The £15 Accessory Fashion People Use to Make Their Coats Look Much More Expensive

If we're looking at the seasons from a fashion point of view, then winter is definitely my favourite of the lot. In spite of the chilly temperatures and lack of sunlight, the styling possibilities alone make it easy to find plenty of joy in the darkest and coldest months.

I like to think of winter layering as the opportunity to style up two outfits at once. The first is the initial layer—the kind of light outfit that you could wear throughout spring or autumn, composed of a top, blouse or knit paired with bottoms—and then the outer layer, which conceals the first and offers a whole other opportunity to craft another excellent look. Double the fun, this outlook on winter style makes me excited to get dressed every day.

Keen to revive my outerwear collection ahead of midwinter, I've found an elegant and affordable styling trick that's about to make my winter looks appear so much thought-through. Appearing across my Instagram feed right now, I'm freshly inspired to cinch my coats with a belt for uncomplicated looks steeped in style.

Rather than letting your coat drape down in its natural, heavy form, securing it in place with a sleek belt adds structure to the look and keeps out the cold in the process. Layering additional texture and hardware into the outfit, this simple styling trick delivers droves of added elegance.

Whilst even a basic leather belt will up your styling game tenfold, I've also seen the trend styled to great effect with more decorative belts—I especially like how Ilirida Krasniqi styled a calf-grazing fluffy coat complete with a slim metal belt for a refined finish.

With elegant belts available across the market at a wide range of price points, this emerging trend offers a really easy to elevate your winter aesthetic without having to splash out on an expensive coat or cashmere knit.

Whilst designer names host styles worth several hundreds of pounds, high-street brands are also brimming with high-quality pieces for as little as £15. Whistles' chocolate suede belt has quickly jumped to the top of my wish list, but COS' sleek leather style is tempting me, too.

The easiest way to ensure an elegant ensemble, read on to discover our edit of the best belts and coats to shop right now.

SHOP OUR EDIT OF THE BEST COAT AND BELT PAIRINGS: