The Cutest Coats . . . For Any Occasion

So often, the coat is an afterthought: You'll spend hours putting together the perfect look and then toss on any old topper as you dash out the door. But a cute coat can be key to creating a chic ensemble. Click through the gallery to discover the best ways to wear our favorite fall styles.

The Toggle Coat
It girl Alexa Chung knows that an old-fashioned toggle coat is the perfect piece to layer over artfully mismatched separates-paired black tights, and animal-print bag, and a colorful scarf, this quirky cute coat pulls the entire look together.

The White Blazer

A bright white blazer seems like it might be a tough piece to pull off, but Selena Gomez handles it beautifully, using it to dress up an equally pale top and light gray jeans.

The Little Leather Jacket

Julianne Moore

's rose-colored sheath is sweet; a little leather jacket adds just the right amount of edge.

The Swing Coat

Jennifer Lopez

's attention-getting feather-trimmed swing coat adds to, rather than covers, the underlying outfit—skinny leggings and sky-high platforms prevent the ensemble from looking too voluminous.

The Double-Breasted Wool Coat

There's something almost militaristic about this traditional coat, but the a-line cut keeps it from feeling too regimental. It provides an artful counterpoint to Claire Danes's pale, ultra-modern sheath.

The Luxe Poncho

We love Kate Hudson's kicky pairing of a Louis Vuitton poncho with a little black dress. Yes, the coat's impeccable pedigree helps, but this would work with any similarly-cut style, as long as it mirrored this one's super-simple color palette.

The Menswear-Style Jacket

Yes, this blazer would look amazing with a pair of skinny jeans. But Rachel Bilson's decision to mix it with a short, bright cocktail dress takes both pieces to the next level. We love the contrast between (slightly) masculine and (super) feminine.

The Bandleader Trench

Taylor Swift's bandleader-style trench is almost embellished enough to stand on its own. It would work, buttoned-up, over virtually any dress, but the singer is smart to let a couple of inches peek out below the coat's hem; it saves those around her form wondering if she's wearing anything underneath.

The Textured Jacket

Black leather would have been too obvious. Instead, Sienna Miller topped her red-hot minidress with an equally abbreviated boucle jacket, which lends the look a ladylike polish.