Real stories · The coat everyone assumes was expensive

Everyone at the coffee morning assumed my new coat was expensive — I let them think it for a week

The coat everyone assumes was expensive — that's what this one has turned out to be. I'm 67, and my coats have always been either properly smart (and saved for best, so never worn) or properly practical (and worn constantly, looking exactly like it). There was nothing in the middle.

What I wanted was one coat that made every ordinary outing look slightly considered.

Then I found the Lirenne from a British label called York Boutique — a classic oversized coat, and I chose the camel-khaki, which is the colour that goes over absolutely everything.

The cleverness is in the details. The row of round gold buttons turns a soft, simple coat into something that looks chosen — which is why people keep assuming it cost far more than it did. The cut is relaxed and oversized, so a jumper goes underneath without anything pulling, and the mid-thigh length covers the hips and works over jeans and dresses alike. The two big flap pockets genuinely swallow a phone, keys and gloves, and there are neat button tabs at the cuffs to finish it off.

The gold buttons do the work: they turn a soft camel coat into something that looks chosen, not just grabbed — and the pockets are deep enough for phone, keys and gloves, so the handbag can stay at home.

It has since done the school run, the church coffee morning and a birthday lunch, and at the coffee morning it got the once-over from three separate ladies. One of them finally asked where it was from, clearly braced for a three-figure answer. I told her, and I'll treasure her face for some time.

Because here's the bit I sat on for a week: it was £34.95 in the sale. The usual price is £90, so that's more than 60% off — and I'd checked I could send it back if it looked cheap in real life, which you can, within a fortnight, and the delivery's free. It never crossed my mind again. It comes in three colours and in sizes UK 8/10 all the way to 18/20.

If your coats are also either 'for best' or 'for the dog', do treat yourself to a look. The Lirenne is rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 290 women, it's £34.95 in the sale instead of £90, and the middle sizes always seem to go first.