(The Fashionista) Beautifully vibrant solid coats

With the rainy season in full swing, some of these Kigali mornings are a bit on the cooler side. So this time of year, it is important to make sure what you wear over your ensemble is just as fashionable as what is underneath. And this season – your outerwear is all about the solid, bright colours. There are some beautiful coats that are hitting the stores this season. In the luxury fashion world, when you think of coats, there is one brand that stands out amongst the others: British fashion label Burberry. Although their iconic plaid is what they are known for, this season they have crafted a beautiful bright red solid coat. The tailored coat and black leather peak-a-boo belt at the waist give it a strong feminine form. Akris, Swiss fashion luxury label founded by Alice Kriemler-Schoch, created a stunning double-breasted solid burnt orange trench coat. The classic design can be a closet staple for many more seasons. As well, the versatile autumn colour works well with both blacks and browns as complimentary pieces. For a more minimalist look, Stella McCartney, daughter of the famous Paul McCartney who is the last living member of the Beatles, created a vibrant purple over-sized blazer. The front tuxedo-like style gives the piece an allure of androgyny. While brand Max Mara went with a more springtime colour, coral, for his solid coat piece. The minimalist feminine coat has a lovely form, while still staying true to the original classic design. The flap pockets give it a slight vintage feel. With such bright happy hues, the celebrity fashion scene is embracing this style with charisma. American actress Amanda Seyfried, known most recently for her role as Cosette in the award winning Les Miserables and as Linda Lovelace in the independent film Lovelace, wore a robin’s egg blue solid colour Prada coat. She paired with a bright yellow dress, a red bag, and nude coloured patent pointed shoes. Her entire ensemble lacked pattern, giving it a colour-blocked look. The beautiful Eva Mendes, currently dating heartthrob Ryan Gosling after filming The Place Beyond the Pines with him, wore a solid bubble-gum pink Valentino cut. She contrasted the femininity of the colour with fishnet tights and Christian Louboutin booties. Sister to singing sensation Beyonce, Solange Knowles wore a vibrant orange Proenza Schouler coat. She paired with complimentary yellow: opting for a yellow dress, yellow sunglasses, a yellow clutch and yellow heels. And the forever break-up singing queen, Taylor Swift, wore a solid red coat by Fay, a brand who features modern takes on classic styles. The best way to wear this style is to take a cue from Amanda and Solange – pair a solid coat with other solid colours. It is best to let the coat speak for itself, so keep your accessories minimal. Trying to stay classic is an easy way to pull this off – so make sure the coat is tailored for the female form, and has minimal embellishments. For an extra hint: it always looks nice with mid-height pointed pumps. That’s the fashion scoop for this week. Got a thought? Trend? Style you hate? Send it my way. Rachel Breaux is an American living in Rwanda