Yahoo Finance This sell-out Mango coat is loved by Gigi Hadid and Diane Kruger – we put it to the test
Does the sought after brown check number live up to the hype?
(Mango)When a coat gets not one but two A-list celebrity endorsements in quick succession, it’s enough to cause a stir in the fashion world.
But when it’s a wool overcoat from high street retailer Mango that costs less than £100, that stir escalates into something of a frenzy.
Diane Kruger and Gigi Hadid have both been pictured wearing Mango’s oversize wool overcoat in recent weeks, generating dozens of headlines about the virtues of the affordable find.
Kruger was the first to be spotted in the buy back in November, styled with a black turtleneck and leather trousers, topped off with a baker boy cap.
Then, earlier this month, Hadid wore the very same item with a bucket hat and corduroy Dear Frances boots while pushing daughter Khai in her Bugaboo stroller on an outing in New York.
The coat’s reputation as a cult buy was instantly cemented. Predictably, the piece has now sold out completely, with Mango reporting that the queue for a restock is currently 1,000 customers long and counting.
It’s easy to see the widespread appeal of the £89 coat in question – the lapel collar and slouchy, oversize silhouette couldn’t be more on trend, channelling the effortless Scandi cool that the Instagram style set can’t get enough of, while the brown check is a timeless neutral that gives the coat maximum cost-per-wear potential (in short: there’s likely nothing you already own that this style won’t look good with).
But, after seeing the hugely competitive race to buy, we, in the immortal words of Carrie Bradshaw, couldn’t help but wonder: just because a famous face has been spotted in something we can afford, is it actually worth the money? We got our hands on one to find out.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Oversize wool coat: £89, Mango – Buy now
The first thing that struck us about this coat when it arrived was its weight – this is a seriously heavy-duty cover-up that’s definitely been designed with optimum warmth in mind. Once actually unwrapped, first impressions remained just as positive; the fabric feels reassuringly thick and sturdy, and the brown-black tartan mix looks smart and eternally wearable.
The sleeves are cut wide and billowy, and for some it may feel almost too voluminous, but overall the shape is surprisingly flattering, draping naturally rather than adding extra bulk, especially when you wear it open. As a casual everyday cover-up you can wear for virtually any occasion, we found it ticked all of our boxes.
So far, so mirror-friendly, but of course, the real test is to get it outside. On a bright yet blustery day in January, we took it around our usual local lockdown walking route and stayed toasty the entire time, even when there was still a touch of snow on the ground. Add to that the generous pockets and space for multiple chunky jumpers underneath, despite the fact we’d ordered our usual size, and it was already mentally making its way into our wardrobe for any number of scenarios. (On the subject of size, if you’re toying between the two, size down, as this coat comes up big even for “oversize” territory).
After rotating it over a number of office outfits from those heady days when we weren’t working from our kitchen table, as well as the joggers and sweaters we’re currently sporting 24/7, it became clear that there are very few looks this coat can’t work with.
Is it a standout, revolutionary coat of the century? No, but that’s exactly why we love it so, especially for the price. It’s a brilliantly versatile basic that you’ll wear until it falls apart – it’s no wonder even the likes of Diane and Gigi, who surely have the vast and lively rails of high-end designers at their beck and call, have fallen for its charms.
The design actually comes in three colours – the much-hyped brown check plus a grey and a black – but stock levels on even the non-celebrity-endorsed hues are dwindling. The only way to get your hands on the original? Sign up and add your name to the waitlist with the other 1,000 eager customers – Mango says there is another drop coming, so this should secure you a place at the front of the queue.
Looking for more coat inspiration? Our edit of the best women’s winter coats is the best place to start
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