Think long, think luxuriant, think languorous. The new coats for this winter are not just big; they're all-enveloping and deeply comfortable. The look is one of total self-pampering and a complete change from the lean, narrow-shouldered silhouette shown just a year ago.

This time around, coats are designed to wrap a woman up into a bundle of cosiness, with head and hands just peeking out from folds of fabric.

One of the principal features of the season is the return of fur, whether real or fake. Frankly, the latter is now so convincing - both in appearance and ability to provide protection - that there is no need to invest in real fur (or in the arguments which it now inevitably sparks). Wearing fake is no faux pas; it can look as real, or as fun, as you want. Everything from virtual ponyskin to simulated sable is now on the market. And whereas fake fur used to mean tough texture and coarse colouring, the new range of fibres are just as soft and richly-hued as the originals.

Whatever the choice, fur is a key element in creating winter's big wrap coat. It can be employed as the sole material in the garment and in this form is being offered by many Irish retailers. Sasha, for example, has produced a fake long-stranded mink coat selling for just £139.99 and Penneys can offer fake thick pile fur jackets in shades of blue or burgundy for £70. These coats look terrific, thanks to their glossy sheen and dense colour. They give an instant lift of luxury to any outfit and at these prices can be regarded as a reasonable investment even if they only stay in favour for a single season.

However, a full-length fur, even when made from acrylic, can be rather overwhelming, not to mention too hot in our relatively mild climate. An alternative is to look for a coat with a fur collar, especially since many of these are detachable; Debenhams in Dublin is carrying long coats in this style for £180 in the store's Nuage range.

The merits of a detachable fur collar are two-fold; they can be removed whenever the weather makes them unnecessary and they can be abandoned altogether should they no longer be fashionable next year. Another option, as shown here, is simply to wear a fur stole around the neckline of a coat. If fur of any kind is out of the question, a plain cloth coat will be found on sale everywhere. In fact, finding shorter lengths could be something of a challenge. The long coat is very long indeed, tending to stop only just short of the ankles. And it is almost as wide as long, falling generously straight from the shoulders with no darts or tucks on the body. Shoulders are loose and sloping, sleeves wide and slightly flaring toward the wrist.

The overall form is that of a big, old-fashioned dressing gown. It works best when teamed with trousers or one of this season's other key items: the full-length skirt. The idea is to avoid cutting the body at different points by letting everything flow down to the same point. Coats are a key element in this seasonal story; wear one of the new styles and you will give a new meaning to the notion of long winter evenings.