Photo: conorwithonen / Flickr

Men love to pretend like fashion doesn’t matter much to them, as if that makes them more macho. If this is the case, why is it some of the best designers the world has ever seen are men and, more importantly, why are some men’s fashion items so dazzling that even women desire them? It’s because men, like women, care a great deal about fashion.

And for those gents who openly admit they love fashion, here is what you should be looking out for when you go on your men’s coats shopping in 2010 expedition.

What kind of man are you?

The first thing to consider is what type of man you consider yourself, since this will greatly influence your decision in men’s coat shopping. The folks at Helium have a fantastic coat guide that beautifully describes what a dapper gentleman, a military man, a dandy fellow or a biker boy should look for when buying a coat. Part of the guide reads: ‘Equally at home in both cities and in the country, the gentleman’s coat is all about gallantry’ and if that doesn’t convince you they know what they’re talking about, nothing will.

Colours, darling, colours!

One of the most prominent themes in coats shopping in 2010 is the colour your coat is in. While nobody was ever arrested by the fashion policing for donning black or dark brown coats, you’re not likely to be picked out from a crowd either by being so conservative. The Guardian is in agreement with us when we say camel is the colour of the season.

Form and function

Another key consideration when going men’s coat shopping is giving emphasis to form and function. It is not true that you need to give up on style if you want to be warm, nor do you need to sacrifice insulation in the name of cutting edge fashion chic. In fact the sexiest coats, like timeless charcoal pea coats with those grand buttons, have made a name for themselves by beautifully balancing form and function.

Remember when men’s coats shopping in 2010, always identify your personal style first. Once you’ve done that, branch out colour wise, opting for colours like camel that pop out in the drab sea of black without being shocking. And finally, don’t be afraid to express yourself.

Tags: winter fashion