Before you buy the coat, try this

The story

Try the coat over the kind of layers you expect to wear underneath. A comfortable fit over a T-shirt does not tell you how it will feel over a thick sweater.

Move your arms, sit down and fasten every closure. Check that the collar sits comfortably and that the length works with your usual shoes and bag.

Use the pockets. Can you reach them easily, and do they hold what you normally carry without changing the shape in a way you dislike? Small practical details tend to matter more after the fitting-room moment.

Read the care instructions and return conditions before paying. Then compare the coat with what you already own. If it fills a clear gap in your week and you like wearing it in motion, you have more useful evidence than a perfect mirror photograph.

OUR WRITERSAndrea Hills

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