Rihanna of all people isn’t one to bow to the temperate climate – and, thus, has become a dedicated coat wearer. (As a fellow Angeleno with a penchant for a trench or duster, I tip my hat to her.) And the look practically pays for itself: however hot she may feel, a statement coat is all but guaranteed to elevate the overall outfit.

One way Rihanna has gone about making the coat work for her is by pairing them with lightweight pieces underneath. Take her most recent outing, where she wore a hot pink lace corset top, baggy ripped jeans and open-toes heels. Did she need to wear a coat? Likely not, but it certainly looks glamorous. She also uses them to add contrast: when she paired a striking pearl choker from Jean Paul Gaultier’s 2007 couture collection with another lingerie top, oversized jeans and Pumas, she upped the ante with a double-breasted coat. So, even if you, too, suffer through pleasant winters, you don’t have to go sans statement coat. Instead, take a page from Rihanna’s book.