I owe this coat discovery to Sam Chapman from Pixiwoo, who always seems to have the most brilliant items in her extensive travelling wardrobe! Nic, her sister, does too. I have no idea whether they spend all day shopping or are just incredibly good at spotting the best items, but they both seem to be able to sniff out the bits and pieces that instantly make you say, “oooh. Where did you say that was from? And did you get it recently?” (Find them here and here on Instagram.)

The Duran trench coat is from L.K. Bennett. It’s a properly sturdy trench, almost thick enough to be a winter coat, really, though it’s cotton and breathable so fine for Spring. Perfect for Spring, in fact, as I have recently found out. Thrown casually over the shoulders or left undone, it’s not too smothering if the sun makes an appearance; buttoned up and belted it keeps out the chill if the weather turns for the worse. I have to say that I have never been much of a lover of trench coats, but this one is supremely handy. Cut to just the right length, beautifully darted at the back, cut so that the coat cinches in at the waist properly and doesn’t just bunch up a load of hefty fabric…

And it’s practical, as well as being good-looking – it’s dark, so you don’t have to worry about the stains and accidental spills that life inevitably sends your way, and it looks equally good worn casually over blue jeans as it does worn smartly, with a skirt and blouse or over a dress. Also, importantly, it’s of a length (just above the knee) that means you can wear flats or heels with it – because do you not find that some longer coats look absolutely terrible with flats? They turn you into a frumpy bag lady! Then you pop some heels on and suddenly the coat makes sense! Not with this one. The Duran can pull off both equally well.

The Duran costs £345 from L.K. Bennett. Something of an investment buy, but it’s never going to go out of fashion and will probably last most of a lifetime. And it’s about a third (perhaps even a quarter) of the price of a Burberry, if you’re hankering after a quality trench but can’t stretch the whole Burbs way… Find it here online. **UPDATE: Grazia Magazine have a 25% discount code this week, apparently. If anyone has the mag then let me know in the comments!**

Scarf is from Oasis here.