Fur-Trim Coats Are Everywhere This Autumn. Here Are the Good Ones

Cheap faux fur goes matted and crunchy after one rainy commute, so give it a squish. It should feel dense and spring back. A detachable collar is worth its weight in gold, because some days you want the drama and some days you just want to get the bus without looking like a Muppet. And check the trim colour against the coat. Tonal looks pricier than contrast, every time.

Zara has gone all in this year, mostly suede-effect jackets with cream trims. Mango does the more grown-up take, longer and in brown. H&M is the cheapest way to see if you even like the look, and M&S is quietly brilliant for collars that come off. If you can't face the shops, filter by 'faux fur trim' on ASOS and you'll get every brand at once.

Jakke is a London brand that only does faux fur, and it shows. Properly fun colours, made from recycled fibres. & Other Stories and Whistles are good for a smart wool coat with a trim that doesn't scream. Reiss if you want it to look like it cost double, and Sézane for the slightly Parisian, slightly 70s version.

Stand Studio is the Scandi brand every street style photo seems to feature, and their faux shearling is the real deal. Shrimps is the British one, all playful colours and pearl buttons. Apparis is great if you want a plant-based option, and Ganni for something a bit more off-kilter.

Net-a-Porter and Selfridges have the best designer edits, and Selfridges went fur-free years ago so you won't accidentally end up with the real thing. Revolve for the LA-girl versions, John Lewis for sensible-but-nice, and The Outnet if you're happy to wear last season's for a lot less.

A fur collar adds bulk right at the top, so the rest of the coat needs to be clean. A cropped jacket with a big trim works brilliantly with straight trousers or a long skirt. A long coat with a trim looks best when it's cut fairly straight rather than full and swingy, or you end up looking like a duvet with a hood.

Petite? Go for a smaller collar rather than a trim that runs all the way down the front and round the hem. And try it on with your hair down. A deep collar plus lots of hair can swallow your face completely, which is fine if that's the look you're after.

A cream trim on a tan suede-effect jacket is this season's look, and it's the one you'll see on every platform at the station. Chocolate on chocolate is quieter and more grown-up. Black on black is the easiest to wear and hides the most. If you want a bit of fun, a coloured faux fur collar in pale pink or butter yellow on a camel coat is a nice nod to the 70s without the full costume.

Faux fur hates heat, so never dry it on a radiator or go near it with a hairdryer. The fibres melt and you'll never get the softness back. If it gets wet, shake it out and let it dry naturally on a hanger. Brush it gently with a wide-tooth comb or a pet brush once it's dry to fluff it back up. Many trims are detachable, so check the label, because a removable collar can usually be hand washed in cool water while the coat goes to the dry cleaner.

The 70s did this look first, and plenty of those coats are still around. Vinted is good for suede jackets with faux trims, and Vestiaire Collective is where to look for pre-loved shearling if you'd rather have the real thing without buying new. Always check the description to see whether a trim is real or faux. Sellers aren't always clear, and it matters if you're avoiding fur.

Over a grey marl hoodie and straight jeans. The coat does all the work.

With a slip skirt and knee boots for anything after dark.

No scarf. You've already got one built in.