Coats – What Type Should I Buy for a Smart or Workwear Look vs Casual Wear?
Choosing the right coat is about more than just weather protection—it’s about structure, proportion, purpose, and fit. A smart coat should elevate your professional wardrobe, while a casual coat should complement your lifestyle without compromising on style or comfort. But with vast differences in sizing between brands, and confusing terminology across high-street and designer labels, knowing which coat to choose can feel overwhelming.
This guide will help you:
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Differentiate between smart vs casual coat types
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Understand fit, fabric, and cut considerations
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Learn what to avoid for your body shape and style goals
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Get personalised size recommendations using Tellar.co.uk
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Shop smarter with brand-specific guidance
Smart & Workwear Coats: Structure, Sophistication, and Durability
In professional or formal settings, your coat should reflect authority, attention to detail, and polish. Beyond style, smart coats require thoughtful fabric selection, cut, and proportion control.
1. Wool Overcoats
Best for: Business meetings, formal events, daily workwear
Top brands:
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Jigsaw – structured with longer lengths
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Reiss – tailored, high-end finishes, runs slim
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Hobbs – classic British cuts, more generous through hips
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Massimo Dutti – elegant and structured, but tight at the shoulders
Fabric Fact: Wool and wool-blend coats offer superior insulation and drape. Look for options with at least 70% wool content for warmth and longevity.
Fit Tips:
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The shoulder seam should align with your shoulder bone
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Ensure there’s enough room for layering a blazer underneath
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Length should hit mid-thigh or lower for a formal silhouette
Avoid:
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Ill-fitting sleeves (too long or short diminishes the structure)
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Bulky shoulders if you have a petite frame—opt for slim lapels and lighter wool blends
Check your ideal size in overcoats with Tellar.co.uk – input your shoulder, chest, and hip measurements to get precise recommendations per brand.
2. Tailored Trench Coats
Best for: Spring/autumn workwear, commuter coats, smart layering
Brands to try:
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Burberry – iconic, but slim through shoulders
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Hobbs – elegant and flattering with UK-specific cuts
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Zara – stylish but sizes vary widely by collection
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Marks & Spencer – consistent sizing, especially in petite and tall
Style Advice:
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Belted trenches define the waist and suit hourglass and rectangular shapes
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Choose a storm flap and shoulder tabs for structure, especially on narrow frames
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Go for water-resistant cotton blends or gabardine for functional durability
Avoid:
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Belted trenches if you’re short-waisted—opt for cropped or belted higher
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Unlined options for cold climates; they lose structure
3. Crombie Coats
Best for: Winter businesswear, formal events, layering over tailoring
Strong brands:
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COS – minimalist, clean lines
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Club Monaco – refined, tailored
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Whistles – contemporary fit, works for tall and curvy shapes
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Joseph – luxe, true-to-size for structured coats
What to Look For:
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A strong collar and single-breasted front for timeless structure
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Knee-length for maximum versatility
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Navy, charcoal, or camel for professional polish
Avoid:
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Double-breasted options if you’re broad-chested
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Thin wool blends that sag with time
Use Tellar.co.uk to avoid shoulder squeeze and sleeve misfits, especially for brands like COS or Reiss that run slim in upper arms.
Casual Coats: Flexibility, Warmth, and Day-to-Day Style
Casual coats balance comfort, wearability, and personality. Unlike smart coats, these allow more room for texture, colour, and laid-back structure—but fit still matters.
1. Puffer Coats
Best for: Cold casual wear, commuting, outdoor activities
Best brands:
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The North Face – runs true to size but boxy
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Uniqlo – lightweight puffers with slim profiles
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Arket – chic, oversized fits for taller builds
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Superdry – sporty with a more sculpted waist
Fit Strategy:
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Cropped puffers flatter petite and hourglass frames
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Long puffers with cinched waists work for apple and pear shapes
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Choose hoods and storm cuffs for added functionality
Avoid:
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Boxy puffers if you’re curvy without waist definition
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Overfilled down unless you’re dressing for extreme cold
Check best puffer fits for your measurements with Tellar.co.uk – shoulder width and waist alignment matter most here.
2. Parka Coats
Best for: Winter casual wear, daily errands, dog walking
Popular brands:
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Barbour – heritage style, traditional British cuts
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Canada Goose – premium, warm, but heavy
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ASOS – trend-focused, variable sizing
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Next – well-priced with reliable UK fits
Technical Tip:
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Look for parkas with a waterproof shell and fleece lining
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Faux fur hoods add warmth but can overwhelm smaller frames
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Waist drawstrings can tailor an otherwise straight cut
Avoid:
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Overly long parkas on petite frames
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Bulky hoods if you have a short neck or narrow shoulders
Compare UK brand parka sizes using Tellar.co.uk and avoid trial-and-error purchases.
3. Teddy & Borg Coats
Best for: Fashion-led casual looks, transitional months
Great brands:
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& Other Stories – oversized, high-pile styles
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Urban Outfitters – cropped, trend-forward
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Topshop – petite-friendly cuts
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H&M – broad sizing but inconsistent per style
Fit Tips:
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Works well on tall, straight or athletic frames
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Choose single-breasted to avoid excess volume on fuller busts
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Keep the rest of your outfit slim to balance proportions
Avoid:
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Oversized teddy coats if you’re curvy or short—they can engulf your frame
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Low-quality poly-blends that flatten quickly
Use Tellar.co.uk to filter which cuts suit your chest and hip ratio for fleece or pile coats.
Body Shape Recommendations
Hourglass: Belted trenches, wrap coats, peacoats
Rectangle: Padded shoulders, waist-cinching coats, cropped puffers
Apple: Longline parkas, single-breasted overcoats, straight trenches
Pear: Structured top halves—Crombies, padded shoulders, A-line wool coats
Petite: Cropped puffers, trench coats with vertical seams
Tall: Oversized teddy coats, longline coats, double-breasted pieces
Don’t rely on brand labels alone. Tellar.co.uk matches coat styles by fit and body shape—not just tag size.
Why Coat Sizing is So Inconsistent
Across UK and international brands, coat sizes vary due to:
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Fit model variation – some use petite or tall base patterns
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Vanity sizing – high-street brands may over-label sizes for sales
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Style intent – oversized vs fitted can skew expectations
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Fabric thickness – thicker linings can reduce inside space
Examples:
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Burberry coats run slim across shoulders and bust
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Zara sizing fluctuates dramatically depending on cut
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Arket and COS favour boxy silhouettes
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H&M often lists oversized items as regular sizing
That’s why a UK 10 in one coat may be too tight or too loose depending on the brand and construction.
How Tellar.co.uk Solves the Coat Conundrum
Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s leading free size recommendation platform, matching your measurements to real-world sizing data from over 1,500 fashion brands.
Why it works:
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Matches you to the best-fitting coat by chest, waist, and hip
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Converts sizing across UK, EU, and US systems
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Flags whether to size up/down per coat style
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Recommends brands that cut best for your body type
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Prevents you from wasting money on returns or misfits
It’s fast, secure, and free to use.
👉 Find your coat size here
👉 Create your free profile
Follow Tellar.co.uk for Fit Advice & Fashion Tools
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Instagram: @Tellarsizing
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Pinterest: TellarUK
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Twitter (X): @Tellar100
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Facebook: TellarSizing
Final Thoughts
When it comes to coats, fit, purpose, and cut matter far more than trends. A poor-fitting smart coat can undermine a sharp outfit, while an ill-proportioned casual coat can distort your silhouette.
Don’t guess your size or settle for a “close enough” fit.
With Tellar.co.uk, you can be confident that your coat—whether smart or casual—will fit perfectly across any brand.
“Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s free & easy”
Start now at https://www.tellar.co.uk