Written by Naomi, co-founder of The Hippie Shake
The Inspiration
Some pieces you design. Others, you become.
The Penny Lane coat is one of those for me. From the beginning, she was our muse. The inspiration came straight from Almost Famous — that effortlessly thrown-on, 70s main character energy I’ve always loved.
At the same time, I was collecting vintage Afghan coats — the kind worn to death in the 70s, with cigarette burns in the sleeves and stories in every stitch. You could tell people lived in them. They were warm, bold, and beautifully made — and you always felt different the moment you put one on.
That’s what I wanted to recreate with ours. A coat that wasn’t just stylish, but that became a part of you.
Our first Penny Lane coat from the Stargazer collection — tan, paisley, and a little bit magic.
The Early Days
We launched our first Penny Lane coat back in our Stargazer collection — one in black with celestial embroidery, and one in tan with paisley. I remember how excited I was when the samples arrived. I’d worn vintage ones for years until they literally fell apart, so finally creating our own felt like a dream.
They quickly became bestsellers — and in our first Heroes collection, we introduced the now-iconic trio: the classic brown, the long tan, and the green folk coat. Each had its own mood and following. Alongside our Penny Lane boots, they helped define the Heroes spirit from the start.
The Evolution
As we’ve grown, so has the coat.
We knew it deserved a refresh — not a reinvention, but an elevation. We sourced a better-quality faux suede, upgraded the shaggy faux fur to something that almost passes for vintage, and made Erin Cadigan’s embroidery even more intricate.
We also made it feel better. No more sweaty linings — the inside is now breathable cotton, with insulated padding to keep you warm and comfortable. We added proper hook-and-eye closures too, so it’s as functional as it is fabulous.
Even the embroidery was reimagined — richer, fuller, and more in line with our new brand direction. We softened the faux fur contrast on the brown version, deepened the colour, and made it feel more authentic to the era.
What’s New in Heroes
The best-loved versions are back — like the brown and the green, now with all our latest upgrades. But we’ve also added new Penny Lane styles to keep things evolving:
Black Monochrome — Cream embroidery, statement toggles, and a rock ’n’ roll edge
Cropped Red — Faux fur cuffs, rainbow embroidery, and retro energy
Ruby Tuesday Patchwork — Handcrafted jewel-toned patchwork, boxy fit, bold collar
And yes, we made a matching faux fur hat — because sometimes, the look just isn’t complete without it.
Why It Still Matters
Every time we start a new capsule, the Penny Lane is one of the first designs we come back to. It’s not just a coat. It’s a feeling — of nostalgia, of expression, of freedom.
I love thinking about the lives these coats will live. Thrown on at Glastonbury over a vintage tee, worn into the city with flares, wrapped around you on a walk through the woods. They’re coats that go with you.
And as an English brand, we know: if you’re wearing a coat every day, it should be as fun as it is functional.
What Comes Next
We’ve come so far since those first Stargazer coats — but I honestly feel like we’re just getting started. We’ve been exploring new techniques, new trims, and a few surprises that I can’t wait to share.
The Penny Lane coat will always be part of our story — but now, it’s part of yours too.
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