For the rest of us, houndstooth is an easy way of looking fashionable but never try-hard. Personally, I think the check looks more modern on either a short coat that ends on the upper thighs, like the Holland Cooper design, or on a longer piece with a waist tie like the Stella McCartney piece, although there are also thick jackets available on the market. 

In terms of the print, real houndstooth weaves black and white threads in equal numbers, meaning that bands of four dark and four light threads are interwoven in a classic 2:2 twill. Although, if you are looking for a more subtle check, then you can also find puppytooth designs, which weave two dark and two light threads together.

And yes, I am aware that on the first day of March, most of us are turning our minds to the promise of spring and the knowledge that in a few weeks, the days will be lighter, if not necessarily warmer. Although one piece of advice I would give to any coat monogamists is that now is a great time of year to find stand-out pieces at half their usual price. 

My advice? Have a fling with a new coat this March, go on a break over the summer and start getting serious in about eight months from now.