The weather has turned. We can mention the C word.

COAT.  Not Christmas (dear lord not yet please.....)

I know I said I was going to do dresses but I'm saving that for tomorrow as I just remembered my amazing find the other day.  And it fits perfectly into my plan for wardrobe domination.  

There is something to be said for buying classics which you can wear year in year out.  But there is also something rather delicious about a new trend that won't last forever.  It certainly does the job of bringing your old wardrobe faithfuls bang up to date. 

For me, it's also a great way to inject a bit of colour into what can be (mine certainly is) a neutral palette.  As much as I adore black - like I haven't pontificated about how fab it is recently and will do so at every opportunity I get - I do like a bit of variation. 

Last year I succumbed and in the summer I managed to snaffle another one.  Talking about the coat that is check. 

I love them.  I know that this year it's all about the fur coat (and I will look at them) but they're not me (caveat being that obviously I will have one by December. Obviously).   My head has been well and truly turned by check coats.  And I thought I was done.   I thought I was totally done.  I have two and I have my beady eye on the Plumo one that I'm praying will go into the sale (I need it like a hole in the head to be honest). 

But my lovely friend Nic who is the stunning face behind the Strawberry Blonde Beauty Blog asked if I had any pointers on check coats.  So Nic, I hold you personally responsible for what I have uncovered - I am SURE I could have walked past these and not given them a second thought.  However now the wishlist has grown legs. 

With one item in particular. (this is on top of the Plumo one...)

The most beautiful coat I have seen this year.  

Brushed Checked coat from Autograph at M&S £139

And here am I in it - now this is a size 22.  Yup.  A 22.  I am not a 22 by the way but it does you an indication of how totally insane the sizing is in M&S.  Clearly it does look slightly oversized here but if that had been the only one there was, I wouldn't have thought twice about buying it.  I would say size up by perhaps two sizes (or more!) if you want it to look properly oversized as I really think it should.



Staying with the pink theme, I also saw this one in Warehouse - a more structured Crombie shape. 

Pink Check Coat from Warehouse £95



Staying on a pinky theme - moving into peachy pinky orangey to be honest, is this unusual one from Toast.  There is something stunning about this but it's going to be one of those you either adore or simply can't see the appeal at all.  The more I look at this, the more I absolutely love it. 

Toast Thea Merino Wool £235




And more orange at Monsoon. 

Chester Blanket Coat £129




(yes that is an HMV bag by my feet - presents for the 7yr old whose birthday is on Monday.  Got the most amazing retro Marvel comic note books and pencil cases as well as the Indiana Jones boxset which he has chewed our ear off about for weeks)
I love my navy check one from Hobbs but I definitely have a hole or at the very least, a total hankering for a black and white one. 

This one would was very like a winter version of my Hobbs one in monochrome. 

Houndstooth Checked Coat from Autograph £139



Also tried on a double breasted pea coat in Topshop.

Double Breasted Pea Coat Topshop £95







I have to say I do love a collarless coat - I have three now I think and I love the simplistic look of them.
New Look Check collarless coat £49.99



If you don't want a harsh black and white then this grey version from White Stuff is gorgeous. 

White Stuff Chatsworth Check coat in Greyhound £120



Alternatively - not giving you a sneak peak of my next favourite A/W colour but we haven't looked at a navy one.....

Collection WEEKEND by John Lewis, Check coat in black, grey and navy £165




And if you needed a reminder of the Plumo one I have my heart set on, then here it is.  Although I have just noticed again that it is a cardigan and I definitely don't have one of them..... 

Blanket Cardigan £149




However if you are thinking about trying the look but weren't quite sure, for less than £30, this one is a fantastic idea.   This I think could look a squidillion times more expensive in the flesh.  Total bargain. 

ASOS Throw on Coat in trapeze check was £65 now £28



Seeing as the weather appears to be turning/has turned, I feel totally justified talking coats.  And cardigans.  Have you decided which coat direction you shall be taking this year?  I need to get my navy peacoat out of storage as I have a cunning plan which I think will make it perfect.  

Photos from yesterday - good lord, what a difference a day makes.  Absolutely bucketed it down all day today.  Very much a family day, baked a cake, took the boys to basketball for two hours (they love it, my head still hurts from the reverberations) and The Husband is making steak and chips for dinner - my absolute fave.  Bring on the Strictly and The X Factor - I may not go out again on a Saturday night till Christmas. 


Navy and white striped jumper - Pull and Bear
Tan leather skirt - Zara
Navy blazer - Zara
Cheetah print skater shoes - Next 
Camel bag - Prada

This was taken at 2am after getting in from a birthday dinner last night for a dear friend.  Lovely lovely evening.  Obviously I was exceptionally sensible in limiting my consumption of alcohol.  You can tell from my eyes, can't you?  All the class and then some.  This is in my very nearly finished dressing room - next to the wall of shoes.  Not sure I can relay how excited I am about it being nearly finished.



Black crepe top - Zara
Black leather skirt - Whistles
Black and tan sandals - Clarks. 

Tomorrow I shall definitely be back with dresses and my second favourite colour of the season.