Whatever else retailers may nudge your way as the "must have" item of the season, everyone needs a coat. This fall's trends - among them elegant velvet jackets, snug military-style closures and luxurious fur accents - will keep you stylishly warm for years to come.

Jill Hudson Neal, The Washington Post Magazine 's design editor, was online Monday, Sept. 12 to field questions and comments about the latest in outerwear and about other trends in the world of fashion.