The start of winter coat season. From long to mid-length: our staff try on and compare mid-length wool coats.

Surprisingly practical: the mid-length coat

Compared to long coats, mid-length coats are lighter and easier to move in. Their length makes it easy to strike a good balance when paired with wide-leg bottoms or long skirts. In recent years, long coats have been the trend both for style and warmth, but since they tend to create a similar silhouette, having one mid-length coat on hand is genuinely useful.

This is especially true when commuting by train, sitting down and standing up throughout the day. On a crowded train, many people end up staying seated without taking their coat off. If you sit while wearing a long coat, the hem tends to wrinkle and the fabric wears out faster, but with a mid-length coat, there's less fabric getting rubbed and creased, so it stays looking neat for longer.

Wool Cashmere Melton Hooded Coat

NAVY (model height 162cm)

The first candidate is a hooded wool cashmere melton coat, an adult-style coat that's easy to wear for everyday use. Made from a blend of virgin wool (wool that hasn't been recycled) and high-quality cashmere, it has a smooth texture that's hard to resist touching. It resists losing its shape and is highly durable. The melton fabric, tightly fulled and brushed, has a pleasant volume without being stiff, giving it a soft, smooth feel despite its thickness. By fully lining this dense, warm melton coat, it becomes even more insulating—a piece that will keep you properly warm even in the depths of winter.

TOP GREY (model height 162cm)

The length is about 76cm, covering just around the hips—long enough that the coat never feels like it's in the way, whether you're moving by car or by bicycle. It comes in two colors: NAVY, which pairs easily with any outfit, and TOP GREY, whose melange gives off a relaxed, effortless vibe. The silhouette is casual, but with a sophisticated, grown-up texture and a sweet design that flares gently at the hem, this coat matches all kinds of styles on its own—a coat that will remain a staple through many autumns and winters to come.

Staff H: Height 151cm

Since I'm on the shorter side at 151cm, I was a bit worried about a free-size coat. But once I tried it on, the body width and length were just right. The sleeves are a touch long, so I'd like to have them altered, but there's enough room that I could wear a down inner layer underneath without feeling cramped—it's a piece you can wear and feel relaxed in.

Since it has a hood and large pockets, I paired it with cleaner, more polished pieces underneath. What I liked once I put it on is that the back has a three-dimensional design, so it looks neat and tidy from behind. With coats that have extra body width, my height can sometimes make my upper body look quite large, but that wasn't an issue with this coat. It's not too heavy either, so you can just throw it on quickly. I love that it works as a hooded coat for everyday casual outfits while the quality fabric adds a touch of elegance.

Staff M: Height 159cm

I often wear voluminous tops with roomy sleeves and body width, so I really love that this coat has plenty of room from the shoulders down through the arms. The silhouette from the side has nice volume too, which I find cute. The lining is smooth and doesn't bunch up, so it's easy to put on and take off, and even with so-called oversized knits or sweatshirts with dropped shoulder seams, or tops with distinctive sleeve designs, it never feels tight.

Another point I personally love is the large pockets. When I go for a walk in the neighborhood holding my child's hand, I like to go out empty-handed, so I can just put my phone, wallet, and keys in the pockets and head out without a bag.

My personal favorite pairing is with a flared skirt! Since the coat covers down to around the hips, it keeps the volume of the skirt in check, creating a grown-up, cute silhouette that I really like.

Fisherman Long Coat (HACKNEY UNION WORKHOUSE)

This is our second candidate: the FISHERMAN LONG COAT, made from soft, smooth melton wool. Compared to the other two coats, it has a longer length, but on a woman around 160cm tall, it falls just above the knee—so it could be described as a long coat that leans relatively close to mid-length.

True to its name, FISHERMAN, the design is inspired by the coats worn by fishermen heading out to sea, with an appealing silhouette created by the oversized hood and dolman sleeves. It may look like a rough, simple coat, but it comes with a cotton lining finished with careful piping, making it a piece that's easy to wear.

Most of the pieces in the HACKNEY UNION WORKHOUSE collection are made in the UK, and the brand often uses pure, unprocessed fabric (room state). While starting from the premise of using quality fabric, they also pay close attention to the rare deadstock fabrics they occasionally come across.

Staff M (Height 165cm)

I'm wearing the S size. When I first saw it, I thought, "This might be heavy," but once I put it on, I didn't feel any heaviness at all—it was surprisingly light and easy to wear.Even though it's light, the area where the coat covers you stays properly warm.For the bottoms, I hesitated a bit, but paired it with a skirt of mine in a similar color family. I also think it would look lovely worn thrown loosely over a gentle-toned outfit, like a white knit set-up. At department stores and mass retailers you can find nicely made melton coats, but it's rare to come across a dead-stock wool coat with this kind of atmosphere, so I thought it would be nice to have one on hand.

This shoulder silhouette, unique to dolman sleeves, is also lovely. It looked nice buttoned up in front too, but I personally prefer the silhouette without buttoning. I'm 165cm and normally wear a size S, so I thought sizing up one size and wearing it a bit looser might bring out the look even more.

Staff U: Height 163cm

I wore a size M. Overall it has quite a lot of ease, and the fabric feels substantial, so it gives a sense of warmth. The sleeve length is also on the longer side, and I thought letting them bunch up a little was nice too. Being able to layer up underneath is a big plus!

When I saw this coat, I immediately wanted to pair it casually with denim, so I chose a dark indigo denim. The khaki-toned coat and the red knit make for a gorgeous, cute combination. I finished the look by tying it together with shoes and a bag in matching leather.

I like that the hood is generously sized, so you can fold it back to keep your neck warm. The details are finely crafted, and having so many buttons is also part of its charm. This is a coat I'd recommend for anyone who wants serious warmth but feels a down coat would be too much.

Double Beaver No-Collar Coat

The material called "Double Beaver" gets its name from the way its soft touch and glossy, fur-like texture resemble beaver fur. Seeing it in person, the shiny, lustrous texture of the "fur" feels luxurious and truly lovely. The fabric is a blend of fine wool and water-soluble vinylon, which is later dissolved through processing so that air enters the yarn, giving it both "lightness" and "fluffiness." It's also characterized by a tightly woven double-weave structure, which creates volume while keeping the wearing feel very light. The fabric is used generously and lavishly, and the coat has been finished in a simple shape so that this material's appeal can shine through fully.

The no-collar design and the three-dimensional shape created by a special paneling are also appealing. It has a gentle silhouette that you don't often see in other coats.

Staff T: Model height 159cm

I really like the roomy width and the way it feels like being wrapped up snugly when worn. Thanks to its three-dimensional construction, it doesn't cling to the body's lines, so whether you're slim or have a sturdier build, I think this coat can create a similar silhouette on anyone.

At 159cm, it falls to about knee length. I rarely wear skirts normally, but this coat has a charm that makes me want to pair it with a long skirt. Personally, I prefer pairing it with skinny or straight-type pants. Having a coat like this as part of a slim-fit style really makes you look like a fashion pro.

Also, it's much lighter than it looks! It has plenty of ease and a smooth surface too. It's a coat that's very easy to move around in.

Staff U: Model height 163cm

Thanks to its roominess, this coat doesn't feel bulky even when paired with a thick knit or a drop-shoulder top. With a length that hits just above the knee, it's quite easy to move in. At first I wondered how a design without buttons would work, but once I put it on, the front panels overlap generously, so I didn't feel any cold.

Since I like casual items, I took advantage of the collarless coat's design to create an outfit that shows off a hoodie's hood underneath. I balanced it out by choosing neat, tailored pants. I'd especially recommend this to petite people, or to anyone who isn't fond of long coats. You can layer plenty underneath it too, so it's also great for those who prioritize warmth in an outer layer. The fur-like texture is beautiful and smooth to the touch, so anyone who takes a closer look will be able to tell it's a coat made from quality material!

▼Browse the Coats category here

Precisely because it's a coat you can use for years, a mid-length coat makes you want to wear it in all sorts of ways. Once you've picked one up, here's how to care for it.

▼5 Steps You Can Take Now to Enjoy Your Coat for Years to Come