33 of the *very* best black coats and jackets to buy now that will be timeless wardrobe staples forever

The days may be shorter, the evenings darker, and the weather may be a touch less appealing, but trust us when we tell you that it's not all doom and gloom. Autumn may, by default, mean the disappearance of summer (not that we experienced one of those this year…) but it does signify the arrival of something altogether more thrilling: coat season.

Undoubtedly the most popular time of year for the majority of fashion fans, there's something about the chillier months that provide so many more possibilities when it comes to a wardrobe. With layering being a certified hobby for some of us, it's no surprise that coats – the ‘top layer’ both literally and figuratively – are a pretty big deal.

7 best winter coats, tried and approved by editors

By Georgia Trodd and Harriet Davey

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But while there are countless epic coats around right now – from faux fur to shearling, long to cropped, trench to puffer – there's a certain kind of outerwear that bypasses all fleeting ‘trends’, goes with just about anything and is universally flattering.

We are, of course, referring to the classic, understated staple: the black coat.

There's truly nothing more timeless when it comes to outerwear than a black coat, but that's by no means to say that they're entirely trend-less. Black coats alone may tend not to be a seasonal trend, but they certainly do tap into many of autumn/winter's various other trends.

Take the quilted coat, for example. Undoubtedly one of the most popular outerwear trends right now – taking over the puffer penchant of recent years – there are endless epic examples of black quilted coats (this Totême number being a real highlight) that not only allow you to indulge in a super contemporary, on-trend look, but that also cement themselves as a true wardrobe staple, such is the timelessness of the hue.