10 Best Dress Coats for Women of 2020

Welcome to The Essentials, our weekly series highlighting a must-have classic, key to building a timeless, pulled-together closet.

Fluffy down-filled jackets are ideal for trekking around in sub-zero temps, but elevated outerwear is key for dressier occasions. Don't let your coat choice remain an afterthought: Invest in a classic black tuxedo-style dress coat, or play with trendy options that are sure to impress. Have fun with faux furs, embellishments, and color-contrasting waist belts. Ahead, we've got 10 dress coats to add to your winter wardrobe now.

1. Ganni Double Breasted Midi Coat

Classic as they come, this navy cinched-waist jacket will look polished with jeans and a tee or left open over a knit dress and boots.

2. J.Crew Italian Wool Jacket

This jacket is crafted from double-cloth wool to keep you warm in less-than-ideal cold weather temps.

3. Stand Studio Belted Zebra Print Jacket

A vibrant zebra print, satin lining, and a detachable belt makes this coat the perfect dressy outer layer for your favorite little black dress.

4. L'Autre Chose Floral Jacket

The floral embroidered pattern gives this jacket a special vintage feel.

5. The Marc Jacobs Faux Fur Red Belted Jacket

This fawn-inspired faux fur jacket will surely stand out in a sea of plain black overcoats.

6. Guess Longline Jacket

For those who prefer a bit of edge, this cool check coat still reads sophisticated thanks to a form-fitted silhouette.

7. Wales Bonner Embellished Collar Jacket

No coat rings in the holiday season more appropriately than this jewel-encrusted collar version.

8. Lauren Ralph Plaid Jacket

This plaid coat's A-line silhouette marries perfectly with a fuller skirt or dress peaking out underneath.

9. Shrimps Faux Fur Embellished Button Jacket

Party dressing is extra fun in this faux fur jacket with ornate crystal embellished buttons. An extra roomy collar means you can skip the scarf.

10. Raey Navy Tuxedo Jacket

If you're looking to invest in only one coat for the season, make sure this do-it-all tuxedo lapel jacket is on the list. It'll look sharp with a power suit or dressed up for a night on the town.

Sara Holzman is the Style Director at Marie Claire, where she oversees fashion coverage spanning seasonal trends, celebrity style, designers, Fashion Month, and shopping. With more than a decade of experience in fashion media, she has held roles at Condé Nast’s Lucky and Self and contributed style and travel coverage to Equinox’s Furthermore. A graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, Sara is based in New York City, where she writes about fashion through both an industry and personal lens, including the realities of getting dressed as a working mom. Follow her on Instagram at @sarajonewyork.