When you’re looking for a new coat this winter, you’ll want to check two boxes. First off, you’ll want to make sure that it keeps you warm on those cold winter mornings and second of all you’ll want to make sure you're on trend so you’re not left out in the metaphorical cold.

There are a wide variety of coats out there these days and in the modern world trends are less homogenous and far more divergent than they used to be. Retailers are catering for these wide ranging tastes by offering jackets in a myriad of styles. Here are the 5 top winter coat styles.

The pea coat is a classic coat style that has been around for at least 300 years. Its origins are Naval in nature - traditionally, it was a practical warm jacket worn by American and European sailors. Pea coats are usually made from heavy wool which will keep you warm and as it is a military design it is also smart and stylish in appearance. A pea coat will look good over a suit on the way to work or with a pair of jeans at the weekend.

The duffel coat is another coat that's of Naval origin. The British Royal Navy issued a camel-coloured duffel coat to navy personnel during the First and Second World Wars. After the wars, the army surplus was sold to the general public and hence they became a popular item of clothing in the 50s. Again, due to the demands of its previous life as a military garment it is both strong and warm while remaining smart and stylish.

For the smarter gentleman, a double breasted jacket is a great choice. The wrap around fit when buttoned up will keep you warm, while the button details will keep you looking smart. Double breasted jackets are best with a thigh to knee length drop.

Again back to the military theme, the trench coat is another classic design. First engineered as a waterproof jacket for the trenches of the First World War, this jacket is great for keeping you dry on rainy wintery days. However it is also exclusively stylish, as only the officer class or above were allowed to wear the jacket. The trench coat is often a lighter jacket, making it ideal for the spring and autumn as well as the winter. As such, buying one could be a fairly good long-term investment.

Men's coats are often more practical than those designed for ladies. No jacket is perhaps more practical for winter than the parka jacket, which was designed for artic conditions. It was most famous as the coat of choice for school children during the 70s and 80s. However, from the mid 90s onwards, thanks to Liam Gallagher and quite a few other celebrities, the parka jacket made a comeback as the epitome of iconic cool.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.