Every winter it's the same scene in the shop: a customer walks in and, before even saying hello, asks for "the big coat". She means the KG26. In just a few seasons this long oversized coat has become Imperial's iconic piece, the one you recognise in the street and the one women come looking for as soon as the cold sets in. Here is what makes it so popular, and how to choose the right winter coat.
The KG26, a long oversized coat with a cocoon shape
The KG26 coat has a simple, instantly recognisable line: a cocoon shape that wraps the figure down to below the knee, dropped shoulders, wide sleeves and large notched lapels that open low on the chest.
It doesn't mark the waist, and that is what makes it so easy to wear. Worn open, it draws a long vertical line that lengthens the silhouette despite the volume. Closed, it becomes a warm, clean envelope, far from the sporty look of a puffer jacket.
Why the oversized coat has become a wardrobe essential
For a long time, women's coats were meant to be fitted, tailored, almost tight. The problem is well known: you can't wear them over a suit jacket or a chunky jumper without pulling at the shoulders and restricting the arms.
The oversized coat solves this. Its width is designed for layering: it sits over a blazer, a thick knit or a roll neck, and the same coat sees you through the whole season, from October to March. It is a true wardrobe coat, not a trend piece that vanishes the following spring. To understand how volumes work, read our article oversized is not one size up.
How to wear the KG26 long coat
At the office. Over tailored trousers and their matching jacket, it extends the line of the suit. It's the combination we see most in the fitting room: a checked or pinstriped suit, the KG26 on top, loafers or pointed pumps.
At the weekend. Over straight jeans and a white shirt, it gives a simple outfit real presence. Hands in pockets, derbies on your feet.
In the evening. Draped over the shoulders, above fluid palazzo trousers and a camisole, it dresses up a dinner outfit without weighing it down.
Just one rule to remember: the volume is on top, so the bottom stays clean. Straight trousers, wide but fluid, or a long skirt; avoid adding a second stiff volume.
Brown, camel or plum: which colour to choose
The KG26 comes in three colours.
- Brown: the most versatile. It works with black, grey, navy and all natural tones.
- Camel: the ultimate winter coat classic. Bright over black, very soft with off-white and beige.
- Plum: to step away from neutrals without losing any elegance. Superb with charcoal grey and burgundy.
Only two sizes: how to choose yours
Thanks to its cocoon cut, the KG26 doesn't need a full size range. It comes in two sizes: XXS, the smaller one, for usual small and medium sizes, and XS, the larger one, for usual larger sizes.
The shoulder deliberately falls onto the upper arm and the body stays roomy down to the hem. If you are petite, choose XXS: the coat keeps its below-the-knee length without swallowing you. If in doubt, come and try it on in our shops in Lyon, at 21 rue du Président Édouard Herriot; we can also adjust the sleeve length.
The cloth: what makes a winter coat hold its shape
A long coat is judged by its drape. The KG26 is cut from a thick cloth with a slightly brushed finish, in 91% polyester and 9% viscose. It hangs with weight, keeps its shape all day, doesn't crease and is machine washable, which is rare for a coat of this standing. It is made in Italy.
To compare winter fabrics, cloth, suiting, velvet or jersey, our article on the four winter fabrics explains it all.
Our other women's coats this season
The KG26 isn't alone. Depending on your figure and how you live the winter, other cuts may suit you:
- the long camel coat in mottled wool-look cloth, more structured;
- the short double-breasted camel-hair-look coat, for those who prefer to show their legs;
- the short pea coat with a high collar, the most wind-proof;
- the mid-length oversized neoprene coat, more graphic;
- the belted double-breasted trench, for in-between seasons;
- the short faux fur jacket, for evenings.
In short
The KG26 ticks every box you expect from a women's long winter coat: an oversized cut that goes over a suit, a cocoon shape that lengthens, a cloth that holds and two simple sizes to choose from. That is why it has become our iconic coat, and why it sells out fast every season.
See the KG26 coat · All women's coats · Suit jackets to wear underneath