Beautiful dozen: camel coats

Made into an iconic style item by Achille Maramotti, the founder of  Max Mara, the camel coat remained at the top of the fashion pedestal for over 60 years along side the Birkin bag, Chanel jacket and Cartier watch as  a piece of understated luxury and sinful pleasure. Of course, making Max Mara a part of one’s life is a truly wonderful experience, but it doesn’t mean that other coats would look less stylish.

My first one came from Uniqlo when the brand collaborated with Jil Sander, and was a part of J+ collections she designed in 2011. The coat was made of a sturdy camel coloured wool and with its beautiful cut and classic shape looked a lot more expensive than its price tag, which, by the time I got to buy mine, was £65. 

Gorgeous and cosy as a bath robe, the belted knee length Max Mara entered my life last February after I decided that 2013 would be the year to finally make one of the dreams come true. I haven’t taken this beauty for a walk yet, but admittedly had quite a few moments of opening my wardrobe door and stroking the fabric.

I feel that, should you only have one coat, the camel would make the most perfect choice, especially if you are looking for a softer alternative to black, but not a big fan of grey. The shade doesn’t just look beautiful against most skin tones, it also makes burgundy and blue look particularly striking.

Here’s my ultimate selection for all budgets. Which one is your favourite?

Where to buy: 1. Cashmere trench coat, Burberry Prorsum (£1995), 2. Tailored wool-mix coat, Ellos (£49), 3. Wool-blend trench coat, Uniqlo (£89), 4. Manuela coat, Max Mara (£1025), 5. Double-faced city coat, Jaeger (£399) – and some gorgeous SALE finds, 6. Lisa long cashmere coat, Joseph (£595) + Look for Less at Mango, 7. Divine Dorothy coat, FCUK & Bloomingdale’s (£175), 8. Ninetta coat, Max Mara Studio (£408), 9. Hendrick coat, All Saints (£298), 10. Board camel coat, Reiss (£350) – also check their SALE, 11. Classic camel coat, Maison Kitsune (£1503), 12. Madigan coat, Ted Baker (£299)

P.S. By the way, do you know that Max Mara is a blend of two names – Maramotti and Max, an impeccably dressed Count who lived in the area and apparently drank away his fortune. Just a bit of fashion trivia.