It’s elemental

Anyone fortunate enough to have escaped on a late-summer break, perhaps to the Med, for half term last week will have found the return to the UK quite a shock – and a freezing one at that.

In the space of seven days, the temperature in Yorkshire seems to have dropped several degrees, along with that precious hour of daylight that disappears when the clocks go back.

The November sunshine is still welcome, but weak. Increasingly, the fogs descend and the skies are lowering, darkened by menacing grey whorls, while the winds take on a bitter edge. Rain is ever-present, but you sense that soon, it will be mixed with sleet and hail – and then there may be snow.

The transitional autumn wardobe can no longer cope. This is a call to arms (which, let’s face it, really do need to be fully clothed, with proper sleeves, from now on... and probably until next June).

If you haven’t got one already, a great coat makes for an excellent investment buy this year. By “great coat”, I mean a huge one, long and enveloping, preferably roomy enough to allow for knits to be layered beneath.

This season’s cocoon coats are ideal, bringing an on-trend, pleasingly bulbous shape, while covering a multitude of sins and layers, although do bear in mind that they work best with nothing billowing below the bottom hem, so no maxi skirts; stick to skinny jeans and trousers, or shorter skirts and a sound pair of woolly tights and ankle boots, to keep the proportions pleasing.

The coat has enjoyed massive style status on the international catwalks for this autumn/winter, which is why we find such a rich and varied selection on the High Street right now.

Mannish styles, including military or boyfriend coats, are also stylish, roomy and handy, and have the advantage of a classic, iconic appeal, which means you can keep them forever on your coat hook to throw on whenever you want to protect your indoor clothes. A long, sweeping, military-style great coat or gabardine will look fabulous worn unfastened or flung over the shoulders, over a gleaming satin or beaded party dress (and this works over any length of dress), so keep buttoned up until the destination is reached and then unbutton for your epic entrance (hopefully, a wide staircase of some kind will have been provided).

Meanwhile, knitwear and woven woollens are also vital weapons in the war against the elements. A knitted cape is ideal either to wear as a lone piece of outerwear, or to layer over long knitted coats, jackets and cardigans. Mix and clash textures, but do try to blend colours and tones, to avoid looking like a Glastonbury teepee.

Invest, too, in light cashmere layers, long-sleeve tops and cardigans, that you can take off indoors – where your real enemy is the central heating.

Twitter: @yorkshirefashQ