Baby, it’s cold outside.

Unlike many, I am not a sun-worshipper. I hate sweating off my make-up on the tube, baring my much-loathed cankles, and more than anything, I detest slipping into one measly layer of cotton, when really all I want to do is load on cashmere jumpers, woolly tights and biscuit-coloured bobble hats. For me, a chill in the air signals a shopping trip for a whole new seasonal wardrobe. Forget summer’s flimsy sandals and cheap sundresses – Autumn/Winter means real investment pieces. A good pair of flat leather boots, luxurious shawls, and of course, my favourite, the coat.

If you’ve been doing your fashion homework, the word ‘cape’ should not conjure up images of bright, PVC, superhero-style cover-ups. 2008 is swapping its sleeves (Sleeves! Honestly, how passé!) for luxe woollen ponchos. A simple black number a la Alberta Ferretti worn with riding boots, skinny jeans and dark sunglasses (yes, even when it’s minus 5) adds Milano gloss. I fear this Winter may be too chilly to don a flappy cape coat. Instead, I will be investing in a knitted cape by Aubin & Wills to snuggle up in with a hot chocolate when it’s cold outside. 

Where princess, swing and belted styles lead, androgynous alternatives usually follow. This season is no exception, as a long, lean silouhette takes centre stage – the Crombie coat – straight down with long lapels. If you want the real deal, head to gentlemen’s outfitters Crombie, but there are lots of delectable variations for girls, elsewhere. I am loving the double-breasted versions by Phillip Lim and Burberry, who make the less-than-glamorous ‘matchstick people’ of Lowry’s paintings look ever so fashion-forward. 

You’ll never escape the seventies, so why not embrace it? And what better excuse than a sheepskin coat to break your ‘I shall never wear anything I wore first time around’ pact? Oscar de la Renta’s brown, leather, wool-trimmed jacket has a kooky, Kate-Hudson-in-Almost-Famous-vibe, or work the luxe shepherd look in Chloe’s irresistible Mongolian shearling coat (because Mongolian sheep are far more exotic and fabulous than the ones grazing local pastures, dontcha know). 

I know I’m not the only one who finds it terribly taxing to crawl out of my toasty bed and into the freezing cold. I’ve decided to make a compromise in one of these cuddly knitted cover-ups, that double up as coats. A milk-hued knit will see me through the years, but my less practical side (which inhabits 90% of my being) is lusting after a zany Missoni print or tapestry pattern. It’s like staying in (a very glamorous) bed all day. What more could a girl wish for?