A long coat looks best over a simple, fairly slim outfit in one or two colours, so the coat stays the main shape: straight jeans or wide trousers with a knit, a midi dress with boots, or a suit. What goes under it should change with the temperature, from a tee at 12°C (54°F) to a roll-neck and thermal layer near freezing. Match the coat colour to what you already wear most. Camel goes with denim, cream and navy, black goes with almost anything, and grey is the quiet choice for a wardrobe full of black, white and blue.
Whether a coat suits the rest of your wardrobe is the question to settle before the money goes. The app we make, Wdrobe, can put a coat from a shop photo onto a picture of you next to your own clothes.
What to wear under a long coat as it gets colder
A long wool coat covers your body to the knee or lower, so the layers under it can be lighter than you think. Start thin and add only when the forecast drops.
- Around 12°C (54°F): a tee or a light shirt under the coat, with jeans or trousers. Leave the coat open.
- Around 8°C (46°F): a fine merino knit or a sweatshirt, plus a scarf. The coat can still be open.
- Around 3°C (37°F): a thicker jumper or a roll-neck, wool trousers or tights under a skirt, and ankle boots. Close the coat and belt it.
- Below 0°C (32°F): a thin thermal top under the knit, lined trousers or thick tights, warm boots, gloves and a hat. A long coat beats a short puffer here because it covers your legs.
The one layer that does not work under a long, tailored coat is a thick hoodie or a padded gilet. They bunch at the shoulders and pull the coat out of shape. A slim knit gives more warmth for less bulk.
Long coat outfits by coat colour
1. Camel coat with jeans and a cream knit
The easiest camel coat outfit. Cream and denim keep it light and warm.
Outfit formula: camel wool coat + cream crew-neck jumper + mid-blue straight jeans + white leather trainers.
2. Camel coat with a navy midi dress
Navy is the strongest partner for camel. A navy knit dress with knee boots looks smart for work or dinner.
Outfit formula: camel wool coat + navy knit midi dress + dark brown knee boots + cream wool scarf.
3. Black coat with all black
A long black coat over black trousers and a black roll-neck makes one clean line. It suits the city and evenings, and it hides rain and dirt.
Outfit formula: long black wool coat + black roll-neck + black wide-leg trousers + black leather loafers.
4. Black coat with grey and white
Black can look heavy over a busy outfit. A grey knit and white trainers make it softer for daytime.
Outfit formula: long black coat + heather grey jumper + white shirt collar + dark jeans + white trainers.
Eight coat outfits sound like plenty until you count which pieces you own in the right colour. Most people have one coat and a handful of knits that may or may not work with it. See which of your clothes go with your coat before the cold settles in.
5. Grey coat with navy and denim
A grey wool coat is the quiet choice. It works best with cool colours.
Outfit formula: mid grey wool coat + navy merino jumper + dark indigo jeans + black Chelsea boots.
6. Grey coat with a pleated skirt
Outfit formula: charcoal long coat + cream fine knit + grey pleated midi skirt + black tights + black ankle boots.
7. Any long coat with a suit
A long coat over a matching trouser suit is about as smart as office clothes get. Keep the coat a shade lighter or darker than the suit so they do not blur.
Outfit formula: camel or grey long coat + navy trouser suit + white shirt + black loafers.
8. Long coat over a hoodie, done right
Yes, a long coat can go over a hoodie, if the hoodie is thin and plain and the coat is a relaxed fit. Grey marl under black or camel looks casual and modern.
Outfit formula: relaxed camel coat + thin grey marl hoodie + black straight jeans + white trainers.
Trainers or boots with a long coat?
Both work. The choice is about what the rest of the outfit is doing.
- White trainers make a long coat casual. They work with jeans and straight trousers, and they look best when the trousers end at the ankle.
- Ankle boots are the all-rounder. They go with jeans, trousers and skirts, and keep the line neat under a coat.
- Knee boots suit skirts and dresses under a long coat. Let the coat end just below or over the top of the boot, so only a little leg shows.
- Loafers look smart with a tailored coat and trousers.
Avoid chunky hiking boots with a slim tailored coat. The bottom looks heavy and the coat looks borrowed.
Proportions: what length shows under the coat
A long coat already covers most of you, so pay attention to the strip that shows below it.
- Trousers: wide or straight legs that fall below the coat hem look balanced. Skinny jeans can look thin under a big coat; add chunky boots if you wear them.
- Skirts and dresses: let them end above the coat hem or a little below it. A dress that peeks out an inch or two below the coat looks like a mistake.
- Belted or open: belting a wrap coat shows your waist. Leaving it open makes a long straight line. Both work, so choose by the weather.
Under a long coat, the hem of the outfit and the hem of the coat can fight. That is easy to miss in a mirror at home and obvious in a photo. Check the lengths on your own picture before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
What to wear with a long coat for ladies?
A knit with jeans or wide trousers, a midi dress with knee boots, or a trouser suit. Keep the outfit to one or two colours so the coat stays the main shape, and choose boots or loafers.
What do you wear under a wool coat in winter?
A merino jumper or roll-neck, with a thin thermal top when it is near freezing. Slim layers work better than thick ones, because they keep the coat in shape.
Can you wear trainers with a long coat?
Yes. Clean white leather trainers look good with a long coat and jeans or straight trousers. Choose boots instead when it is wet or very cold.
What colour jumper goes with a camel coat?
Cream, navy, grey, black and white are the easiest. Burgundy and forest green also look warm with camel.
Before you buy a new coat, our guide on how to choose a winter coat covers fabric, warmth and fit. For a lighter coat, see what to wear with a trench coat, and for the layers under it, our winter layering outfits.
A long coat is the piece you wear every day from November to March, so the outfit under it is what changes. Wdrobe's stylist looks at the forecast for the day and picks the knit, trousers and boots from your own wardrobe to go with the coat you pinned. Let the forecast pick what goes under your coat.
