Forest Floral.

It hasn’t been off my back since the day it arrived at my studio (amid much cooing and stroking from my fellow Duke Studios residents… male and female). It’s one of the most versatile jackets I’ve ever owned – keeping me warm when the wind’s blowing but not suffocating me when the sun shines. The muted olive colour goes with everything and that flash of Liberty print… sigh. True love right here, my friends.

Jeans, Levi’s | Jumper, French Connection | Jacket, c/o Barbour | Scarf, Somerset by Alice Temperley c/o John Lewis | Flats, c/o Jane Shilton | Necklace, ASOS | Sunglasses, Jigsaw (prescription)

Despite gracing the world’s most fashionable shoulders, the Barbour jacket is still quite a practical piece, and it’d be easy to wind up looking a bit farmer-esque while wearing it. But with a spot of simple styling, it looks far more chic than… sheep.

I noticed this glorious wooded path while driving to the car boot sale last weekend, so Rob and I nipped back with the camera the next day to take these photos. Leopard print flats are definitely not the most suitable footwear for slightly soggy tracks, and we did get a few odd looks from dog walkers… but it was worth it, as I love how Rob’s photos came out.

As for the outfit, my favourite denims paired with a classic striped sweater and the aforementioned flats rather than wellies (or – god forbid – hiking boots) work for city shopping as well as countryside rambles. Although I concede that hiking boots are probably better for the latter.

What do you think of the classic Barbour wax jacket? Would you wear one? And if so, how would you style it?

You may have noticed those two fluffy friends in the sidebar – Barbour are currently hosting a Christmas Competition with different prizes on offer every week, including £500 to spend with the brand. For a chance to win, read the deets here and look out for those sheep… wherever they’re hiding!

With the nature of the weather here in the UK, it’s difficult to have a truly seasonal wardrobe. You often find yourself wearing a light autumn jacket in the height of summer, or digging out the flip flops mid-October. Many items in my wardrobe can serve through a typical British summer (that’ll be rain, grey skies and three days of sunshine, then), a blustery autumn and a sub-zero winter. And with a few minor adjustments, this leopard print wrap dress is one of those temperature multi-taskers.

I last wore it with bare legs, a cropped jacket and ankle boots here – a lovely autumnal outfit, but one that’s easy to recreate for the colder months.

Dress, Zara | Leather jacket, Michael Kors via TK Maxx | Boots c/o Bertie | Scarf, Juicy Couture via charity shop | Bag, Mulberry

This floaty chiffon dress is perfect for sunny days but the key to dressing it for colder ones is layers. Here I’m wearing a long sleeved tee, a cotton cardigan and thick tights. Sturdy leather boots and a chunky, woolly scarf finish the look and keep me cosy.

Sadly there’s nothing I can do to stop my hair looking terrible when the wind blows… any ideas?!

How do you wear your warm weather pieces through winter?