Susannah Frankel: 'A big coat has the happy effect of making the person inside it look small'

Autumn, season of mists, mellow fruitfulness and new coats. And this season, coats are big – they are very big. That is good news for all of us who embrace the appeal of the space between a garment and its wearer, as long upheld by the Japanese designers, in particular Comme des Garçons' Rei Kawakubo.

This season's CdG collection was oversized right across the board. And flat. Models in Crayola-coloured wigs and huge clothes resembling cut-outs, stomped down the catwalk making even the most po-faced fashion commentators' hearts sing. This was big on what might perhaps best be described as 'attitude', but in a happy kind of a way.

Later, in the Comme showroom, I was lucky enough to try on a big opera coat covered with pink flowers. If there is one woman in the world who might persuade me that such a thing is a good idea, then it is Kawakubo. And it looks, if I say so myself, amazing, collapsing around my body in lovely folds and making me feel dressed up and pretty without being blousey or soft.

In fact, my coats have always been big. A big coat has the happy effect of making the person inside it look smaller. Sometimes it's more chic to keep one's shape and size to oneself, and that applies to even those blessed in this particular department.

I haven't bought my coat yet. It should come as no great surprise that it's not cheap and nor, given the workmanship involved, should it be. Instead, I'm still thinking – or dreaming – about wearing it.

Susannah Frankel is Fashion Editor of 'The Independent'