Women's Winter Coat Trends for 2010

Winter's coming sooner than you think, which means it's time for the mad scramble of finding a suitable coat. For the first year in what seems like forever, the pea coat isn't taking center stage. Though there are still plenty of pea coats making the rounds this winter if that's your thing (this one is a cute example), fashion's finally reclaimed winter from the classic sailor coat. Unsurprisingly, many of this year's winter coats are extensions of fall 2010's style. Neutrals, animal prints and silhouettes made popular this fall will still be chic throughout the winter. Here's a look at some of the top women's winter coat trends for 2010.

Neutrals

Neutral-toned coats will always be in style, since they match with everything and therefore make for a better fashion investment than the latest seasonal shade. Every possible shade of brown and gray is in style this season, as well as cream, khaki green and black. Whether you go for a classic shape (like a duffle or trench) or look for a coat with some of this season's style elements like puffed sleeves and ruffles, the wide range of neutrals in style makes this a great winter to invest in a new coat. Some standout neutral coats for sale this winter include this Jones New York coat (love the stand-up collar), Tommy Hilfiger's military motorcycle coat and this classic Calvin Klein trench.

One potential way to find the right neutral coat for you is to shop by your hair color. Camel looks best on blondes, brunettes look good in brown tones, redheads can pull off cream and khaki green, and black-haired girls look good in gray. Black is a universally flattering color, making it an easy go-to for evening coats or those afraid to experiment with color. Black is also most likely to be the color of coats you already own - so if you're looking to invest in a new coat this season, try a different flattering neutral.

Military

Something about cold weather makes the severe lines of military-inspired fashion look incredibly chic. Maybe it's all those marching band uniforms at football games? Whatever the reason, military style is one of the hottest trends in women's coats this fall/winter season. Epaulets, shiny buttons and snaps, cinched waists and high collars are all signatures of the military style. Two good examples of what's on sale this season are this budget-friendly black coat by Grane, and Steve Madden's drum major-inspired teal wool coat.

Animal-Inspired

Coats with an animal theme are a natural complement to the season's neutral shades. Reptile prints match well with grays, while leopard and cheetah mix well with shades of brown. Fur (both natural and synthetic) coats and trim are also in style, in natural shades rather than Technicolor hues. London Fog have a stylish leopard print trench out this season, while Anne Klein offers a basic wool coat with faux fur trim. If you have a coat with fur, suede, or leather trim, this is a great season to wear it. Check out local vintage shops for bargains on animal-inspired styles from the 50s and 60s.

Ruffled

Popping up all over this season's coats are sweet, feminine ruffles. Especially when mixed with the season's other styles, these manage to look chic rather than saccharine. ModCloth offer up this navy blue coat with military-style buttons and surprisingly understated ruffles - very British nanny. DKNY make an elegant statement with ruffles going up the placket of this understated white coat. The key to staying out of kiddie territory with ruffles is to wear them sparingly, and this season's coats are doing a good job of keeping it low-key.