Statement Winter Coats for Work

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

Statement winter coats aren't as versatile as classic winter coats, nor are they as functional as puffer coats, but if your mood or outfit needs a jolt of energy, statement winter coats provide that in spades. I thought we'd go on a hunt for statement winter coats to wear to work… which are your favorites?

Readers, what kind of winter coat do you want this season? Which, if any, of these statement coats are calling your name?

What Is a Statement Winter Coat?

A winter coat can be a lot of things — warm, functional, versatile, classic. But a statement winter coat aims for something a bit more dramatic than any of those. It might seem a little bit daring in color, fabric, or texture.

The cut could also be daring, either by expanding the proportions you're used to on a regular coat (the lapels, the shawl collar, the shoulders, the length, the hood) or even by emphasizing something that more classic coats don't, such as cuts or patterns that emphasize your waist, and so on. In addition to being a bit more dramatic, the feeling behind it could be avant-garde, whimsical, or even goth.

(The classic example is the amazing jackets Olivia Pope wore on Scandal!)

Where Can You Find Statement Coats for Work?

Some of our favorite stores and brands to check for statement coats for winter include Ted Baker, Soia & Kyo, COS, J.Crew, and Cuyana.

Before we get to the statement coats for this year, let's review some of the classic choices…

Classic Style Winter Coats for Women

Some of our favorite classic coats for work as of 2024 include J.Crew, Sam Edelman, Aritzia, L.L.Bean, Quince, and Cole Haan. On the splurgier side, do check out Mackage, Soia & Kyo, Eileen Fisher, Fleurette, and Cinzia Rocca. We've also rounded up our favorite washable winter coats!

Black woman wears light blue coat with blue blouse, white pants, and carries a brown suede bag; she has a blue sweater tied around her waist — J.Crew (exact)

Classic Winter Coats for Women in Plus Sizes

collage of 5 plus-size professional women wearing winter coats — *Some of our favorite plus-size coats of 2024 include these brands J.Crew, Lands' End, L.L. Bean, Eileen Fisher, Fleurette, and The North Face.*

Statement Winter Coats for 2023/2024

J.Crew Daphne Topcoat in Italian Boiled Wool

bright yellow topcoat; it's a great winter statement coat for work

J.Crew is one of the reader favorites for classic coats, but it's also one of the best spots to check first for statement winter coats because it often has really fun colors for coats, and usually at a great price point.

The pictured boiled wool coat is $298 full price but down to $209 today. It's available in petite, tall, and regular sizes 00-24. (I also like the wide lapels on their Villa coat!)

Cuyana Wool Cashmere Short Wrap Coat

We've featured this short wrap coat from Cuyana before, and it remains one of my favorites — it can be tricky to style just so, but it's warm and super stylish. It's $398 available in XS-XL.

(Note that Soia & Kyo has a very similar option on sale!)

COS Oversized Double-Breasted Floral-Print Wool Coat

oversized statement winter coat for work with a brown floral pattern on it

COS is another great spot to check for semi-affordable statement winter coats… I love the floral print on the oversized style (pictured); the brown is on trend but the floral feels really unusual this season. The coat is available in sizes XXS-L for $390.

(Here's another great option, but down to lucky sizes XS and S.)

Ted Baker Roseika Flared Wool Blend Coat

red wrap coat with large lapels; it's a great winter statement coat for work

Ted Baker has had a coat like this for a number of years — a wrap coat with big, floppy lapels (that actually do close at the neck for warmth). This version is a bit longer and flouncier than previous coats, though, and I love that! The coat is available for $525 in two colors, sizes 2-14; there's a very similar option in a gray herringbone.

Reiss Helena Atelier Wool-Cashmere Blindseam Coat

beige cashmere overcoat coat with large lapels and dolman sleeves; it's a great winter statement coat for work

Reiss is a great spot to look for tailored but dramatic coats, and this wool/cashmere coat is no different — I love the dolman sleeves and super, super wide lapels. You can wear it as a wrap or open, as pictured. It's $1145, available in two colors in sizes 2-12 at Reiss.

Totême has some similar options at the moment!

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!