I know this topic has come up several times and maybe Angie is planning a blog post. (please) But I thought I'd start a thread on how to fit a coat. I feel like there are two issues since coats are layers: how it looks and how it feels. That is, you want the coat to be comfortable but you want it to look sleek/well fitting over your layers. I just bought a light coat and I had a really hard time deciding between two sizes. It's made me realize that I'm probably just different sizes in the shoulders and chest. The smaller size always fits through the chest but is snug in the shoulders and tight in the arm holes. The larger size is comfy in the shoulders and arms but roomy in the chest. What to do? The truth is my climate doesn't require a lot of layering-- otherwise the larger size would be a no brainer. Of course, one answer is to keep looking for the right fit, but I feel like this is a common trend and sometimes the fit is good enough and the style steals the show. (The particular coat in question is houndstooth.)

So I'm rambling, but I hope you will share your thoughts on how you think a coat should fit, by feel and look and any insights you've had on the topic.

Thanks!