Few pieces of clothing are truly deserving of the label, 'investment purchase', but a camel coat - traditional and timeless yet capable of looking cool - has got to be one of the best examples. It's Ali MacGraw in Love Story, the seminal 1970 romantic comedy, whose coat had a popped collar that contrasted to perfection with her peppy red sweater. It's also Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who was often captured wearing her tailored camel outerwear with other wardrobe cornerstones that were key to the 90s: a black polo neck, slimline shades and a pair of boot-leg jeans.
But the camel coat hasn't lost any of its staying power. In fact, it's very much still a hot commodity on the front rows of New York Fashion Week. Alexa Chung wore an ankle-sweeping style, which had minimal bells and whistles, at Khaite. (Slipped over a sheer dress, it provided a note of practicality while still making something of a statement with its elongated silhouette.) Writer Marjon Carlos, meanwhile, proved that the camel coat is more than capable of competing with the cool-factor of, say, a leather coat, wearing a coming-apart-at-the-seams design from Interior.
As well as fashion royalty, actual royalty are fans of the camel coat. The Princess of Wales is a repeat-wearer of a high street camel coat from Massimo Dutti. The Duchess of Sussex, meanwhile, owns a designer style from Max Mara, wearing her camel coat with skinny jeans and slingback pumps from Chanel. The Italian mega-label put the camel coat firmly on the fashion map in 1998, the year it designed the Manuela, a luxurious wrap coat made of pure camel hair that was created by Anne-Marie Beretta. Almost three decades later, Max Mara's stable of camel coats is the gold-standard when it comes to the genre.
Luckily, if you're on a high street budget, you'll have plenty to choose from in the realm of slightly more affordable camel coats. FYI, most will be made with a wool blend, instead of the more premium camel hair, a fabrication that still promises to well and truly keep the chills at bay during the bleak midwinter.
Kate Middleton's favourite, Massimo Dutti, has several delectable styles that are sure to turn your head, including a cropped pea coat that is perfect if you don't like your coats to stretch to the knee. If, however, you're looking for an eternally chic style that will last for the next 10 winters (with some TLC), Reiss' belted take is a very safe bet.
SHOP: The Best Camel Coats
Editor's Choice
www.reiss.com
This Reiss coat, which is available in regular and petite fits, is finished with a waist belt to add shape and structure to your coat. Hitting a few inches below the knee, it's guaranteed to make a smart addition to the workwear side of your wardrobe.
Best Wrap Coat
www.cos.com
This COS double-faced wool coat is a slightly darker brown shade, which will nonetheless look incredibly chic with almost any colour you throw at it (pink, lavender, red, you name it). Warm thanks to its wool-blend fabrication, it'll last for this winter (and many to come). Note that it comes up large, according to the fit calendar on the website.
www.massimodutti.com
Kate Middleton has always had a soft spot for Massimo Dutti. Her camel coat from the high street shop has had multiple wears on royal visits - and we can see why. This is a shorter style than the Princess of Wales', but made with a similar wool blend, it's guaranteed to keep you warm during the winter months.
Best Under £150
www.zara.com
Zara's version of the classic camel coat is made with a wool blend, meaning it's primed for winter temperatures, and has an oversized fit - perfect for wearing over layer upon layer of knitwear.
Best Elongated Coat
aligne.co
If you want an elongated camel coat, Aligne's is designed to hit somewhere between the mid-calf and the ankle, depending on your height. With generous lapels and a belted waist, it's got those chic details that means it looks more expensive than its price tag.
Best Tailored Coat
www.whistles.com
Whistles has made a camel coat that could easily hold its own against designer competition. With its deft tailoring and double-breasted silhouette, it's the ideal coat for smartening up a pair of jeans at the weekend or wearing over your 'power' dresses for work.
Cult Classic
www.mytheresa.com
This open-collared coat is the definition of chic - and with a wool and cashmere fabrication, it's one of the softest options you'll find.
ba-sh.com
Ba&sh offers a tradtitional-with-a-twist take on the classic camel coat, with a corded belt and oversized rivet belt loops. With a high wool content, it will be your best friend as soon as the temperature drops.
www.thereformation.com
Reformation's nipped-waist coat has glamorous edge thanks to its waspish silhouette, but, as you can see from the model image, you can just as easily wear it over an everyday outfit of a polo neck and jeans.
www2.hm.com
Available in sizes 4-22, H&M's shawl-collared camel coat looks more expensive than its under-£200 price tag.
Forever Buy
www.net-a-porter.com
Max Mara is famous for a glamorous approach to outerwear - and the camel coat is a house signature. The Manuela is made from 100% camel hair, with a low-effort, high-impact silhouette that sets it apart from the rest.
www.sezane.com
Softer than other versions of the classic camel coat, but no less warm as it's made with double-faced wool, Sézane's take has a shorter length that means it looks great over straight-leg jeans.
shop.mango.com
Mango's coat is made with a recycled wool-blend fabrication - and at £139.99, it's at the more affordable end of the spectrum for those interested in a high street hit.
www.theoutnet.com
Maje's double-breasted coat has an oversized fit that means it's perfect for more off-duty outfits at the weekend. Made with a wool blend that has the soft texture of felt, it will feel cosy and look chic.
How to style your camel coat like the A-listers
The best way to wear your camel coat really comes down to your individual style. But if you're looking for ideas, why not start with one of the most famous camel coat wearers: Kate Middleton. For public duties, the royal often takes an immersive approach, colour-matching her camel outerwear to a totally beige outfit that is much less boring than it sounds. In terms of looking (and feeling) smart, you couldn't do any better.
But if you're looking for a more informal approach that will pass muster at the pub, Jennifer Lawrence is the ultimate camel coat muse. Strolling through the autumnal streets of New York City, the actor paired her quiet-luxury camel with a cosy polo neck jumper, white jeans and comfy sneakers - the perfect get-up for pounding the pavements (and looking chic while doing it).
You can also lean into the garment's naturally trad aesthetic by putting a twist on a preppy outfit like this street-styler in Paris. Styling her coat with a striped button-down, a sweater vest and playfully pink accessories, it was a masterclass in how to give your reliable camel outerwear a bit of oomph in the style department.
Natalie Hammond is Grazia’s Senior Fashion News Editor. She loves winter, hates summer and can often be found writing about the weather (and what on earth to wear).