Boring Coats Are Done—This Winter, The Chicest People Are Reaching For Statement Styles

It's almost that time of year! No, we're not talking about the holiday season, but something even better, the layering season. With the onset of colder temperatures, we're finally able to embrace all the cold-weather essentials in our closets we love: chunky cable knits, knee-high boots, and of course, winter coats. We'd argue that the latter is the most tantalizing of them all, as there's no shortage of noteworthy outerwear trends to adopt this season, making it easy to fantasize about the prospect of dressing for frigid days. Of course, every seasoned dresser understands that any initial sentiments of excitement around this time of year will eventually be met by the staunch reality of trying to get dressed during the dead of winter. Dreary weather deadens our desire to be creative, so we must find small doses of dopamine to keep our style well, alive—enter the statement coat into the chat. For stylish people, no other item serves as the saving grace in uninspired moments quite like the statement coat.

If staples are the lifeblood of every closet, then statement coats are the coffee drip that keeps our blood pumping. Dramatic, we know, but let us explain: there's no better way to get out of a dressing rut faster than adding a fun coat into the mix. The all-black outfits we've been wearing for months? Suddenly feel bolder when we swap out our outerwear. The sensation of hating our outfit because we "have" to wear a functional coat? Gone, because there are so many other options that won't make us sacrifice our personal style. But if you're still not sold on the power of investing in a statement coat, keep reading. Ahead, we've identified 7 coat trends the style set is currently wearing in place of boring coats, along with a curated selection of the best statement coats to buy for the season. Prepare to kick your winter dressing blues to the curb, because these coats will be the shot of espresso you didn't even know your closet needed.

1. Animal Print Coats

Frankly, there's no better way to stand out from the endless herd of black outerwear this season than by opting for an animal-print statement coat. Over the last few seasons, we've seen this coat trend evolve from invading every aspect of the fashion kingdom—from the runway collections of Alaïa and Jacquemus to the Instagram feeds of our favorite influencers (for good reason). With so many different variations of this trend, ranging from classic longline leopard coats to country-inspired cow-print jackets, there's no shortage of ways to embrace your wild side on your own terms. It's no wonder that the animal print coat has become the superior species, we mean coat style, among the style crowd.

2. Faux Fur Coats

Hot take coming in three, two, one...faux fur coats have puffers beat every time. Hear us out: puffers are practical, but polished? That's a different story. Faux fur coats are the ideal alternative outerwear for the season, as they're the easiest way to stay warm without sacrificing your personal style. But you don't have to take our word for it; just look to the fall runway shows of Miu Miu, Fendi, Burberry, and many others for further proof. Even beyond the runway, we've seen this specific statement coat cemented as a staple in the minds of the style crowd because it comes in so many variations imaginable—from longline shearling coats to cropped faux fur jackets to classic-cut trenches with fur trim. Its adoption on the runways and in real life is proof that the puffer coat has serious competition.

3. Leather Coats

Once temperatures drop, there's another outerwear style that, like fur, always seems to pop back up: leather coats. Although not groundbreaking per se, we've seen this coat trend become part of the conversation thanks to recent runway collections that have transformed this style from a cult classic to a statement piece. From Saint Laurent to Gucci to Phoebe Philo, we've seen classic leather coats given contemporary updates through subtle tweaks. Whether by adapting silhouettes with wraparound scarves or funnel necks, adopting vibrant leather tones, or applying distressing techniques to create crinkled leather, they've given this otherwise "simple" staple a shockingly good update. It's these subtle tweaks that have made this trend stand out in the minds of the style set as a must-shop for the season.

4. Funnel Neck Coats

Insider intel, incoming: the best statement coats aren't necessarily over-the-top; instead, they have subtle tweaks that make them feel special. Fashion people know this fact to be true, so it's no wonder that funnel neck coats have become a fan-favorite in the last few seasons. First spotted in the fall collections of Phoebe Philo, Tory Burch, and Victoria Beckham, what makes this outerwear feel like a statement piece is its overly dramatic, yet decadent, neckline that reaches up to the chin, giving off an air of mystery. Whether you opt for the style in the form of a windbreaker for a stormy winter day or a longline wool coat with this neckline, it's the kind of statement coat that will have people thinking you stole gems from the Louvre (even if you didn't).

5. Colorful Coats

How do you transform your winter coat into a statement piece? Opt for color. As simple as it sounds, there's no faster way to break out of your winter dressing rut than by breaking free from the hold that your bland neutral coats have on you. But if you're unsure how to embrace colorful outerwear, start by looking to the fashion world for inspiration. From Max Mara to Tory Burch to Gucci's fall shows, we've seen coats in vibrant shades of red, green, pink, and other trending colors, making this classic cold-weather item even more eye-catching. Of course, it's one thing to see a runway trend; it's another, actually, to wear it, but that's where the following styling hack will come in handy: keep it simple. You can go wrong with styling your statement coat with your staples, especially if they're all black. After all, embracing the rainbow doesn't have to happen overnight—simply start with your outerwear.

6. Suede Coats

Beyond embracing color, another way to make your outerwear the focal point of your outfit is to embrace texture. Yes, there are the aforementioned options shared earlier in this story (ahem, leather and fur), but if the weather is fair, don't be afraid to go for a suede coat. Hear us out, no other outerwear style fully embodies the ethos of being a statement piece quite like a suede coat. After all, you can't wear this textile in certain types of weather, so it's far more of a "frivolous" piece than a functional one. However, that doesn't mean it can't be a foundational part of your wardrobe, as recent fall runways and fashion insiders have made a strong case for investing in this outerwear through creative styling. Whether you draw inspiration from Miu Miu's show by styling your suede bomber with a fur stole, pencil skirt, and polished pumps or take inspiration from the Scandi crowd by wearing a suede trench with a turtleneck, trousers, and trendy sneakers, there's no shortage of ways to style this trend for winter. By embracing suede coats this season, you may find that statement coats can be both fun and functional.

7. Satin Coats

Finally, there's one last statement outerwear trend worth your attention: satin coats. Similar to suede, satin is one of those more fickle textiles that hardly seem fitting for colder weather, yet we've seen the style crowd circumvent seasonal "rules" to embrace this outerwear in surplus numbers. Some of that shift in sentiment towards this coat trend can be attributed to recent runway shows, which have championed this lightweight textile in the form of dresses, shoes, and coats. But a significant driver of the revival of this statement coat trend has been the style crowd itself, who have begun to forgo waiting for a special occasion to wear their satin coats. Whether paired with staples like matching satin sets or coordinating mohair knits, they've proved that satin coats can be practical for everyday life when styled properly. Ultimately, satin coats, much like all the other styles listed in this story, are the prime example that no matter the climate, occasion, or even sartorial leanings, statement coats remain the easiest way to bring a stale winter wardrobe back to life.