Charcoal wool coat with leather lapels and satin drape

An oversized charcoal wool coat with dropped shoulders and wide notch lapels faced in black leather. The waist is shirred on elastic, and from it hang two panels of grey satin that fall past the hem on either side, so the coat moves in two weights at once. One sleeve carries a leather strap with a double buckle, pushed up to the forearm. Worn open over a dark top with a leather-faced collar that stays mostly out of sight.

Underneath, navy tailored trousers with a pressed crease and slant pockets, one hand in. Autumn into winter: the wool does the warmth, the satin does the drama, and the trousers keep it from reading as costume. Office at nine or dinner at nine; the coat does not care which.

I own a lot of black coats. This one is charcoal, so technically it counts as colour.