The clocks go back in a couple of weeks, the heating's creeping back on, and I've been digging my winter coat out of the cupboard. Which means it's time for my favourite autumn ritual: putting my hands in my pockets and finding bus tickets, a hair bobble and a form I should have handed into the school office last year.
Coats are the one item of women's clothing where pockets are usually a given. Usually. But "has pockets" and "has good pockets" are two very different things, so before you part with your money this year, here's my coat pocket checklist.
1. Do the phone test. If you can't fit your phone in without it poking out the top, it's not a pocket, it's a suggestion. Ask yourself: could I walk to the shops with my phone and keys and not think about them once?
2. Check for an inside pocket. Outside pockets are great for cold hands, but an inside pocket is where your phone and wallet are safest. I've been told that they don't exist for women, but indeed they do, and I've put them all together here.
3. Zips are your friend. A zipped pocket means you can sit on the bus, bend down to tie a shoelace, or wrestle a toddler without anything escaping. Find coats with zipped pockets here.
4. Look out for the stitched-shut trick. Lots of new coats arrive with their pockets tacked closed to keep the shape in the shop. Snip carefully along the loose stitches and you'll often find a perfectly good pocket underneath. Check before you assume it's fake!
5. Don't forget the layers underneath. A good coat is only half the battle. A cardigan with pockets or a cosy hoodie with pockets means you're not stranded the moment you step indoors.
If you just want a light layer for the drizzly in-between days, have a look at the thin waterproof jackets with inside pockets — perfect for a British autumn when you never know what you're going to get.
And if you find a coat with brilliant pockets, please tell me! I love hearing about your finds, and it all helps me spread the word. For each product you can also fill out a pocket rating. Is it not an actual pocket? Please let me know and I'll take it off the site. Nobody wants to find out unexpected fake pockets. Does it have pockets that fit a paperback book? I need to know.
Right, I'm off. Stay warm, and stay pocketed.
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