I’ve found some absolute gems on Vinted and eBay over the years, but this coat is one of, if not, THE best! Now, I have a bit of an addiction to colourful faux fur, but this coat is really special. Fans of the BBC comedy Alma’s Not Normal would say it’s iconic. Where to get hold of an “Alma coat” is frequently the subject of The Facebook fan group. So I feel incredibly lucky to have found one on Vinted. (It’s also known as the “Bagpuss coat” on account of its resemblance to the cat in the children’s TV series of the 1970s – first broadcast the year I was born.)

Styling the “Alma’s Not Normal” coat with green and pink stays true to her aesthetic (and also mine!)

In the comedy series, Alma, the main character has quite a flamboyant style, rather like mine. She also wears a lot of pink and green (one of my favourite colour combinations) so styling the “Alma’s Not Normal” coat with green and pink stays true to her aesthetic (and also mine!). A pink bobble hat would have been the perfect finishing touch!

I wore this outfit to work and it attracted a lot of comments, mainly referring to Bagpuss, which probably reflects the demographic of the newsroom! Pete said I looked like a stick of rock, and the lovely lady in reception was very complimentary, as she always is about my outfits. (I love making people smile with my colourful concoctions!)

“I always thought: if I can’t be normal, I’ll at least be fabulous”.

Alma’s Not Normal was written by Sophie Willan who also plays the title character. It’s based on her experience of growing up in the care system in Bolton and her difficult family relationships. It highlights the effects of the austerity measures brought in by the David Cameron government, which drastically cut funding for vital public services. Sophie wrote the first series during the pandemic (which she won a Bafta for), followed by a much anticipated second series which was broadcast last year.

Everything about Alma’s Not Normal is fantastic – the script, cast, acting and wardrobe (kudos to stylist Daniella Pearman) are all absolutely on the money. It’s hilariously funny, sweary, sad and as real as it gets. I won’t say too much about it in case you haven’t seen it. All I can say is, it’s one of the best TV series I’ve seen and definitely worth watching. To quote Alma: “I always thought: if I can’t be normal, I’ll at least be fabulous”.

Series one and two are available on BBC iPlayer (only in the UK).

Have you watched Alma’s Not Normal? If you have, I’d love to hear what you thought!

Jakke coat (Vinted) | Flounce London trousers (similar) | Zara jacket (similar) | SkinnyDip London bag | Yaa Yaa London ring