A note from Leya · Calm outside, fun inside
At 67, I found the coat that turns an ordinary evening into an occasion
A winter coat that keeps me covered AND makes an entrance. I had honestly given up on that. I'm 67, and for years my coats have been sensible to the point of apology: navy or black, knee-length, chosen so I'd blend in at the bus stop. The long, elegant ones always seemed to belong to women with more occasions than me.
What I wanted was one coat that made me stand up a little straighter, even on a Tuesday.
Then I found the Maddy from Susan and Kate London, a British label started by two sisters. It's a long tailored coat that falls all the way to the ankle, and the secret is on the inside.
Walk, or let it fall open, and a leopard-print lining flashes with every step, with matching cuffs turned back at the wrist. On the outside it's all calm, polished tailoring: a soft sheen, neat lapels, a single button and proper flap pockets for gloves and keys. Buttoned up, it's elegant enough for church. On the move, it has a little wink to it.
Calm and elegant from the front, and a little bit of fun with every step.
It has done Sunday lunch, a matinee at the theatre and my granddaughter's school concert, and I've lost count of the compliments. A woman in the interval queue stopped me to ask where it was from, and my daughter, who has opinions about everything I wear, said I looked actually rather glamorous.
It was £64.95 in the sale. I paused, because I've never spent that on a coat without a long think. Then I saw it's usually £215, that delivery is free, and that I could send it back within 30 days if it didn't suit me. It comes in a dusty rose pink and a deep blue, in UK sizes 8 to 16, and if you're between sizes they suggest going up one.
If your winter coats are also all sensible and no sparkle, do treat yourself to a look. The Maddy is rated 4.8 out of 5 by more than 300 women, it's £64.95 in the Autumn Sale instead of £215, and the middle sizes always seem to go first.
Maddy | Elegant Long Tailored Coat
£215.00 £64.95· Save 70%
- Leopard-print lining that flashes as you walk
- Matching leopard-print turn-back cuffs
- Elegant ankle length with a soft sheen
- Notched lapels, single button, flap pockets
- Pink or blue · UK sizes 8 to 16
Sale — while sizes last.
Leya Whitmore is 67 and lives in Guildford with a labrador. She is not a fashion writer.
Susan and Kate London · Free UK delivery · 30 day returns