The Outerwear Edit: Your Ultimate Guide to Luxe Layers This Season
Written by Belinda Abbott, Founder & Head Designer of OnceWas.
As winter settles in, outerwear becomes more than just a layer—it defines your look. At OnceWas, we design coats and jackets that merge warmth with effortless style, proving that practicality and polish can—and should—go hand in hand.
This season’s collection strikes the perfect harmony between structure and softness, statement and subtlety. From timeless trenches to bold prints and softly quilted bombers, each piece is designed in Melbourne, cut with intention, and made to move with you.
Consider this your complete guide to outerwear that works hard and wears beautifully—where style, substance, and seasonality meet.
1. The Luxe Trench: A Modern Classic Reimagined
The trench coat, redefined. Our leather trench is the ultimate investment piece—crafted in buttery-soft leather with a clean silhouette, gently structured shoulders, and a waist-cinching belt for a tailored shape. Lined in brushed twill for softness and comfort, this piece offers both warmth and elegance.
Worn closed as a dress, it delivers streamlined sophistication. Worn open, it becomes the perfect layering piece over relaxed trousers or denim. Style with sneakers for daytime or switch to boots and bold accessories for a polished evening edit. It’s a modern classic that transitions effortlessly from day to night, desk to dinner.
The Leighton Leather Herringbone Coat in Wheat and the Leighton Leather Herringbone Coat in Onyx, seen on Zoe George.
2. The Modern Icon: Edge with Elegance
Our leather jackets balance clean lines with feminine edge. Designed with contoured seams and soft tailoring, they offer a modern alternative to traditional biker styles—more polish, less bulk.
Layer yours over soft dresses for contrast, or team it with wide-leg pants and a simple tee for easy weekend style. Whether worn zipped or open, this jacket instantly adds presence to any outfit.
Rachel Watts wearing the Petite Blaire Leather Herringbone Stitch Jacket in Black, the OnceWas model wearing the Petite Blaire Leather Herringbone Stitch Jacket in Wheat, and Rachel Watts wearing the Petite Nova Leather Curved Hem Jacket in Moss.
3. The Elevated Essential: Faux Fur with Flair
Cosy yet cool, our faux fur bombers are the perfect balance of texture, warmth, and understated luxury. With quilted panels, ribbed trims, and refined finishing touches, these jackets deliver just the right amount of structure—while still feeling incredibly soft and wearable.
Adored year after year by our customers, this is a true wardrobe must-have. Effortlessly versatile, it pairs beautifully with everything from tailored trousers to activewear. Wear it to elevate your gym look or throw it over a dress for a high-low take on cold-weather layering. However you style it, this bomber finishes the outfit.
Left to right: Marcia Leone wearing the Reina Faux Fur Jacket in Jade Mist, Neha Wahlia wearing the Reina Faux Fur Jacket in Jade Mist and Esmeralda Viscose Dobby Midi Dress in Mariposa Zafiro, Rachel Watts is wearing the Sybil Chevron Faux Fur Bomber in Moss and the Sylvan Leather Jogger in Moss.
Left to right: Watts wearing the Clover Faux Fur Cropped Jacket in Oat, Rebeca Little wearing the Esmeralda Cotton Silk Dress in Winter Granadilla and Reina Faux Fur Cropped Jacket in Rosa, Jorja Dunn wearing the Sybil Chevron Faux Fur Bomber in Moss.
4. The Versatile Two-in-One: Flip Your Style
Double the options, double the impact. Our reversible jackets are expertly crafted to offer two distinct looks in one thoughtful design—ideal for travel, capsule wardrobes, or simply switching things up from day to night.
On one side: bold seasonal colour or statement print. On the other: a minimalist neutral to ground your look. Whether styled with matching bottoms for a coordinated set, or thrown over your own wardrobe favourites—like classic denim or leather pants—this piece offers effortless flexibility.
Wear it quilted side out for texture and warmth, or flip it to the smooth contrast for a sleeker silhouette. No matter the mood or moment, this jacket adapts.
The Rylie Reversible Print & Faux Fur Jacket in Dahlia fields styled with the Sylvan Leather Jogger in Moss & the Knox Cotton Silk Shirt in Dahlia Fields, the Eastyn Merino Wool Cotton Blend Knit in Moss & the Harper Viscose Dobby Skirt in Dahlia Fields.
The Rylie Reversible Faux Fur Jacket in Altamira & Blanca seen on Tahan Lew.
The Rylie Reversible Print & Faux Fur Jacket in Black Bromegrass seen on Danielle King.
5. The Modern Classic: Blazers, Redefined
An icon in the OnceWas wardrobe, our blazers are known for their impeccable craftsmanship and timeless appeal. Designed with subtle tailoring through the waist, softly padded shoulders, and luxe stretch fabrics, they strike the perfect balance between form and comfort.
Worn as outerwear or as part of a matching set, they elevate your everyday style with ease. Pair with tailored trousers and a silk blouse for the office, or wear over a fine knit and jeans for an elevated off-duty ensemble.
Effortless, seasonless, and endlessly versatile—this is the layer you’ll return to time and time again.
Left to right: Zeljka Abaza & Rachel Watts wearing the Leandro Lace Viscose Stretch Blazer in Night Sky, Leandro Linen Viscose Stretch Pant in Night Sky & Sevilla Cotton Silk Shirt in Blanca, Shathie Nkoni wearing the Elvira Viscose Stretch Crepe Blazer in Onyx & Elvira Viscose Stretch Crepe Pant in Onyx & the Oaklyn Chevron Stripe Ponte Blazer in Bluestone Stripe &Coraline Chevron Stripe Ponte Pant in Bluestone Stripe
6. The Timeless Tailored Coat: Classic with a Twist
Every winter wardrobe deserves a true hero coat—and our wool-blend tailored styles deliver just that. With refined structure, considered proportions, and elevated trims, these coats are made to last, both in quality and in style.
The Sutton Coat features a dramatic double-breasted front and a gathered back detail that brings softness to the silhouette—perfect for layering over everything from suiting to knitwear. The Pisces Coat offers a cleaner, more minimal line, designed for those who favour understated elegance with maximum impact.
Whether belted or worn open, styled with wide-leg pants, a midi dress, or everyday denim, these coats are your winter-ready answer to smart, sophisticated layering.
Left to right: The Sutton Wool Blend Double Breasted Coat in Oat, seen on Rachel Watts and the Pisces Coat.
Fit, Your Way: Thoughtful Innovations for Every Woman
At OnceWas, your feedback shapes what we do. That’s why we’ve introduced two new ways to make outerwear shopping even more tailored to you. For women 5'4" and under, many of our signature styles are now available in petite sizing, with carefully adjusted proportions—shorter lengths, repositioned waistlines, and reshaped sleeves—so you can enjoy a flawless fit without the need for tailoring.
We’ve also launched Try With Mirra, a new way to try your pieces on at home before you commit. Simply order, try them on in the comfort of your own space, and only pay for what you choose to keep. It’s fashion on your terms—designed to give you more confidence in every purchase.
Wrap Yourself in Confidence
This season, outerwear isn’t just an afterthought—it’s the first impression. Whether you're drawn to timeless tailoring, luxe texture, or versatile layers, our latest collection is designed to move with you, flatter your form, and elevate every look. With considered updates like petite sizing and the option to try before you buy, we’re making it easier than ever to find your perfect fit.
Explore the collection at our fortnightly Styling Studio, shop online at our eBoutique, or discover OnceWas at select stockists nationwide.
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