Austria question #1: coat(s) Edit: pics added - YouLookFab Forum

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Austria question #1: coat(s) Edit: pics added

L'Abeille

Veteran

The for-sure outerwear will be my ski jacket, which I'll wear on the plane. It is plaid, mainly white with black and red. I bought it in the men's department at Sportchek because none of the women's jackets fit with sufficient ease over my wide shoulders (or pushed my buttons as much as the tartan), so it is on the boxy side. It will be worn for skiing. Sorry, no photo available at present.

I was hoping to be a bit more city-appropriate, if not exactly elegant, and pack along a cloth coat for wear in Vienna. I had narrowed this down to 2 contenders: the red wool "princess" coat (kneelength) and the grey wool pea jacket. I'll try to add pictures from my phone.

Now our suitcase space is reduced to make room for ski boots, and the forecast for our days in Vienna involves temps a bit above freezing, plus rain. So I might be happiest in the ski jacket, which is more water repellent, even though it has a more casual sporty vibe than I want. Activities will include restaurant dinners, a catch-all Viennese music performance (touristy, "formal dress not required", but I plan to wear a tube skirt or LBD), and Sunday mass in the Imperial chapel with the Vienna Boys' Choir (likewise). Will I look ridiculous with the plaid jacket?

Excuse the silly pea coat poses, I was trying to demo the beret and moto boots!

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Sheila

columbine(erin)

Veteran

It's hard to tell without pictures, but from your description, I guess I'd bring along the pea coat for mass and such.

Astrid

Veteran

I'd also pack an alternative. And I don't know about you, but I personally hate wearing non breathable gear in cities. I much prefer a wool coat combined with an umbrella for the combination of being inside (public transport, museums, shops) and outside (walking a lot).

Staysfit

Veteran

If you are only bringing two coats, one for skiing, and one wool coat, I would bring the red, if you have space, especially if you will be wearing a skirt one day. If not, I think you can get by with the grey. When I ski, my coat always ends up damp so it's a good idea to have something warm to change into while it dries out. Astrid makes a good point. Bring an umbrella.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Both coats look great but I think I'd bring the peacoat.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Thanks all. The peacoat is a bit warmer, but wouldn't protect my legs from rain. Sadly, both of my long classic trench coats are too space-consuming and not quite warm enough.

I am assuming /hoping that indoor venues won't be ferociously overheated the way Canadian ones are in winter? IE if I layer for warmth under a light coat, I won't want to remove all the layers as well as the coat once I get inside?

Thanks for the umbrella tip. When I saw the latest weather report I started clearing mental suitcase space for my collapsible one. Anyone know how windy it may be? Here, umbrellas aren't that practical in serious rain because the wind turns them inside out.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I don't really have any advice, I tend to throw fashion to the wind and let practicality take over when I'm traveling. I'd probably be taking my Columbia raincoat (which is goretex, but styled more like a coat than gear, and has a removable lining, so a bit warmer than just a raincoat) if I thought it was going to be really wet, and use the hood. I can't stand dealing with soggy umbrellas if I'm touring/walking in and out of buildings... fine if you can tuck them in a corner when at work, but I don't want to carry one around, nor do I want it get all my other stuff wet if I put it in a backpack/bag etc. And maybe throw in thin down jacket for when it isn't wet, or if the raincoat wasn't warm enough, as it packs into nothing. I

But I did want to say... have a FANTASTIC time!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Red beret with the grey peacoat.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Thanks Angie! That photo was for a series on Which Hat should I Bring, but the question answered itself.

So I guess that means the red leather gloves instead of black. Time to find myself an idiot string...

shiny

Veteran

I used to live just outside of Vienna but it was in the summertime. I was back once to visit but it was in October (and yes cold). With those caveats out of the way...

If your ski jacket is hip length I vote to take the red knee-length coat instead. That way you have an elegant longer option and a sportier more practical option that you may wind up wearing to tour around the city if the weather is inclement.

Why? Vienna tends to be on the dressier side (as in conservative more so than fashion-forward). Particularly on Sunday as people come into the city after or for mass and women tend to wear dresses rather than slacks. Now, my information may be a bit dated as I was a teenager when I lived there, but my host family would not allow me to wear slacks to the city -- I got lectures about how ladies wore dresses and skirts, not slacks (and definitely ladies do not smoke while walking, and they don't put their hands in their pants pockets!!)

Of course if the weather is freezing then wear slacks by all means and be practical!

Everything is close together so it's easy to duck into a cafe or shop or gallery if you get cold and need to warm up.

Please DO splurge on an evening carriage ride, hit the Prater right before it closes, check out the view from the top of St Stephensdom and tour the catacombs as well, and if you get over to the flea market on Sunday the SockenKaiser makes the best socks ever. And have a drink for me at the Krah Krah. Zwölf-Apostelkeller is touristy but fun for a quick bite -- go all the way down.

Helena

Veteran

This is terrible fashion advice, but I would almost get a plastic rain poncho to stuff in your purse, to be used ONLY over your smart coat in the event of a downpour emergency. Umbrellas are useless in real rain, and if your hotel is any bit cool or damp, you don't want a soaked jacket that may not fully dry by the next wear. Yes it will look terrible and smack of tourist, but that is better than being wet and miserable!! And you can chuck it rather than bringing it home.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Thanks Elizabeth. I was tempted by those packable down jackets, but it would be not ski enough for skiing and not city enough for citying, and not have a place in my life outside this trip, I don't really care for puffers. I was so disappointed during my only ever visit to Paris (en route home from 4 years in Africa) to discover grunge ruled and everyone was in tuques and parkas--I might as well have been in North Bay Ontario.

L'Abeille

Veteran

THANK YOU, Shiny. That is my impression of what to expect in Vienna. In my mind I am going for a sort of mid-century elegance. I guess I will bring the LBD then, it doesn't take much space. The Ponte pants will work for Saturday I hope, if I'm lucky I'll talk DH into ice skating at city hall.

That's an idea, TG. Maybe I kept one of the old sailing /camping ponchos. The latest weather report has <1 mm of rain on Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon, the day I worried about walking. The heaviest rain is now 1-3 mm on Friday morning, when I'll be arriving, wearing the anorak.

shiny

Veteran

You're welcome! I'm so jealous you are going to Vienna!!

I think your skirt would work perfectly well too -- I'd take either the dress OR the skirt and you should be set. The skirt might give you more flexibility?

When I went in October (I think it was 2005?) I seem to recall I brought a skirt ... an off-white wool skirt that worked with flats. I also brought corduroys, come to think of it! If I was going tomorrow, I'd definitely pack ponte knit pants. And I'd probably opt for a dress (that could be dressed up or down) simply because I don't find skirts that comfy anymore.

Sheila

Veteran

I was in Vienna last year for a while and I second Shiny's comment: Vienna is a dressier city than Paris or London. You would feel out of place in your plaid ski jacket for sure. Even the grey peacoat is not formal enough for mass. People generally dress up for mass, so I vote for the red coat. It looks gorgeous with your lovely blonde hair. Have fun!

shiny

Veteran

Thanks Sheila! It's dressier but in a more conservative sense, no? I was trying to find a way to describe that. Not fashion-forward dressy like NYC or Paris, but dressy in the sense of wearing a skirt or dress with sensible shoes (flats or small heel).

I'd not wear the same dress or skirt outfit I'd wear in NYC (black black and more black, or maybe navy, with high heels) to Vienna. Well okay.. when I was in Vienna last, it was for business and during the day for the conference I did wear a suit. But changed out of it to something more casual and colorful, more feminine / less suit-y. So Vienna is not dressy in the sense of formal, and not conservative in the sense of a suit. It's more dressy / conservative as in what would you wear to Mass.

I don't think the grey peacoat would be that out of place, if popped over a skirt or dress. But I think the red knee-length coat would work great and fit right in, even if over slacks, so gives maximum versatility.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Wow you guys are giving me lots to think about! I guess I'll have to see how much fits in the suitcase tomorrow night.

Is this the time to mention that DH offered to get us tickets to the Doctors' Ball (which happens to be on the Saturday night we're in Vienna) if I REALLY wanted to go? I opted not, but I want to park myself in a café across from the entrance and watch them all going in.

Sheila

Veteran

Thanks, Shiny, for the mention. Upon further reflection, I realized that we attended mass in Vienna on Resurrection Sunday/Easter and this may have skewed my impression of the local dress code. We also attended mass in Salzburg on Palm Sunday and it was over-the-top on the pageantry scale. And attire was even more formal and beautiful than in Vienna the following week. And oh the floral bouquets and palms...extraordinary!