The most popular short style is what is being call the "swing coat," which is unfitted and has a full, swinging back.

One ensembles on display will be a purple silk dress paired with a color-coordinated diagonally striped swing coat.

The styling is sophisticated, running to short swing coats, long tent shapes with attached scarfs and full-skirted Cossack styles.

"We're big coat collectors," she offers, jumping up to pull a taupe swing coat from her closet.

Unlined short swing coats - a full sweep with 14 gores - and trench coats are $395.

Cashmere blend swing coats reduced from £440 to £260.

For Revillon, Karl Lagerfeld designed a swing coat that is cut in a full circle.

A less voluminous swing coat is sold under Bergdorf Goodman's label.

At the other end of the phone, taking notes, is Victory's assistant, Zoe, presumably one of those "completely carefree" young things in a swing coat.

Each outfit was topped off with an equally ostentatious swing coat and bubble-bob brown wig.