Your Coat Doesn't Need to Be Boring

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

There's no way around it: coat season is here. Whether you love the opportunity to layer up or loathe everything a coat represents (coldness, namely), everyone can use a little outerwear inspiration. It's the shell you'll be spending the next few months in, and picking a style that makes you happy to put on will go a long way. Escape the habit of habit of drab wool peacoats and hard-working (but unflattering) puffer jackets with four of the coolest outerwear trends we've spotted on real girls in New York and Paris.

Longer Lengths

Give your daily uniform a cool new proportion with an ankle-grazing duster jacket. Look for something in a light color like khaki or off-white for a polished effect that's amazingly versatile (looks just as good with tattered blue jeans as it does with a black sheath). Trench styles look especially good in this new, elongated silhouette, and are a great pick for those in climates that cool down but don't get freezing.

Bold Color

Pictured above: six very convincing arguments for giving your black and navy coats a rest. Try a bold color like acid yellow, teal-blue, or berry; they work just as well with wardrobe basics like black, white, and denim but are much cheerier to throw on (also, have you ever walked around on a gray day in a colorful coat? The world literally and figuratively smiles at you). Pick up a style with some texture — faux-fur, velvet, or satin— for extra impact.

Tailored

Structured, blazer-like coats are an easy way to finish off a simple daytime look. A slim, classic style (like those on the bottom row) are a polished topper for simple sweater/jeans, blouse/trouser outfits. Something more oversized (like on Kylie Jenner, top left) works well to balance out skin-baring outfits.

Back Interest

Biker jackets, bombers, and even trench coats look that much cooler with an unexpected back graphic. This is a good way to freshen up a coat you already have, just eBay some cool patches and get to stitching (or safety pinning).