If Spring/Summer 2007 was the season of the tunic dress, then Autumn Winter 2007/8 will be the season of the fashion coat.

The proper mantle is back in town.  This is a coat that does what a coat was originally intended to do.  It acts as a proper cover up of clothing volume beneath.  It can accommodate full skirted suits or dresses.

Within this coat fashion there are two key styles :-

Loose coats
Fitted coats

Loose fashion styles include barrel cocoon silhouettes or A-line swing coats.  These more voluminous fashion coats are contrasted against leaner sharply tailored skinny coats. 

Without doubt the coat is the key trend this Autumn Winter 2007/8 season. 
For more fashion trends read about key fashion trends 2007/8 here.  Images above courtesy of IFTF, left Matalan.

Texture in Coat Materials

This Autumn 2007, plain, but colourful Melton wools and luxury cashmeres, or wool and angora mixes will sit beside fabrics that have texture on texture. 

Quilted and padded fabrics or brocade will shimmer to give richness and opulent effects to winter coats.

Notice the surface texture quality of this coat on the left with matt texture set against shiny.  The coat is from the new A/W 2007 range called Nouveau and by high street retailer Principles.  The shape of this Nouveau coat is a classic Autumn Winter 2007/8 coat style in the making. 

Outerwear coat hemlines offer interest and draw attention to good legs or contrast colourful tights/pantyhose.

This high fashion Erica coat by Monsoon (in store from October 2007 at £150) and shown right, captures a bubble skirt into a band.  It also has the fashionable ruffle sleeves so popular through summer.  The lavish fur trimmed collar makes this a winter statement coat.  The coat fabric has texture on texture a material type so dominant at the designer catwalk shows.

Leather will be a material of contrasts and varied textures.  Some leathers will have smoothness, shine, glimmer others have skin reptilian effects such as python, croc and lizard.

You are reading an original fashion article by Pauline Weston Thomas at www.fashion-era.com ©

Images courtesy of Principles Nouveau range and Monsoon autumn 2007 womenswear collection.

Swing and Volume in Coats

Fashion coats shown on this page are typical of the easy A-line swing styles many shops will stock through Autumn Winter 2007/8.   The easy trapeze line has gained ground and this year has been a staple silhouette for youthful coats, jackets, tunic, tops and dresses.  These coat styles have a lot of 60s influence and often have wide set collars, funnel necklines, flat faced bands or are collarless.

This short check jacket shape from Matalan and shown left has swing and has been a hugely popular silhouette through 2007.  The jacket style is set to continue through winter.

The basic shape similar to this short grey jacket from the John Lewis autumn 2007/8 range, has been used for a wide range of cropped trench Macs and tailored jackets.  The grey jacket is available in store October 2007 at £85.