Coat advice, s'il vous plaît! (now edited with results of shopping trip)

In about t-minus two hours, I'm heading to a store that sells nothing but coats in an effort to get one major winter purchase off my list. I understand there's a sale on, and I want to capitalize on this if possible.

I've combed Angie's archive for all her coat-buying tips and am so grateful to have found the entry on avoiding black coats!! Guide dogs are marvellous, but they shed like nobody's business, and since my dog is with me literally everywhere I go I'm sure a black option would be disastrous! So, I'm now seeking advice on which direction to go. I adore red and know it looks good on me, but suspect I'm too big at the moment to pull that off with the necessary panache. For maximum practicality, I'm thinking of grey, ideally with some kind of texture... But here's where I'd love some advice? What shade of grey is best? I'm leaning towards charcoal or slightly lighter, but want to know if that sounds ok. As for texture, what looks best here? Houndstooth? Herringbone? Tweed? I'm after something slimming and timeless.

Btw, is fuchsia still a trendy colour? I was thinking a fuschia scarf could look great with a dark grey coat. I imagine the grey could look good with the burgundy boots I hope to find, too.

EDIT: So the shopping trip wasn't quite a success, but not exactly a waste of time either. I think I know exactly what I want now after trying on coats that incorporate various elements of my perfect piece of outerware. I got the saleslady to take some pictures on my phone so I could show you what I'm thinking and get your opinion on a couple of things.

1. I'm not interested in the colour of this coat, and ideally I want one an inch or two longer. The tailoring feels about right, but I wonder about this high collar. It's the most prevalent style by far at the moment (though more selection will come in September). Should I avoid this kind of neckline?
http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

2. I'm thinking maybe this colour will be the way to go. I like the v-neck on this one, too, but feel it's a bit unstructured everywhere else. What do you think of the charcoal shade?
http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

3. Here's a tweed coat in the exact same style as no. 1 (still too short). The texture is interesting, but I wonder how it looks on me?
http://s709.photobucket.com/al.....8;newest=1

In case it matters, all of these were tried on over a dress and 3/4-sleeve jacket, hence the certainty that they're all too short. I'm pretty sure I want something truly knee length.

16 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Wooohooo! Our first coat post for the new season. I ADORE coats. The best part about each fashion season is the excitement right at the start. That’s why I’m so passionate about the NAS. Okay, back to biz.

Michelle, you can 100% pull off the right red coat. Make sure it’s a blue red though. Hmmm. Ask someone in stores to help you with the colour. A dark purple or teal is also good.

A false plain is ideal for pet hair. That’s a tweed-like fabric that looks mottled because it’s made up of various colours, so ALL hair and dirt is disguised. It’s just an all round practical and interesting solution. Grey is good and remember that scarves add colour!

As far as fit goes for your luscious bod:

o Try to stick to single breasted. Nothing too A-line.

o Try a coat that finishes a little longer. It’s more flattering for your height. Somewhere between mid-thigh and above the knee is good.

o Look for streamlined, tailored princess lines and diagonal pocket detailing. Also, I find side-entry pockets a must, but that’s personal.

o Opt for a revere collar as opposed to one that buttons all the way up. The shape of the V does wonders to create a strong vertical line.

o Make sure you are wearing the right layers underneath when you try on the coats. I wear up to 3 layers under my coat and it still has to look tailored and fabulous (cami, knitwear and jacket plus the coat).

Ready, get set, go! Happy coat hunting, Michelle!

Inge

Moderator

Great tips from Angie, Michelle! And I agree, I think you'd look fantastic in a red coat. Happy shopping and do keep us posted;-)

Michelle

Veteran

bumping. Looking forward to feedback from the pics (sorry if the quality is sub-par).

Sarah

I agree with Angie, Michelle. I think you could do better. I like the idea of a dark red with a big collar. And I agree with you that a longer length would be better.

Agreed, Sarah. I'm definitely into Angie's suggestions in a big way, which is why I wasn't thrilled with the stuff I found yesterday. Longer/v-neck is what I'll be looking for.
I'm torn on the red issue. Everyone seems to love it, and I know I can pull off the colour. But I want something that will go with pretty much any outfit, and with burgundy boots if I find them. I don't picture a dark red doing that, but perhaps my lack of visual reference is leading me awry here?

What are you planning on wearing in the fall, Michelle? Any particular colors?
I was wearing a lot of brighter colors last fall (lots of raspberry, grape purple, etc) and opted for a cream wool coat. Angie advised that I changed the also cream buttons out, and I added brown, vintage leather buttons that really added a punch to my coat.
Your coat doesn't have to match everything, it just has to go. Do you have the burgundy boots yet? Maybe if you get those you should opt for a purple, dark slate/teal, or tweed coat of some sort.
But I really see you in a dark red. Your creamy skin and silky hair are almost demanding it, in my opinion. But purple would be lovely, too.

I’m touched you’re taking my suggestions to heart, Michelle. Thank you for sharing your experience too, Sarah.

You are definitely on the right track with the coats you tried on, though. I’m thinking you need a darker mottled grey with a revere collar, not a cut-away wing collar like you have shown with the second coat. A revere collar is made of two parts, notched and narrower all over. It will have a more streamlined effect.

Also, you can always add red and teal scarves to a neutral coat for colour. It’s a good way to add a bit if life. I agree that a neutral coat is best for burgundy boots in order to keep things simple.

I’ll have a look at the NAS for you too.

Ele

Active Member

Michelle, the third is my favourite of those coats, but I agree with Angie that you can probably do better- both in terms of colour and a more "special" design. I also think a dark red coat would be fantastic on you, but my favourite idea was a teal coat. Teal looks really good with burgundy, and a teal coat with burgundy boots sounds FAB to me.

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