I'm a Fashion Expert—5 Ways I'm Wearing One of This Year's Biggest Coat Trends

With the temperatures dropping and the big "C word" (Christmas!) floating in the air, it's safe to say that there's only been one thing on my mind this week: coats. As a self-declared coat fanatic, I pride myself on being able to make most styles, colours, fits and shapes work in my wardrobe, whether that's a puffer at the weekend, a satin trench on a night out, a classic wool coat for work, or a cropped jacket for special occasions. However, there is one style that I am yet to invest in but that has most certainly caught my eye this season, and that's a camel coat.

Elegant, timeless and endlessly versatile, the camel coat is largely considered one of the hardest working pieces in one's wardrobe, so with that in mind, I've decided that 2022 is the year I take the plunge and invest in the perfect style. And after seeing camel coats in all iterations from cropped to longline to tailored pop up repeatedly on my Instagram feed and street style stars and celebs this season, I knew this outerwear icon was here to stay.

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(Image credit: CLAIRE GUILLON FOR WHO WHAT WEAR)

A guest at London Fashion Week S/S 23 wears a double-breasted camel coat with a tan and tortoiseshell bag.

But unlike black, grey, khaki and cream coats, something about this colour has stopped me in my shopping tracks. Just how will I wear my camel coat? What will it go with in my wardrobe? And can I make it work for every event in my social calendar this autumn and winter? These are the questions I knew I needed to get to the bottom of before I invested in the style, and so to prove to myself—and to you—just how versatile a camel coat can be, I rounded up five outfits that I'll be reaching for time and time again with the coat as the hero focus.

Scroll down to discover how I'll be wearing my camel coat this season as well as all the pieces you might need to help re-create the looks.

1. CAMEL COAT + STRIPE KNIT + LEGGINGS + KNEE-HIGH BOOTS

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Style Notes: One of my favourite autumn looks is one that centres around leggings. Comfy yet stylish, they look great paired with knee-high boots (flat or heeled) and an oversized sweater. Layer a relaxed camel coat like this chic, belted COS number over the top for that extra bit of polish before adding jewellery and your favourite handbag. 

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2. CAMEL COAT + FLORAL MIDI DRESS + SUEDE BOOTS

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Style Notes: When putting together a look that works for the office, dinner with friends and the weekend, I always start with a midi dress. This floral number is pretty without being too summery thanks to its black base and thick cotton-poplin fabrication, and it's an easy win when you don't want to think too much about your outfit. Add your camel coat of choice and suede boots to bring out the pattern on the dress and tie the whole look together. 

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3. CAMEL COAT + LEATHER MIDI SKIRT + CABLE-KNIT JUMPER + MULES

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Style Notes: A coat you can wear during the day and evening is a worthy investment in my eyes. This oversized, double-breasted style will look so sleek with an all-cream ensemble underneath: Pair a leather midi skirt with a hard-working cable-knit jumper and leather mules. The statement gold earrings help elevate this outfit even further, ensuring you're ready to go from desk to dinner in no time. 

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4. CAMEL COAT + WIDE-LEG TROUSERS + ROLL-NECK + BOOTS

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Style Notes: When you don't know what to wear, you can't go wrong with all black. This scarf-style coat lends itself to a more fitted look underneath, so layer it over a simple black roll-neck and tailored trousers. When it comes to the accessories, I'd opt for a sleek belt to break up the top and trousers here. For footwear, chunky boots like the above ensure this look is wet-weather appropriate, but you could easily swap in heels if you want to replicate this look for a night out. 

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5. CAMEL COAT + JEANS + SWEATSHIRT + TRAINERS

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Style Notes: Camel coats work just as well as part of a casual look as they do for smarter takes. This outfit is perfect for the weekend: relaxed denim (I always love a lighter wash with camel personally), a grey marl sweatshirt, trainers and a textured camel coat. Add a tote bag, and you're ready to go! 

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Up Next: 29 Camel Coats That Come Editor-Approved

Managing Editor

Poppy joined the Who What Wear UK team as managing editor in 2022. After graduating from university with a degree in English literature, she worked for a number of print and digital publications, including Women's Health, The Times, Hello!, SheerLuxe and international editions of Maire Claire, and acted as an editorial and celebrity stylist. As WWW UK’s managing editor, Poppy spends most of her time looking after all on-site content in addition to working with contributors, supporting the editorial team and contributing to strategy, social media and branded content.

Born and raised in London, Poppy is a true city girl. When she's not thinking about clothes, Poppy fills her time walking along the river with her labradoodle, getting stuck in a good book and enjoying as many of the city’s amazing restaurants and bars as her purse will allow!