Morning:
6°c
My first thought, on walking into Coast, is "bridesmaid attire". But it's the lucky bridesmaid kind, rather than the "how could the bride be so cruel?" sort.
There's a two-tone tiered strapless dress with sweetheart neckline (£150), a scarlet below-the-knee number (£135) and a taffeta bandeau dress in baby blue or baby pink (£115).
Weddings, christenings and black tie dinners: these are Coast territory.
"Occasion-wear" is the frumpy name that the fashion industry gives these clothes, outfits you'll usually wear only a few times a year. And that's exactly why Coast is never a slave to trends.
Sure, it has noticed that embellishment is big this season (a sequin mini is a standout for £85), but it doesn't sell you something that will soon look dated.
That applies to party frocks, too, the best of which is a simple black dress with a silk upper half and a tailored skirt (£125). Something has gone wrong with the jewellery, though, which leans toward the garish.
Buried towards the back of the store is some smart workwear, and the outerwear is strong - a stunning, well-cut, white pea coat (£160) in particular.
But Coast's real purpose is to give us something to wear when jeans and a sparkly top just won't cut it.
Changing rooms: a decent size, with flattering lighting and somewhere to sit
Staff: friendly but distracted by other customers
Quality: good, although a badly stained white dress was still on the racks
Our pick: metallic puff-skirt, £70
