I thought it might be a bit cruel for me to start talking about winter coats, but seeing that the weather here in Chicago is starting to cool down and Fall is knocking on the door, I don’t feel so bad. Plus, I start searching for my possible winter coats way in advance and before the snow starts to fall and the cold weather starts to settle in. Coats are one of my favorite items of clothing, so I never feel that you can have too many.

I was intrigued when I first heard of Vaute Couture, a line of fashionable vegan coats that provide weather protection, insulation and comfort The owner, Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, spent almost a year developing the line which is produced in Chicago, IL. The advanced fabric is super soft and works well with sensitive skin, so no itchy skin here. The three styles of the coats were inspired by artists who were narrowed down in an international search and once narrowed down, the 8,000 public votes chose a winner. For F/W 09, 25 of each color/style of coats will be produced, and each coat will come with a numbered and certified print of the coat’s illustration.

What I really like about Vaute Couture’s line is that you can buy your coats to order if you have specific sizing issues/specifications. For me, buying winter coats is a bit tricky since I have a larger bust, so I’m never quite proportionate for what my “correct size” should be. Plus, I like to get as much wear out of my winter clothing as possible since I’m wearing it so often, so having the option for a custom coat would be perfect. Here are the coats from the 2009 line:

Bomono Coat

Pea Coat

El Coat

Vaute Coat