Everybody’s wearing lilac coats

Don’t be fooled into thinking that sugary-sweet pastels are the reserve of little girls and Clueless heroine Cher Horowitz. In fact, Parma Violet-style lilac is the standout shade for SS18. Banish visions of micro miniskirts and twinsets from your mind, as this time around sees the saccharine color recast in everything from androgynous wide-leg pants and retro knits at Joseph and Tibi to ethereal gowns at The Row.

The pastel piece to invest in now? A statement coat. For the last five days, the most discerning dressers have been battling the elements at New York Fashion Week in lilac outerwear. From the perennially chic Caroline Issa, who opted for an elegant long-line coat and accentuated the silhouette by adding a waist-cinching belt, to Vanessa ‘never puts a foot wrong’ Hong, who combined tonal dressing – pairing her lilac puffer with a rollneck of the same shade – and of-the-moment vinyl, in the form of PVC pants.

With a coat that looks this good, you’ll find yourself praying for rain…