Help me establish some wisdom regarding outerwear - YouLookFab Forum

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Help me establish some wisdom regarding outerwear

April

Veteran

I know some of us have given up on establishing numbers for things like handbags and shoes. I don't actually have a ton of either of those, but for me right now, the coat closet is making me speak sternly to myself.

I used to have one coat for each weather condition and each wardrobe need: one down puffer for frigid winter, one dressy winter work coat, one light trench, you get the idea.

Suddenly, though, outerwear is just speaking to me.

In my defense, I do live in a four-season climate, and even in summer I usually have a topper with me. I do go back and forth between the city and the country, so it's practical to leave a coat capsule in the city closet.
I am not hanging onto old coats that I no longer wear. As soon as I find they've gone out of rotation, they go to charity or to a young friend.

Anyone have wisdom about the role of outerwear that will either a.) help me stop buying it, or b.) help me feel better about having so much of it?

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

Tanya

Veteran

Well, I am certainly going to be on the enabling side, as I think that one needs more than one coat for every weather condition/wardrobe need. That is even more so if you live in a 4-season-climate like I do and get bored pretty easily. I lived in Boston for 8 years and would have been horribly bored if I had to wear the exact same down puffer every single day for 4 months straight. Plus, coats tend to last a long time and do not get dated fast - I still have and wear some that are over 10 years old. Angie has a beautiful collection of coats and she lives in less variable climate than you and I do.

April

Veteran

Thank you, Tanya. You had me at "Well, Angie does it...."

I read somewhere once that outerwear matters a great deal in a city since it's what everyone sees of your outfit as you're going from place to place. Only the people you work with/live with/meet for dinner will appreciate what you're wearing beneath your coat, but your coat forms part of the fashion landscape for everyone on the subway, everyone on the sidewalk, everyone who passes you, all day long.

That's why I can't bring myself to buy a black puffer. So boring. In NYC 9 out of 10 people in winter are wearing black puffers. I know they're practical as can be, but I just can't do it.

Ginger

Veteran

The Duchess of Cambridge does it, too.

My climate is four-season (though quite unpredictable). My winter isn't as long, but I'm ridiculously cold-natured, and get just as bored as Tanya with the same outerwear. Plus, there's so much variation in the most suitable outerwear for a given type of weather, much less occasion, silhouette underneath, legwear and footwear visible, etc. If a coat is truly part of the outfit instead of just a utilitarian article to be discarded as soon as you're back in the warmth, it only makes sense to have a variety of colors, shapes, weights, and styles.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I spent my young adulthood in the style philosophy of one or two coats that I just threw on over everything. They were black or grey or navy, and they were practical but mostly not very fab. And when paired with the dark pants, skirts, jeans and footwear I wore all he time, I was pretty much just a mass of dark solid color when out and about in the winter time.

So I enjoy a variety of colors, silhouettes and practicality levels in my outerwear. A solid black coat looks great with plaid pants or lighter or colored jeans, but I have more fun options when I'm wearing my usual dark bottoms.

I keep thinking my coat collection needs a bit of editing, but I am reluctant to give old favorites away when they are still in great shape and fit well. And I just added that plaid Pendleton coat from NAS, so I guess count me among the enablers.

LaPed

Veteran

Yeah, you need the coats. Outerwear is where I always get hung up when I'm packing for travel because I inevitably want to bring ALL THE COATS. Otherwise, I feel like I'm wearing the same outfit every day regardless of what's underneath. In a four-season climate, having a wide range of outerwear is practical. My problem is, I have a hard time identifying my outerwear holes before the season is in full-swing. Like, "Oh, I really need a cocoon coat of some sort if I want to wear this bulky sweater." Or, "Wow, this knee-length coat looks totally wrong with midi skirts." And then you add footwear into the mix and there are just so many permutations. There's probably a tipping point where you go from having just enough to too many to wear in one season, but I'm not sure what the magic number is. Maybe wait until the winter's over, and look at which ones you wore and which ones you didn't to get a better sense of whether you need to rein yourself in or not.

I don't have a black puffy either, and everyone where I live seems to have one. I'm holding out for a perfect fit/perfect color puffy, because I'd really like to avoid falling prey to the environmental norm on this one. Though I do appreciate the versatility. Much easier to dress up a black puffy than a brightly colored one. So my dream puffy is one in an interesting dark neutral with just a bit of sheen or texture. Something with subtle interest to set it apart from the sea of black.

Anonymous

I had to give in and buy better outerwear last year, when I came to the realization that it's a necessity here where I live. I also get cold easily. Now I have more sweaters, jackets and coats than I thought I'd ever own, but they all get worn and it was $ well spent.

It really comes down to how cold you get, and what you think you'll actually use.

El Cee

Veteran

Another enabler here. When you live in a true 4-season environment, having a fairly large "coat capsule" is sensible. Different coats (style and weight) for specific functions (work/dress, casual, athletic/gear) and varying temperatures. I live in New England and own more than a dozen coats -- 2 puffers (one short, one long), 1 parka, 1 peacoat, 1 wool cape coat, 2 dressy wool coats (one midi, and one above knee length), 1 faux fur coat, 1 shearling coat, 2 trench coats (one with detachable liner), 1 gear style raincoat, 1 packable trench for travel, 1 fleece lined denim jacket, 1 leather car coat. Sounds crazy, right? Well -- I just consider these outerwear items to be necessary components of my cold weather wardrobe.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YOUR STYLE AND CLIMATE CAN JUSTIFY A LARGE OUTERWEAR CAPSULE. (I tell all the East Coasters and the Pacific North Westerners that - although their topper requirements are different).

Now go get more fun stuff, April.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Outerwear is all a lot of people see of us, and all we see of ourselves in winter! I can only enable here. My own coat wardrobe is not big enough, in my opinion. Here's what I have:

Winter:

Cranberry above the knee length dressy wool coat
Navy/ black colourblock mixed media military style pea coat
Grey wool avant garde short coat with leather sleeves
Grey puffer

Fall/ Spring

Above knee black flared trench coat
Knee length black classic trench
Blue leather moto
Pink leather moto
Taupe leather blazer (considering passing this along)
White leather scuba (may let go of this one)
Gear rain slicker (bright pink)
Blue waxed cotton anorak/utility coat (this is not for sure -- tags still on it)

In summer I don't really wear coats but I do wear toppers like denim jackets and blazers. I'm not counting blazers in my outerwear category although I do sometimes use them as such in fall/ spring. But more typically they are something I keep on indoors (except when working at home.)

DonnaF

Veteran

I live in a mild climate and rarely wear the true outerwear I own. You're welcome to use my coat quota.

JAileen

Veteran

Although I don't live in the PNW or the East Coast, we do have four seasons here. I had one down parka for years, but hated it because it was purple. When I donated it I unleashed the jacket monster in me. Now I have as many coats and jackets as the Inuit have words for snow. I have a huge collection of casual gearish jackets. We go birding every weekend, even in winter, and I need warm clothes for every weather condition possible: sunny, windy, rainy, snowy. I rarely need dress up coats, but they do look nicer than wearing a ski parka with a dressy outfit. So I have a few of those, too.

Anyway, I think your only constraints are budget and closet space.

I agree with La Pedestrienne regarding travel. We're going to the Midwest in a few days and I'm not sure what outerwear to bring, so I want to bring lots of choices.

Jules

Veteran

Well, from the other side - I live in Toronto but am more of a minimalist overall and will typically have one puffer and one dress wool coat. And in fact I've done without the wool for a couple of years and will probably just buy a puffer this year since my last one wore out (a consequence of fewer items is definitely quicker wear). If I decided to branch out, I'd probably aim for one neutral basic and one more interesting item in each category. I've found I personally don't want to wear a pink moto or red boots or say, leopard-print fake fur every day, so if I buy that type of item it needs to be a secondary choice. And I don't have room/money/interest to have so many more interesting choices that I don't need the neutral backup.
Bottom line it's about personal choice. I'm perfectly happy putting together one coat, scarf and boot combo that works every year - but you might not be. While I do notice "the fashion landscape" aka sea of black puffers, I don't notice individual friends' and coworkers' coats very much as they are basically seen in passing only. Some trends have been pretty flash-in-the-pan (I didn't think waxed puffers were flattering to most winter skin tones especially as seen under subway lighting conditions!) and I'm not sorry I didn't indulge. I do get a trendy scarf just about every year, it's a much smaller investment.

April

Veteran

I didn't even realize outerwear could be someone's favorite wardrobe component until I was shopping in Ann Taylor one day and a sales associate pointed at my dressy winter coat (which by then was at least five years old) and said, "Calvin Klein?" When I remarked on how long I'd had that coat and how impressed I was that she recognized it given its age, she said, "Oh, outerwear is my thing."

CLICK

You all are making me feel better and less foolish, definitely.

Penny

Veteran

Agreed that you need some variety! As I wear black tights and black footwear all winter, my everyday winter coats are navy and deep purple wrap coats (I rotate scarves often for extra variety), which gives me some subtle color, and a nice backdrop for my burgundy work satchel, plus I have a black formal coat. For milder weather, I have a burgundy leather jacket, a lightweight black rain trench, and a navy midweight trench. If we had a larger coat closet, I would certainly add at least one more everyday winter coat - go for it!

kkards

Veteran

growing up in New England, i don't think its possible to have to many jackets and coats.....and boots.....you need a variety of lengths and weights. i don't live in New England any more, but climate change has made winters where i live more unpredictable, so I've found that i need more "sort of winter" coats, and the polar vertex of a few years ago meant the need for negative degree coats as well...

Aziraphale

Veteran

I've always thought that the shoes and the coat make the outfit. I see no problem with having a solid collection of good coats. Sounds like you actually wear them, too. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I think you need as many coats as you can practically store.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

You're not going to get anything from my but good ole enabling. I bought five new winter coats last year, and two for this winter (thanks NAS).... plus a fall one I just couldn't resist.

Anonymous

I am only 1/2 enabling.
For fall and spring, it is so nice to have a good collection of coats. As AZ says, the coat and footwear make the outfit.
But for deep winter, a puffer is a puffer is a puffer. When it is deep winter, all I think about is how warm my coat is, how protective the hood is, and how good the pockets are. I don't feel like I need two of such a utilitiarian (and expensive!) item, and one real awesome puffer will do.

Anonymous

If I lived in a four-season climate, I would certainly want to have rounded out coat capsule. From what I understand, the winters are long and having a variety of coats can make sense.

It is 84 degrees. A coat is the furtherest thing from my mind.

Chris987

Veteran

Another northeast US enabler here. They do cost more than some other types of items, but they are the most visible part of your outfit in some parts of your day. I worked in offices with parking lots and my outerwear was only visible to a few others on that walk from the car into the building, but it still mattered to me to have a bit of a selection, to avoid boredom. It also depends on how many different types of activities you have in your life. If you are an outdoor sporty type in a cold climate there is another entire wardrobe you might have; thinking of downhill skiing in particular Some people are happy with just a few. Whatever feels right and fits your budget and lifestyle is ok!

bj1111

Veteran

i'm the anti-enabler so have a heap of salt handy...

outerwear does not do anything for me because i have a weird pragmatism about this type of clothing. i have not found a non-puffer coat that kept me warm below 45F (7C). also, i have a mental block against outdoor jackets that do not cover the butt. when it's cold enough to wear a jacket, i want to keep all of me warm and that includes my butt and back of the legs.

above 45F, i layer with a coatigan or poncho/scarves or packable down. below, i go directly to puffer (unzipped if not much below 45F) that i then layer with poncho/scarves, packable down, heattech, etc as the temps drop and drop. actually, i have a lands end down coat and just got a northface super-puffer.

i'm acquisitive about lots of other stuff (hello, shoes) just not outerwear. also, i find having 1 coat for each weather condition (rain, trench, puffer, dress, fur) eliminates one more choice i have to make daily.

BUT this does not mean YOU can't add more coats to your collection.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Northeasterner here...YOU CANNOT HAVE TOO MANY COATS. I would die of boredom if i didn't have lots of outerwear...like others have said, sometimes that's all people see of my outfit for months at a time. And from a practical standpoint, I need lots of gear-ish outwear, too. The guys in my family either play or watch sports, outdoors. When I'm with them , I am dressing for the conditions, which can be cold, wet, cold and wet, etc. I need lots of options

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well, umm, I have a ton of coats and about 2-3 months to wear them. Count me as an enabler.

Style Fan

Veteran

If you have the room and the budget then go for it. If you love coats and outerwear then why not?

I live in a 4 season climate. Winter is about 6 months. When it is -30 C I want to be warm and I don't care what I look like. Actually there are lots of days when it is snowing so hard you can't see other people. Only a very good puffer will work for me. Forget wool coats. And don't get me started on boots. I am with Smittie. One puffer is all I need.
The last few years DH and I have escaped to Florida for a couple of months.