Faux fur and teddy coats: how to choose

How to choose faux fur and teddy coats

A faux fur coat and a teddy coat do similar work in a winter wardrobe, but they feel quite different on. Faux fur tends to be the denser, smoother option: the pile carries a faint sheen and catches the light along its surface, which is why a piece like the Mink-Look Faux Fur Coat reads as polished rather than casual. Teddy pile is loftier and softer, closer to a blanket in the hand and a little more relaxed in mood. Decide which of those two you want to live in first, then let length, collar and colour follow.

Length changes how a coat layers and how it reads with the rest of your clothes. A hip-length cut, such as the Fluffy Faux Fur Teddy Coat, sits neatly over trousers and skirts and keeps the line short and easy, which suits crowded commutes and car journeys. A mid-length parka covers the small of the back without swamping the shape. A longline coat that falls past the knee brings warmth down the body and looks considered over tailoring, though it asks for a little more room on a crowded train.

Think about the mornings you actually have, and be honest about what you will wear underneath. If you walk to a station in the dark, a hood and a close collar earn their place; if you drive, a short cut that does not bunch behind you will be the one you reach for. A coat that layers over a chunky knit needs room through the shoulder, while one worn over a slip dress or a fine roll neck can be cut closer. Buying for the outfits you already own is more reliable than buying for a wardrobe you hope to build.

Materials, details and fit

Pile density matters more than pile depth. A dense pile holds its line along the shoulder and resists flattening where a bag strap sits; a looser pile looks fuller on the hanger but can crush. Look at the shell and the fill too, since that is where the warmth lives. Across our coats you will find polyester and acrylic shells, an acetate blend with a smooth low-sheen finish, a nylon shell on a short down jacket and a soft faux suede on a moto style. Fill ranges from white duck down to polyester fibre and cotton fill, and each brings a different balance of lightness and loft.

Collars and hoods do most of the styling work. A clean lapel collar, as on the Plush Pile Lapel Coat, keeps texture as the focus with no fur trim at all. A fur-trimmed collar frames the face and draws the eye upwards, while a fixed hood framed in fur adds warmth at the back of the neck and settles flat once the weather clears. Check how the collar sits when the coat is open, because that is how you will wear it indoors and in the car. Closures are worth a moment too: a full-length zip is quick on a cold platform, buttons with a zip behind them give you two ways to wear the same front, and horn-style buttons soften a sporty shape.

Fit varies piece by piece, and our product pages set out the logic for each one. Some coats are cut relaxed through the shoulder and body, so take your usual size or the next one up if you fall between two. Others run slim through the waist with a lengthened line, so they sit neatly over a fine knit or a blazer without bulk. Where a piece is sized by bust and shoulder measurement, start with the bust and compare the shoulder width to a coat you already like. If you plan to layer a chunky knit under a slim cut, going up one size is usually the safer choice.

How to style them

Start with colour and let the rest follow. Black and the two grays are the quietest choices and sit with almost anything you own. White reads crisp against dark denim and wool. Light khaki, coffee, brown and deep green bring warmth and look especially good with cream, camel and navy. Wine and pink soften a pale winter palette, while red is the one to reach for when the coat is the whole outfit.

Proportion is the other half of the equation. A short, padded or hip-length coat balances wide-leg trousers and long skirts, and keeps a midi dress from looking bottom-heavy. A longline coat works best over a slimmer line underneath: a fine knit, straight trousers, a dress that falls close to the body. If the coat is generous through the body, keep the layer beneath it neat, and if the coat is slim, you have room to be a little more relaxed underneath.

Layer with texture in mind. Faux fur and teddy pile already carry plenty of surface, so a smooth knit, denim or a fine roll neck gives the eye somewhere to rest. A hoodie under a loose jacket is an easy weekend combination, while a slip dress or a fine gauge knit keeps the line clean beneath a plush coat. Finish with pieces that suit the pile: a cross-body bag with a smooth strap slides less than a chain, and a clean ankle boot or a trainer both work depending on the rest of the outfit. Keep jewellery close to the face when the collar is plain, and let a fur-trimmed collar have the neckline to itself.

Care and storage

Faux fur and teddy pile are forgiving if you handle them gently. Give the coat a good shake when you take it off to lift the pile, then brush it in one direction with a soft brush or your fingertips. Hang it on a wide, padded hanger so the shoulders keep their shape, and leave a little space either side in the wardrobe rather than crushing it between other coats.

Air matters more than washing. Pile picks up cooking and traffic smells, so hang the coat somewhere cool and well ventilated for an hour or two after wear. For small marks, a barely damp cloth and a light touch on the surface is usually enough; blot rather than rub, and let it dry away from direct heat. Always read the care label inside your coat before doing anything more, since shells and fills vary from piece to piece and some are happiest with a professional clean.

Store out of season with care. Clean the coat before putting it away, since marks that set over months are harder to lift. A breathable cotton bag protects against dust without trapping damp, and a cool, dry cupboard is better than a loft or a cellar. Avoid vacuum bags, which flatten the pile, and keep the coat away from radiators and sunny windows. Before hanging, empty the pockets and fasten the zip or buttons so the front holds its line; if a strap or seatbelt has crushed an area, a little steam from a distance and a brush once dry will usually bring the texture back.

Standout pieces

• Fluffy Faux Fur Teddy Coat: A dense faux fur pile with a lapel collar, buttons with a zip behind them and pockets, cut straight to the hip for mornings that still ask for something smart.
• Mink-Look Faux Fur Coat: The dense, soft mink-like pile catches light along its surface, and the cut is neat through the shoulder and falls to the hip.
• Plush Pile Lapel Coat: Deep plush pile with a clean lapel collar and long regular sleeves, falling straight to the hip in a relaxed cut that leaves room for a knit underneath.
• Hooded Fur-Collar Down Parka: A slim mid-length parka with a fur-trimmed collar, a hood that settles back neatly, horn-style buttons and a low-sheen polyester shell in deep green, brown and jujube as well as two grays.
• Longline Hooded Down Coat with Fur Collar: White duck down holds warmth inside a long, slim line that falls past the knee, with an acetate blend shell and a fixed hood framed in fur.