Unlike many female consumers, men tend to shop by temperature rather than by trend. We don’t buy coats when it’s warm outside; quite understandably, we prefer to wait until it’s cold. Like now.

It pays to invest in a new coat every year: it’s the first thing someone sees when you walk into a room, and the last thing they see when you leave. If you’re not a big follower of fashion, and don’t have the time or inclination to follow the trends, or simply don’t have the cash, a new coat is your one-stop wardrobe update. And it serves a psychological purpose too: it’s a material reminder that you have left the frivolities of summer behind for the dark days of winter.

This season, menswear designers seem to have spent a lot of time and energy on their coat offerings; perhaps they realise that with global warming, and less clearly defined seasons, a new coat needs to promise more than just warmth. The catwalks were littered with military-inspired big coats, duffel coats, padded jackets and, of course, the classic peacoat. So which to choose?