Your wardrobe could be bulging with beautiful coats, but if they are not well maintained, you could end up looking shabby…but not chic.

It is your coat that is likely to turn heads in winter. A well-maintained coat will spell style, even over luxury labels. A little extra care and attention is all it takes to maintain that oh-so-classy appearance that a great coat magically creates.

Have you ever had a dozen coats in your wardrobe but only one that is wearable?

There is nothing more frustrating than a coat with a missing button, especially if you can’t find them and have to replace the whole row.  Spend a night in front of TV sewing any loosened buttons securely – or bundle them up and take them all to an alterations expert, or your Mum. This especially applies to new garments, which sometimes can be a little frugal in the button-attaching department. They may end up dangling precariously within the week. Remember to keep the token extra button you get with some new coats, in a handy place.

Zips can be another bother. If you have been cursed with the faulty zip, it won’t fix itself; get it replaced before the season slips by.

Conspicuous dangly threads and sagging linings also let a garment down. Keep a lint brush in your car and office desk and give a lint-attracting coat a quick once-over before you go out.  Check your coat all over. You may not have noticed a perilous stain lurking on the back from unknowingly sitting on something sticky.

Cuffs on a coat can get soiled and wear quicker than the rest of the garment. You can always gently hand wash the cuffs only if the rest of the coat doesn’t need cleaning. If the sleaves are a fraction long to begin with, you can always refresh a frayed cuff by turning it under a fraction and hemming it – or add a new cute cuff to revamp a beloved favourite.

If your coat is washable, be attentive to the stain and use a method specifically for the offending substance and fabric – as soon as you can. Or rush it off to the dry-cleaners. Strategically placed beautiful broaches are wonderful for disguising irreparable rips or stains.

A black wool coat may get away with murder compared to a delicate winter white one. But as long as you give it your full attention – there is nothing more stunning than winter whites or a pale pink Parisienne number. The extra effort will be worth it. The secret is to pick your moments as to when and where you put it on, so it is likely to remain in fine condition.

Hang coats on padded hangers to help retain their shape. Add a coat cover if you have moths hovering. Resist hanging them on a hook unless it has a hook loop inside the collar. Pets are likely to make a bee-line for coats draped over a chair or bed.

Be sure your belt on your trench coat doesn’t end up in the gutter by discretely attaching a small safety pin in between the centre back loophole and the belt – this way it will stay put.

Try to resist buying a coat too tight. This will stretch the fabric around the buttonholes and there’s more chance of ripped seams. If you have devoured too many sticky date puddings this winter, and still want to wear your fitting coat, it doesn’t necessarily have to be done up to look great. Add a stylish scarf for warmth instead.

If you can’t part with an old coat or even want a new one revamped, change the buttons, add subtle shoulder pads (or take them away), shorten or lengthen, nip it in at the waist.  The results could be stunning.