A teddy coat is the item you need in your wardrobe this autumn

Sarah Young explains why this is the choice for stylish outwear this season

This year leave behind the rather unflattering fit of the puffa and opt for a cosy and better fitting option

Temperatures are finally starting to drop and so, once again, it’s time to wrap up in a coat. But, with so many options to choose from – trench, pea, puffa and aviator – which one should you invest in?

Our suggestion: the teddy coat. But what exactly is it?

A tried-and-tested cold-weather staple, teddy coats aren’t quite faux fur, nor are they faux shearling. In fact, the texture is more like that of the old teddy bear you used to snuggle up to as a child, hence the name.

Stine Goya, Concord Faux Fur Coat, £350, Net-a-Porter

As one of the more practical fashion trends we can get behind, they combine all the softness and warmth of a faux fur coat without the unflattering fit of a puffa jacket. They're soft to the touch and suit most body types.

Of course, teddy coats aren’t anything new. The super-soft jacket has been doing the rounds in the fashion circuit for years, and fashion moguls such as Kim Kardashian and Alexa Chung are long-term fans.

Soft Faux Fur Coat, £69.99, Zara

The textured top layer also made an appearance on the runways for autumn/winter 2018. At Max Mara a collection all about female power dressing saw models sport camel teddy bear coats trimmed with Western fringe, while Dior offered a Sixties-style cape and Burberry showcased a floor-sweeping bubblegum pink number covered in artsy scribbles.

But, that’s just part of the teddy coat’s charm. Whatever your look, there’s one out there for you.

Maxi Faux Fur Coat, £99, Warehouse

From the wonderfully colourful to neutral tones, cropped variations or elongated types, the real beauty of a teddy coat though is wile it’s undeniably cosy, it still packs a sartorial punch meaning you can keep the rest of your outfit pretty pared down and minimal.

Black Teddy Coat, £39.99, New Look

Opt for a bright number and pair with an all-black ensemble or choose a chocolatey-brown colour and team with a tonal outfit or caramels and creams.

Short Pile Coat, £59.99, H&M