Six of the Best jackets and short coats

Funnel-neck camel cape

From: Limited Collection at Marks & Spencer.

Price: 125.

DETAIL: A fabulous camel cape, new in at M&S and online, and made of 70 per cent wool, 20 per cent polyamide and 10 per cent cashmere. It's fully lined and with a flattering tie belt that nips in the waist, and flared sleeves that minimise the middle while balancing hips, and there are handy side pockets, too. Comes in three sizes: S, M and L.

Suits: All shapes and sizes, especially pear.

Key accessory: Oakley boots, were 175, now 87.50, at Pied a Terre.

Red funnel-neck belted jacket

From: Main range at Marks & Spencer.

Price: 45.

DETAIL: It might indeed be an anorak, but there's nothing remotely nerdy about this excellent short, warm coat that combines practicality with bold colour and great style. Excellent funnel neck and asymmetric big button detail. It's in store and online now and it's so bright and handy, you'll probably be wearing it for years. And no one will lose you.

Suits: Absolutely all shapes and sizes.

Key accessory: Black fur cuff boots, 35, available now at Marks & Spencer.

Faux sheepskin waterfall coat

From: Therapy at House of Fraser.

Price: 75.

DETAIL: Not made of the real thing, but nonetheless a really luxurious looking coat with that fabulous cowl neck (very cosy) that also makes a lovely wide lapel collar, plus a flattering flared skirt style (it's longer at the front than at the back). Unusual and great with jeans, especially black skinnies, and boots both flat and high heeled.

Suits: Medium to tall, curvy and pear shapes.

Key accessory: Black, flat, fur-cuffed Orca boots, were 150, now 99, at Pied a Terre.

Herringbone faux fur short jacket

From: Juicy Couture at Van Mildert stores and online.

Price: 262.

DETAIL: Really lovely scallop style design on this jacket, paired with black herringbone tweed on the arms and bodice, plus strong zip detail and plain scoop neck, all of which makes for a chic casual look, perfect to wear with skinny jeans and high-heeled boots, from ankle to knee-length, for funky street-country look.

Suits: Tall and skinny types, but also petites.

Key accessory: Chocolate platform lace boots, 65, Marks & Spencer.

Dusky pink leather blazer

From: Monsoon.

Price: 180.

DETAIL: Gorgeously soft buttery leather in a lovely shade just perfect for spring, and in a wonderfully flattering and stylish pleated style that follows through down to the flared hemline. Slashed to the waist so not one for wearing outdoors on chilly days, but a sleek cover-up for indoors over floaty skirts and jeans. New and in store and online now.

Suits: Slim to medium and petites.

Key accessory: Slouch ankle boots were 35, now 26.25, at Jane Norman.

Cream faux fur wide collar jacket

From: Pearl Lowe for Peacocks stores and www.peacocks.co.uk.

Price: Now 30, reduced from 60.

DETAIL: A real find and very wearable, with its hip balancing wide collar and handy cropped at the hips style, this fabulous little coat won't go out of fashion and looks amazing thrown over little floaty dresses and worn with your jeans.

Suits: Tall, statuesque and apple shapes. not good for short and pear shapes.

Key accessory: Black lace-up heeled boots, 35 at Marks & Spencer.