Style piece: The classic overcoat - wool is for winners.
If you are looking for something to warm you up now winter is officially here, you can’t get much more sustainable, natural and bloody effective at keeping you toasty than wool.
Unlike synthetic fibres, which rely on fossil fuels and shed microplastics into our waterways, wool is a natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre and when sourced responsibly, is a top-tier sustainable fabric choice. Those sheep are clever little things/
What sets it apart (even though it seems kind of obvious)is that wool is grown — not manufactured, like most other materials used in fashion manufacturing. Sheep regenerate their fleece each year, meaning wool is a renewable resource that doesn’t require intensive chemical processing to be produced. They keep growing, we keep shearing. Compare it to polyester which uses chemicals. is man-made and generates higher carbon emissions and you have to wonder how and why wool ever fell out of style (read more about that here). It’s also one of the few materials to be truly biodegradable. Bury your wool jumper in the garden and in less than a year, it will break down to nothing - feeding the soil and all the little things within it. Check out this cool video from Woolmark to see it in action below.
So…on to the coats
If you are looking for a new winter coat, then classic wool overcoat can’t really be beaten in the style stakes.
From the 1930’s through to the present day, a 3 or 4 button, single or double-breasted, mid-calf length wool coat in a staple colour oozes Old Money, original Ralph Preppy style and works on the street or in the office. It’s got to be slouchy but not too much - structure is key. Whether you style it smart or match it with a hoodie and jeans, the overcoat works.
All credit and find more inspo here on GD Style Pinterest
Below we’ve got some options to keep you stylish, warm and ensure you don’t break the planet.
GD STYLE TIP: If you want to ensure you stay looking more Gangsta than Grandpa, opt for sharp shoulders, a smooth fit that hits just below the knee, single-breasted and neutral tweeds and tones such as camel, beige, grey and black. A good rule of thumb is there should be about 1 thumb width of space in the shoulders and when you do it up, the buttons should not pull or crease across the body. Also - always store your coat on a strong, wide coat-hanger and cover with a dust cloth.
Check them out below - Prices and wool % vary!
