Last updated on December 27th, 2021 at 11:58 pm

If you’re like me and love to wear clothes, then you’re probably also just like me in that the pandemic has seen some of your favorite outfits collecting dust in your closet. Now that we are in the throes of winter (everywhere it seems), it’s not making it any easier. If we’re going out anywhere these days, we always have our coats on.  And that’s why I am upping my coat game during the pandemic.  It’s the one perfect way to show off our style right now.

My love of coats started with a navy blue wool “midi” coat way back when.  Well, actually probably even years before. My fashion influence, my mom, always had me dressed in the cutest coats (as evidenced below).  But that navy blue coat was the first time I felt “cool” wearing one.  That’s when I first started looking at coats as not just a vessel to keep me warm, but another way to express style. I have to admit that over the past few years, I’ve probably sacrificed style for warmth, but the pandemic has reversed that for me. Since going to the grocery store these days is a treat, I might as well dress like it!

Here are some of the favorites in my collection.  Some of these coats I’ve had for a while, so I looked for something similar and provided some links to help you re-create the look.

My Coat Collection

When Taylor Swift wore a wool plaid coat for the cover of her “Evermore” album recently, suddenly everyone wanted one – including me. I luckily already had one, a gift from my husband Jeff a few years back. Pulling that coat out of the closet is what really prompted the thoughts of “upping my coat game” during the pandemic.

Good Housekeeping even wrote an article about plaid coats, specifically how to find one similar to Taylor Swift’s coat. I’ve put a link to the Good Housekeeping article here, so you can see some of their recommendations, including a really cute one from Kohl’s!

I have several puffer coats – your go-to coats when it’s freezing outside. I added this one just last year from Amazon. It’s my favorite for when I want to feel warm but still have some style. I love the pink color – it makes those chilly days a little brighter.

I have always been a sucker for a winter white coat. I’ve had several over the years and I think of them as my “going out coat”. They always make me feel elegant and dressed up. This coat was also a gift from Jeff (are you noticing a trend here?) and even though it’s probably not my grocery store coat, I had to include it.

Here’s a tip when picking a winter white coat. What I love about this coat, especially with the standing collar is that it has black trim. So the inside of the collar is black, so you don’t have to worry about make-up stains on the white fabric.

To finish out the look, add a coordinating hat, scarf and/or gloves.  It really pulls the whole look together.  Here’s some of my favorite combinations.

Here’s some insight on where I get a lot of my coat inspiration – television news!  I am a consistent watcher of “Good Morning America” and right now when the reporters are doing their segments outside, they wear the most amazing coats.  They wear them in every color with coordinating scarves and sometimes hats.  I find myself constantly googling similar outfits to pull together a brand new look.

How about you?  Have you upped your coat game this year?  Where do you get your outerwear inspiration?  Let us know in the comments below.