Women's Cocoon Coat Fashion Trends for Winter 2011/12

By Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com

The cocoon coat is a hit but, with so much freedom to select from many styles, ensure that the proportions of length, shoulder and hip width are correct for your own body silhouette. The trend is growing for relaxed, but structured fit and longer ladylike styles.

Left- Easy Loose AW11 Coat - De La Renta Fur Trimmed Coat.
Centre - Jaeger AW11 - Guardsman Red Oversized Cocoon Long Wrap Coat £450. This Jaeger coat has a dynamic pleated collar.
Right - Black Cocoon Coat AW 11 Ralph Lauren.
The Top New Silhouette Coat Trends

Here is my review of the important cocoon coat fashion looks for Autumn 2011 and Winter 2012. An autumn 2011 wardrobe update demands less flesh exposure than a spring update. Cooler temperatures offer opportunities for more gracious looks in a chance to show-off jewel colours.

The strongest coat silhouette at Designer shows was the cocoon coat, alongside statement jackets, sixties Mod and seventies remix. If you are investing in a new style coat this winter 2012 opt for cocoon coat style elements. We saw this trend start back in 2000, slowly gaining ground so that now it's full on with balloon and cocoon coat styles in both above and below knee lengths. Some retailers call this cocoon style an ovoid coat. If you feel the volume of fabric drowns your tiny waistlin, then show it off by belting the cocoon style.

There is a style for every woman and in 2011 you can choose from a cocoon coat in wool or cashmere double cloths, wool tweed, fur, leather, shimmering brocade, or padded puffa materials. This fashion trends article focuses on the Autumn Winter 2011/12 main styles and trends in women's cocoon coats.

This cocoon trend also works its way around the more casual relaxed wear of quilted puffa padded coats and fur coats.

Christmas Customs - Old Shoebox Scenes

Shoebox Scenes

After Christmas, it always seems a shame to throw away old Christmas cards that can be reused.  Either the cards can be processed by charities to make new cards, or they can be cut up and made into fantasy Shoebox Fun Scenes.  I loved making these as child and I have made them on many occasions when baby sitting for friends. I recall posting this idea many years ago on the mostly American Fibercrafts CompuServe forum and none of the very craft oriented Americans there had ever heard of it.  But I'm sure many people have done this before.  I believe the idea we used, came from an American sugarcraft egg my aunt was given by a G.I in the Second World War.  The crystal sugar egg had a scene inside and once a year it would be brought out at Easter so we could all marvel at it.  The scenes made in shoeboxes are similar in concept.
Children invariably can find loads of old birthday, Easter or Christmas cards if you ask them to look and will happily give up that old shoebox they use to store secret items if they think you will actually spend the time to make something with them.  Just make sure you have a glue stick in your handbag!
All types of greeting cards even gift tags can be used to make such boxes. You can take a very artistic view and make them all of one type such as a winter wonderland scene with snow scenes and skaters only.  Or you can do as I have (much easier readers) as in my example and just mix up the Xmas images, including one of everything that children associate with Christmas such as a nativity scene, father Xmas, a decorated tree, 3 Kings, gift wrapped boxes, stars,  holly, maybe a reindeer grazing, a snowman and candles.   Children are more than likely to add any and everything anyway.   You can do amore sophisticated decoupage version if preferred.

Camel & Shearling Coats and Jackets

Quality materials and textures combine to make the mood of autumn 2010 fashion trends. Several key looks are based entirely on the material of a piece - Shearling, camel wools, lace, patterned Nordic or cable knitwear. There are many individual coat trends for the winter of 2011, but these can be divided into two key looks of 'womanly minimal chic' and 'nomadic free spirit'. The colours can be subtle or strong with dusty dulled-down neutral shades being particularly popular.  Camel is a top autumn colour, but there are also bright vivid hues especially RED, ORANGE and PURPLE.
The overall look of the camel trend has a high profile this autumn 2010. If you are thinking already 'not for me' take note this camel does encompass the concept of expensive neutrals, in particular, the taupe beige fashion colour family through to creamy oyster.  It's perfect for luxe Mad Men fashion homage, and even better, it can also take in the Shearling aviator  jacket and gilet.
Above Left - Catwalk trends - Caroline Herrera's camel coat and right gilet from Roland.
Far Right - High street fashion from Primark - Belted aviator £25, Harem pants £11, chunky knit snood £4 ALL due in store end September, knee high sock £2 and Military peep toe ankle boot £15, both in store now. Primark Womenswear Winter 2010. Primark Stockist Number: 0118 9606 300.

Minimal chic is a significant fashion trend for Winter 2011. Minimalist elegant designer led garment cuts, combined with the timeless subtle colours of camel, grey, black, white, navy and oyster all contribute to the stealth wealth look.
Stealth wealth coats offer understated fashion dressing whilst allowing the wearer to feel enveloped in elegant luxury.
The trend for classier refined, but grown-up womanly garments has been on the increase for two years.