Q I'll be travelling abroad soon and need a winter coat. What should I look for?

A I'm a big fan of cashmere and cashmere-wool blends. Sure, you pay a bit more, but they travel light, don't weigh a tonne on your shoulders and keep you warm and toasty.

To look up-to-date, get a coat with a tailored silhouette and voluminous and intricate sleeve detailing, preferably in dove or heather grey - which are very in this season. You should also get a coat that ends at mid-thigh or knee-level. It's a lot less cumbersome than a longer coat, and it will still see you through the winter.

Pick of the week

A little goes a long way. This formula is so packed with pigments that one sweep of shadow gives saturated, silky colour that lasts all day. The shimmer particles are refined so you don't get gilt everywhere, only where you want it.

Cle de Peau Beaute Eye Color Quad, $112, from Level 1 Takashimaya