Echo Xie

With the nights drawing in and temperatures plummeting across much of China, business people will have been dusting down their overcoats over the past few weeks. In most of China's climate regions, an overcoat is a daily necessity between December and March.

While it is easy to be attracted by the lure of off-the-rack coats served up by fast-fashion brands such as Zara and H&M, buyers of both sexes shouldn’t be fooled. Their prices and styles may be attractive, but even their 100% wools tend to pill and look ragged before one winter is over. An overcoat is a key inve ......ts are one of the key ways to show style and taste, and elevate yourself above the gaudiness of so much other winter clothing.

In China, businesspeople who can afford a good coat rarely walk more than a block or two on the street. Most of their time will be spent putting it on, taking it off, or sweating in a well-heated taxi. But, even if your only real contact with the outside world during the winter is the short walk to the car, you will be grateful for a warm and stylish overcoat.