Spring coats to buy now and love forever

As Phil Collins once sang, ‘I can feel it coming in the air tonight,’ and so can we Phil, so can we. The ‘it’ being spring, of course. The evenings are lighter, the temperature is climbing and the promise of blossom-filled walks and outdoor drinks feel tantalisingly close. 

Naturally, our thoughts turn to our wardrobe during any seasonal transition and after cocooning ourselves in sleeping-bag coats for five months, we’re ready to emerge in a new spring jacket. 

The great British weather can be a challenge – wind, rain, sunshine, snow – but thankfully the SS23 catwalks were filled with statement spring coats to suit anything this season throws at us. There were textured coats at Versace, luxe lightweight long trench coats at MaxMara and oversized blazers with punchy shoulders at Sacai and Stella McCartney. 

Here, we’ve rounded up the trends we love most and handpicked some of our favourite spring coats. Pop a brolly and your favourite sunnies in your bag and you’re set for every eventuality. 

Oh, how we love a trench. This is almost more of a wardrobe staple than a trend because this chic cover-up is easy to layer over any look, making it a solid investment you’ll wear for years to come. 

Spotted on the runways of Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Versace and Hermès, 2023’s trench coats feature classic double-breasted fastenings and come in neutral and warm pastels. Tod’s took things one step further and debuted an achingly cool leather trench that we like to think we could pull off but we’d probably end up looking like Keanu Reeves in The Matrix. 

So easy, so nonchalant – the oversized blazer looks just as good over a crisp white shirt in the office as it does over a Breton T-shirt and acid-wash jeans for weekend drinks. 

On the catwalk, Dries Van Noten led the way with oversized blazers featuring huge lapels, closely followed by Stella McCartney’s extra-long sleeves (the classy solution to chilly hands) and Tibi’s rigid shoulder structures that wouldn’t look out of place on Succession’s Shiv.

Pantone, the global authority on colour, decreed that the hue for 2023 will be Viva Magenta, but those of us not quite bold enough to wear a ‘vibrating red shade, rooted in nature’ need not panic, because also spotted on the SS23 catwalks was a deep, chocolate brown.

Universally flattering, we can definitely get on board with chocolate brown – it’s the ideal shade for taking us out of the winter months and into brighter days. Chloé and Fendi sent models a-sashaying in chocolate brown but kept things fresh by using a mix of materials, from leather to satin to linen, with fitted silhouettes, loose layers and super-maxi lengths.   

Ever since Barbour introduced a quilted coat back in 1979, the lightweight sister to a puffer has evolved into a well-loved look that’s built to last. 

The fash pack have dragged the quilted jacket firmly into 2023, with Armani Privé featuring models in metallic quilted jackets and matching palazzo pants, while Rains showed neutral maxi styles on its runway. 

The bomber jacket made its first comeback on the 2022 runways and the fact it was all over the SS23 as well means you can definitely justify buying one. 

Perfect for those tricky inbetween days when a big coat is too much, the cool crowd at Stella McCartney wore theirs oversized to the max while Zimmerman displayed cropped versions layered over loose, long tops. Pair yours with baggy jeans and pumps for easy weekend wear.