*Post in collaboration with Marks & Spencer

My favorite time of the year is in it’s full bloom and it’s time to bundle up. I love deep colors and this year I’m especially found of this jewel toned green. When it comes to outerwear I think it’s a piece to really invest in. We live in our coats every day for so many months, which is why I think it’s important to really love the finishing piece you throw on before leaving your home in the morning.

There are tons of different options to choose from. However, I think there are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for the perfect one. Here I’ve listed a few points to consider:

Clean out your closet

Go through your closet and look over what you already have and what you need. Perhaps you have a couple of old coats you don’t need anymore? Maybe you can take your old ones to a flea market, sell online or give to charity to get some clean and fresh space in you closet.

Set a budget

Look over your financial situation and set yourself a budget. When entering the shops, only try on pieces within your budget and most importantly, always stick to your budget.

Accessories

Consider what you will be pairing your coat with. What shoes, bag, scarf, gloves, beanie and other accessories will you be wearing with your new purchase?

What you wear underneath

Do you wear jeans, a suit, skirts, sneakers or heels? When choosing a coat it is important to remember to keep the complete look in mind. More so than just the coat itself. If you wear dresses and skirts, perhaps a short, puffy down jacket isn’t the best option. A longer wool coat in a high quality material is always a safe choice, since you can hide almost anything underneath.

Lifestyle

If you drive a car to work you might be ok with a lighter coat. However, if you live an active lifestyle where you walk a lot or ride a bicycle, a super long and slim coat might not be the most practical option.

Material

Choose a coat that’s well made and will last. Even high street stores have quite a good selection of more high quality products, so quality doesn’t always equal expensive. You want your coat to last for a long time without starting to look shabby, so try to stay away from artificial materials and opt for options containing materials like wool, cashmere, alpaca etc.

Color

Neutral colors are always a safe choice, but if you want to go for color think about the colors you’ll be matching to your coat. If you wear a lot of black, grey, brown and other neutrals underneath, a colorful option might be the perfect cheer-me-up piece. Also pay attention to details like buttons and zippers. If you like me prefer not to mix different metals, choose either gold or silver considering what bag you’ll be wearing, or choose a coat with neutral buttons.

Right now Marks & Spencer is celebrating their birthday week! They want to celebrate with you by offering a get 3 pay for 2 discount off all normal priced items from 19.10-25.10. They are also arranging in store (Helsinki) styling fashion shows. Fashion shows styled by blogger Vivi Norokorpi, Thursday and Friday at 12,14 and 16 o’ clock, and super stylist Teri Niitti’s shows October 24, at 12 and 14.

All clothes featured in this post from Marks & Spencer

(brooch and boots personal)

Pictures by Dora Dalila