It’s cold. Every time winter rolls around, we act surprised about it. But it is what it is. Winter is coming and it’s time to get prepared. The difference between a les mis winter and a hot girl winter lies in one’s choice of outerwear — namely, a warm wool coat.
A puffer jacket might keep you warm and stop the chill, but no amount of promotion of the gorpcore trend will change the fact that it’s aesthetically more aligned with hiking than swanning about the city. On the flip side, a longline polyester or viscose coat may be an aesthetic facsimile of a desirable wool iteration, but one gust of wind and your teeth will be chattering in a very unhot girl winter fashion. A longline wool coat offers the ideal balance of warmth and style; making any outfit look instantly ‘put together’ while keeping you warm.
While natural fibres such as lambswool, merino wool, and cashmere—technically, all of these are types of wool—represent a step up in initial investment compared to synthetic and semi-synthetic materials like polyester and viscose, they pay dividends in the long run. That’s because they’re naturally durable, breathable, odour-resistant, and temperature regulating, working to keep you warm in winter without causing that clammy, sweaty feeling sometimes associated with purely synthetic materials.
These days most wool coats do have synthetic materials blended in. While we prioritise coats with natural fibres, we’re not pedants about composition; wool-synthetic blends often offer increased durability and a more accessible price point over their solely wool counterparts. Both have their merits, so this roundup of the best wool coats includes both pure wool and wool blend options.
As brands are continually adding and deleting specific styles, we’ve put together our favourite go-to brands which reliably have a solid collection of invariably chic and warm wool coats for winter. We’ve also called out some of the standout wool coat styles from each brand’s current collection.
Overview of the best brands for wool coats
- Best statement wool coats: Hortons England
- Best luxury wool coat brands: Max Mara and Joseph
- Best budget-friendly wool coats: Assembly Label
The Best Brands for Stylish Wool Coats
Herewith, the best stylish brands for warm wool coats this winter.
1. Hortons England
If you’ve ever lamented the decline of statement outerwear while scrolling through the endless array of black, beige, and navy longline wool coats, Hortons England is the brand for you. With a focus on natural materials like wool and cashmere (most of the brand’s coats are 10% cashmere and 90% wool), Hortons England executes its outerwear in statement colours—think powder blue, hot pink, and Kelly green—paired with an oversized detachable fur collar and cuffs (fur is available in real or faux — we’d opt for faux!).
Priced from: £500 (approx. $1046AUD)
Established in: 2014
Founders: Chris and Grace Gordon-Cox
Best styles: Belgravia Cashmere Coat, Westminster Cashmere Peplum Coat
Materials: cashmere, wool, real or faux fur
2. The Curated
If Scandi minimalism is more your thing, The Curated is the way to go. With a neutral colour palette and the perfect insouciantly oversized (yet still flattering) cuts, The Curated makes longline coats that stand the test of time. One of the best things about the brand is its commitment to natural materials; styles utilise an ultra-soft, lightweight blend of cashmere and merino wool, either in a double-face construction or single-faced and lined with silk (as in the case of The Boyfriend Coat). With a price point of under $1000AUD, The Curated’s coats represent a good value proposition considering their natural fibre composition and versatile style.
Priced from: $700AUD
Established in: 2018
Founder: Nicola Harlem
Best styles: The New York Coat, The Boyfriend Coat
Materials: merino wool, cashmere, silk lining
3. Max Mara
Icons only. Max Mara coats are truly iconic, with the Italian luxury fashion house creating some of the most beautiful outerwear in the world. While Max Mara’s teddy bear coats flit in and out of social media virality and its belted robe coats are reliably chic, if you’re ready to splurge, look no further than the brand’s 101801 Icon Coat. Designed by Anne-Marie Beretta in 1981—and a fixture in the house’s lineup since—it pairs a double-breasted closure with an oversized yet proportionate cut and kimono-style sleeves, making for a coat set to last beyond a lifetime.
Priced from: $2400AUD
Established in: 1951
Founder: Achille Maramotti
Best styles: 101801 Icon Coat
Materials: wool, cashmere
4. Cinzia Rocca
Italian luxury fashion house Cinzia Rocca always has an array of elegant outerwear in its lineup. While the brand has lately delved into technical fabrics like nylon and polyester, there are always at least a couple of pure wool coats on offer. We’re currently loving the Asymmtrical Overcoat and the Wool Jacket for something shorter.
Priced from: $1400AUD
Established in: 1951
Founder: Giacomo Rocca
Best styles: Asymmetrical Overcoat, Wool Jacket
Materials: wool, cashmere, viscose lining
5. Mackage
Mackage is well known for its fusion of technical details and high-performance functionality with an elegant aesthetic, with the Canadian outerwear brand one of the few to make puffer, technical, and quilted jackets that wouldn’t look out of place in semi-formal settings. On the wool coat side of things, Mackage has several elegant styles in single- and doulbe-faced wool, with coats also helpfully displaying the temperature rating. Our current favourites are the Gloria Handmade Wool Coat and Blithe Handmade Wool Coat, both of which are rated to withstand temperatures of up to -5°C.
Priced from: $1500AUD
Established in: 1999
Founders: Eran Elfassy and Eran Elfassy
Best styles: Gloria Handmade Wool Coat, Blithe Handmade Wool Coat
Materials: wool, some wool and synthetic blends, nylon lining
6. Harris Wharf London
Founded by siblings Giulia and Aldo Acchiardi, Harris Wharf London coats are made in the family’s own factory in Turin, Italy. Blending traditional tailoring with contemporary aesthetics, Harris Wharf London offers outerwear with classic cuts in both neutral and colourful shades. We’re partial to the brand’s unlined boxy overcoats and longline wool coats, however Harris Wharf London also does a solid belted coat.
Priced from: €600 (approx. $1000AUD)
Established in: 2010
Founders: Giulia and Aldo Acchiardi
Best styles: Long Boxy Coat, Overcoat
Materials: wool
7. Toteme
The brainchild of fashion blogger Elin Kling and partner Karl Lindman, Toteme has garnered recognition for its minimalist yet detail-laden wardrobe staples, with its handbags and coats favourites among fashion editors and style insiders. The brand primarily makes coats and overcoats in wool and synthetic blends (with the occasional pure wool style); while it does do a solid longline overcoat, we’d recommend the Scarf Coat, with the built-in accessory a signature of the brand.
Priced from: $1800AUD
Established in: 2014
Founders: Elin Kling and Karl Lindman
Best styles: Scarf Jacket, Scarf Coat, Signature Wool Cashmere Coat
Materials: wool and synthetic blends, wool, cashmere
8. Assembly Label
Australian brand Assembly Label has been recognised for its emphasis on versatile wardrobe staples in natural or recycled materials at an accessible price point. The brand’s outerwear lineup has a solid selection of good pure wool and wool and cashmere blend coats. In deference to the laidback vibe and warmer climate of the brand’s home of Australia, Assembly Label has long cropped and short styles than longline wool coats, however there are always at least a couple of the latter available.
Priced from: $250AUD
Established in: 2011
Founders: Daniel Oliver and Damien Horan
Best styles: Rhea Wool Coat, Camille Wool Cashmere Jacket, Pierra Wool Coat
Materials: wool, cashmere
9. Joseph
Founded in 1966 by Moroccan-born, London-based designer Joseph Ettedgui and currently helmed by creative director Mario Arena, British brand Joesph strikes the right balance between fashion-forward design and timelessless. The brand is known for its impeccable cuts, luxurious fabrics, and refined aesthetic, with its outerwear no exception. The brand has a wide range of coats made from purely natural materials (think wool, cashmere, and silk blends); we’re particularly drawn to the Edmond Reversible Double Face Cashmere Coat and Arnold Reversible Double Face Cashmere Coat, with the reversible styles offering twice the versatility.
Priced from: £995 (approx. $2000AUD)
Established in: 1966
Founder: Joseph Ettedgui
Best styles: Edmond Reversible Double Face Cashmere Coat, Arnold Reversible Double Face Cashmere Coat, Heritage Wool Louise Coat
Materials: wool, cashmere
10. Reiss
British brand Reiss specialises in ‘attainable luxury’, boasting a solid selection of longline wool blend coats. The brand has options in varying lengths (petite and regular), which makes it easy to find the right fit at any height.
Priced from: $700AUD
Established in: 1971
Founder: David Reiss
Best styles: Wool-Blend Double-Breasted Blindseam Coat, Long Wool Blend Blindseam Coat
Materials: wool blend
11. Sézane
For those who gravitate towards classics with a unique touch, French fashion brand Sézane always has a few good wool coat options. Known for its distinct take on French girl style, Sézane’s coats tend to be either pure wool or wool blends with synthetic linings. Composition ranges from high to low percentages of wool, so it’s best to check the product details before buying — we’re currently into the shorter Andrew Coat (pure wool) and Viktor Coat (wool blend).
Priced from: $600AUD
Established in: 2013
Founder: Morgane Sézalory
Best styles: Viktor Coat, Andrew Coat
Materials: wool, wool and synthetic blends
Enjoyed this story on the best brands for stylish wool coats? Check out our other women’s style guides here.
Words by Arabella Johnson
