Craving and Saving 14/9/11

Craving

Sohane Coat, £1,230, Isabelle Marant

This irresistible double-breasted, wool-blend coat from Parisian designer du jour Isabelle Marant’s Autumn/Winter collection has quite literally embedded itself into my poor impressionable and impoverished mind. The oversized shape, wearable smoky grey hue and simple, mannish detailing make it the perfectly versatile yet eye-wateringly unaffordable winter cover-up.

Saving

Tweed Boyfriend Coat, £85, Topshop

Topshop’s simple tweed number may lack the craftsmanship, perfect cut and certain je ne sais quoi of the Marant creation, but it also lacks one thousand, one hundred and forty five pounds of the price tag. Though not exactly cheap, this is a perennial classic, and its borrowed-from-your-boyfriend look will ensure that your autumn/winter aesthetic looks effortlessly on trend. Besides, a great coat is an investment and don’t forget that with your humble library card, you can save ten percent in store, thus rendering your purchase totally justifiable. Honest.