YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Fantasy Coat Capsule

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Fantasy Coat Capsule https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:30:20 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Sal on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule/page/2#post-1732997 Tue, 27 Sep 2016 23:06:38 +0000 Sal 1732997@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Fun topic, there are some lovely coats out there. My real coat capsule: Marmot Turquoise Raincoat North Face Coral and Purple Ski Jacket North Face purple puffer (also goes inside ski jacket)' Vintage cream and grey plaid peacoat Grasse Sea Green peacoat I also have two leather jackets, two lightweight running jackets, three lightweight blazers and one or two other non-knit toppers.  As well as a vintage fur coat. I am very happy with my real coat capsule - I have something for all winter occasions.  My winter is pretty mild though but I do spend a lot of time outdoors but mostly in very casual situations.  I will replace my raincoat in a year or two but I love it right now. In my fantasy world I also have a spring weight coat, not a trench, but something wind proof maybe in cream or toffee. I am not as happy with my non-coat topper collection.  I could do with a couple more options here. aly on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule/page/2#post-1732994 Tue, 27 Sep 2016 22:43:37 +0000 aly 1732994@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Fantasy coat capsule! I'm in! (I am including jackets/blazers because I have a mild winter and four season climate. Or maybe just because I like them...) Trench coats in key colors (I have red, navy and cream, all long and belted) Blazers in key colors (navy and cream, one longish and one shortish) Rain coat (beautiful pink/navy gear jacket, very spendy but very glad I bought it too) Dressy/feature jackets (cropped light blue/grey dressy jacket, cropped purple biker style, forest green wool lace blazer) I always have my eye out for the "perfect" jacket/coat but I am actively looking for: a long, warm puffer jacket and a water-proof shell to go over it a white/ecru denim jacket a warm, wool dressy jacket/coat in a neutral or red My fantasy coat capsule is pretty close to the real one (not sure if this is accident or not). I try to add or replace 1-2 jackets per year and this seems to be a reasonable turn-over rate for me. I would be interested in one or two "high end" pieces (Burberry or Smythe etc) but I would not want a closet full of them - I like to wear my coats Thanks for the thought experiment Beth Ann Suzanne (ambergreen) on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732854 Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:27:34 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1732854@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, Suz knows it--it is a Hudson's Bay blanket coat, made from the same blanket fabric as, well, their blankets! Glad that it seems to bring some pleasant memories. And to one of staysfit's points, well, my other coats do fall more into the "practical" color range. When you wear this, you have to not mind looking like a big pack of Life Savers. Suz on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732791 Tue, 27 Sep 2016 12:57:44 +0000 Suz 1732791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suzanne's is an iconic Hudson's Bay coat and quite a score. Every now and again they come out with a Pea coat and the styles change up a bit with each iteration. They go for quite a penny on ebay!  Beth Ann on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732757 Tue, 27 Sep 2016 10:44:16 +0000 Beth Ann 1732757@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ooh, Joy, those college theater costume rooms can be amazing treasure troves!  Sounds like one of those fabulous 20s/30/s vintage beaver coats.  Yum.  And a leather puffer also sounds luxurious. I would love a leather jacket in the mix at some point, particularly for fall/spring.  And you're right also that at least one coat in a springier color would help lift the spirits on cold days in March! Anonymous on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732710 Tue, 27 Sep 2016 04:38:02 +0000 Anonymous 1732710@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is a fascinating topic. If you live in an area with cold winter westher extending into spring, you may want as much color or light neutral as possible. My favorites are white, blush, bright pink, and medium blue, but I love leather and wear them often. Leather cuts the cold wind better than a puffer. My ideal winter coat would be a knee length pale grey leather puffer, maybe a trench style with belt or waist shaping. My favorite coat of all time was a vintage beaver fur, fitted and long, borrowed from the college theatre costume collection. It suited me and was amazing and warm for walking across a snowy campus. Beth Ann on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732702 Tue, 27 Sep 2016 04:20:04 +0000 Beth Ann 1732702@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I did a little searching through coats online.  I seem to have collected lots of deep red/burgundy!  I do have a bright blue trench, but my casual shell/puffer combo is black.  While a charcoal nubby tweed would be quite versatile, I'm not interested in black, unless it's leather (and that's not in my short term plan).  Here are some things I know: 1.  If it doesn't cover my bum, it's not a coat, and not worth putting on.  Even my lightweight coats should be low-hip length. I run warm, but I really don't like a breeze on my backside! 2.  Black isn't making me happy.  I'd like a deep, but vibrant color, with interesting texture.  It might be fun to have a lightweight packable down jacket in a true bright for layering under my black anorak. 3.  I love ladylike coats, and vintage.  But I also seem to be drawn to modern details like asymmetric zippers. Fabbers are awesome!  So much inspiration here! Beth Ann on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732700 Tue, 27 Sep 2016 04:07:56 +0000 Beth Ann 1732700@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Staysfit:  We cross-posted.  You have an amazing selection -- perfect for a climate that makes keeping warm and dry a priority!  I'm loving that blue moto!  Best wishes on your recovery (and your shoe sort!) Chris:  A long leather coat sounds fabulous! Minimalist:  I often come back to threads later, when I'm ready for them! Sterling:   Sigh.  That red coat!  I also had a cream colored coat -- once.  It was traumatic, but not bad enough to send me to brown.  Grey, maybe! Carter:  I run warm, too, Carter, which is part of the reason that I have so few coats in the crazy Midwest weather zone!  A trench or anorak is probably all you'd ever need at your latitude.  However, do you have something for travel?   L'Abeille:  I also use jackets and blazers as "outerwear."  It's particularly practical with my car-dependent lifestyle.  Sounds like you have a complete capsule, but I will say that I love my homemade "system" of lightweight puffer under a waterproof shell.  So easy and comfy! L'Abeille on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732681 Tue, 27 Sep 2016 02:08:20 +0000 L'Abeille 1732681@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This looks like such fun! I want to play too. Definite 4 season climate here. This is what I have: Winter black wool straight long man style coat with deep back slit (this was IT for years and starting to get threadbare, but still gets the most wear) white black and red plaid ski jacket (from the men's dept at Sportchek; the first to catch my eye, and nothing in the women's dept appealed, or fit over my wide shoulders or bulky ski sweaters). It replaced a black one that was in shreds dressy: black tweed with pink flecks. A narrow cut with TV deep lapels and few low buttons, I think this style is called chesterfield or reefer? Heavy. long black Persian lamb, left behind by a daughter, worn once by me. Last Christmas all my kids were home, and the two vegetarian daughters couldn't wait to go thrifting for vintage furs, go figure! Less controversial here, where many folks hunt to feed the family. transitional: Mild winter/cold fall and spring taupe long trench with removable lining (a must for me) black and white big houndstooth open front swing coat (MUCH more useful than I expected -- it really makes an outfit, and is warm enough in winter for just walking to the car) red double breasted princess coat (I love it, I feel like the Duchess of Cambridge. This is what I wore in Vienna, with no regrets in a sea of black) grey pea jacket (tons of wear, works on milder winter days. I had wanted navy but this works even better) red white and blue plaid pea jacket (new last year, not much wear yet. It feels loud. Actually it makes me feel like Herb from WKRP in Cincinnati) Warm fall and spring: (3 weeks or so) black long trench without removable lining (fell out of love when I realized it wasn't navy as I originally thought) black and white tweedy boucle shapeless jacket that only works because of my wide shoulders mixed media jacket with leather front panels assorted blazers if not raining (ahem: black, black, black, and glen check) Warm weather ie June and September and summer rain: taupe hooded short trench white hooded anorak (utility jacket in a non utility colour, so it's really versatile. Worn to work as well as boating and camping) grey wool/linen (Viyella?) woven hoodie-- looks kind of Vêtements before they existed black and navy fleece hoodies with metal zips, mostly worn for boating navy blazer, the only one I use as outerwear. It complements my summer wardrobe and is cut beautifully Most of these are since YLF. I had the black coat, the ski jacket, and the taupe trench only (or their predecessors) for years. I've only recently realized, as Suz often points out, that with 8 months of cold weather it's OKAY to have multiple coats! An older lesson I had to learn: Always think of the coat as part of the total outfit. Back in university days, my sole standards were, is it long enough and warm enough (memory of frostbitten knees). I fell in love with a red, green and yellow plaid coat, and wore it everywhere (mostly campus) over everything (mostly jeans). But one day I wore it over red and brown plaid pants, and it took a male friend, a math major at that, to point out that it was perhaps less than harmonious. It had never occurred to me that you had to look at the whole picture! Hence my current plethora of black and taupe. Although, as my entire wardrobe has moved to black, grey and red, the print and coloured coats now complement them nicely. I also notice I have no puffers, and almost no gear that looks like gear. Don't know if that will ever change. carter on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732594 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:54:36 +0000 carter 1732594@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Beth Ann! This post is killing me! In all the finds throughout, there isn't a single coat I don't love! They would all be in my fantasy capsule. Sadly, even in a "cold" winter, I may only have a couple weeks to wear them (I run hot).  Anonymous on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732585 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:40:51 +0000 Anonymous 1732585@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I DO have a fantasy coat wardrobe.   (1) A full length (mid calve) length red coat in a classic cut that moved gracefully as I walked through the snow.  (2) A white trench coat (also mid-calve length) that danced gently in the wind as I stood by the lake.   (3) A white fitted jacket for outdoor sports (with thumb holes and lots of zippered pockets).  The reality.   I owned that red coat.  It was beyond gorgeous.  I had no use for it in my current climate and I eventually donated it to a woman that could use it more.  I was truly altruistic that day.  Today I wear a longish red blazer as my winter coat.  It is still red.   I own a brown trench coat (mid calve length).  Brown.  Serviceable.  Great in the rain.  Brown. I wear it less than 10 times a year, but am always glad I have it when I need it.  Brown.  Brown is not white.  Brown is serviceable.  Brown gets the job done.  Brown can be depressing in the rain.   Finding a white (true white) running jacket is harder than it would seem. I ended up with a purple running jacket.  It only has two zippered pockets, but I am quite happy with it.  I still dream of white.   Chris987 on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732583 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:36:28 +0000 Chris987 1732583@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is a really fun topic!  Another four-season fabber here. I've included gear. I've been randomly buying coats for years and have ended up with a reasonably good collection, but there are some functional duplicates and everything seems overly practical. Not a bad thing I suppose but I'd like a little more style and fun. My real coat capsule Royal Blue wool coat (Ann Klein) Red wool lady coat  with extra insulation (LLBean) Black wool trenchcoat with angled bright gold zipper (Michael Kors) Dark red thigh length belted coat with big collar (Calvin Klein) Light camel trenchcoat w/removable lining (Lands End) Black lined trenchcoat w/removable lining (London Fog) Light blue unlined short trenchcoat (JNY I think) Beth Ann’s black waterproof hooded coat w/removable quilted lining  (Eddie Bauer) Ankle length forest green lightweight waterproof coat (had for 20 years) (LL Bean) Raspberry short puffer (Lands End) Navy quilted jacket for fall and spring –( Laundry brand I think) Dark blue lined anorak (Eddie Bauer) worn over black LLBean fleece jacket.. that I’ve had for 20 years ..this is my warmest coat combo for outdoor winter activities. Down vests in teal, toffee, and black And the one wild card – a thigh length swing coat in a red plaid with black sleeves and a faux fur hood, from Anthropologie, that is not warm enough for winter in my climate and is very impractical because the plaid fabric sheds white fibers onto the black sleeves. LOVE this coat My Fantasy Capsule Would Include A higher end trenchcoat like Burberry replacing the others A knee-length puffer that is really warm and does not make me look like the Michelin man Something in leather A more interesting wool coat for winter (not so classic) A more interesting fall/spring coat. A gore-tex rain jacket. minimalist on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732581 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:30:51 +0000 minimalist 1732581@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What a delicious topic! I'll think about it more clearly once things have cooled down a bit. Staysfit on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732571 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:14:31 +0000 Staysfit 1732571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suzanne, LOL!!  Your coat reminds me of the blankets my friends brought to summer camp in order to stay warm at night!  I like it, it's nice and cheerful!  Most of my coats are dull and brown or grey.  Practical colors that don't show too much dirt because they already look like dirt!  :-)   No pea coat for me, mostly because I would be able to wear it for maybe three weeks before I put it back in the closet.  Of course, if I did that, it  would last forever, like yours is!  So is that from Benetton, or  Pendleton, or someplace like that?   I looked at the TNF website and they no longer make my favorite coat.   :-(   They make one that looks like it, but it isn't a 3 in 1.  It's boxy looking.  There is one that looks fitted like mine called the Timeseal but it doesn't have the zip out lining.  I have to nurse mine along now.  Someday, in 10 or more years, I will post my old dirty brown 3 in 1 TNF coat and someone will crack jokes about it!  :-) I could post it now for people to crack jokes at too!  :-)  It amazes me that I love practicality in a coat, and value that more than how it looks.  Give me warmth and keep me dry please!  Keep the wind out too! Beth Ann on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732523 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 20:51:47 +0000 Beth Ann 1732523@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ LaP:  Love the sound of your coat collection --- I'm putting "pewter long puffy" on my list, and have to see a "Chore Coat" in person (as long as I don't have to do said chores).  I think the current fashion "climate" has made it easier (and less expensive) to find great gear coats.  Dressier is harder!   Suzanne:  As a regular visitor to the Petoskey/Mackinaw area of Michigan, I have long loved the striped blankets -- I used to crave a Pendelton coat much like yours, but it never came home with me.  What a find! Susie:  The best things happen on detours, Susie!  That patterned coat is marvelous! Susie on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732506 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 20:27:34 +0000 Susie 1732506@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suzanne, I remember my mom or my sister having a similar striped coat way back when. It was full length and it may have only had 3 of those colors but it immediately jumped in my mind when I saw that photo! (Sorry for the detour, Beth Ann!) I used to live in PA with real winters and I had less coats than I do now. I used to think of coats as a necessary evil, not something I actually wanted to wear. But in the last few years I've added several that I truly like and I now feel like my coat capsule is in pretty good shape. 1) Lightweight patterned coat (finds). Because of the pattern, I wasn't sure how much wear it would get, but I wore it often and loved it! 2) New raincoat (finds).  I just got this in July and it will replace an old black one that I had for more than 10 years as well as a long grey trench that I never loved. 3) Calvin Klein wool/cashmere blend in a simple shape with long lapels. I got this 2 years ago and it's the first coat I remember being excited to wear!  4) Alpaca coat with fur trim and 3/4 sleeves. This was a splurge, and not super practical with our moderate winters, but I adore it. 5) Leather and mink reversible vest. My husband surprised me with this one Christmas and I wear it numerous times each winter. I know real fur is controversial but it is a beautiful piece and being able to wear it two ways makes it super useful. 5) Cream faux fur coat. Not super flattering but fun. And the only light colored coat I have. 6) Black quilted jacket. Rather casual and not very warm but a good weight for fall and early winter. In the gear category, I have a pewter down vest, an olive rain jacket, and a black North Face zip up. I'm not adding leather jackets to my list because mine are more indoor toppers than outerwear. A HEWI for me is a non-black dress coat. I tried several the last couple of years but haven't found the one. And it's not a true need so I'm really not actively looking for one. LaPed on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732503 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 20:19:49 +0000 LaPed 1732503@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That Hudson Bay peacoat is beautiful, Suzanne! I'm struggling with this fantasy-coat question myself. I have a remarkably well-curated Gear Coat collection, since that is where I've been allocating my budget the past 5+ years. And it makes sense, since I use all of my gear regularly, year-round, in frigid, unpredictable New England weather. But where does that leave my casual/smart-casual/dressy-casual coat capsule? Um, practically non-existent. I did an inventory the other day: OUTERWEAR (NON-GEAR and GEAR): <ul> <li>olive green duffle coat, J Crew — 12 years old; lining is shredding. would love to find a replacement but may try to repair.</li> <li>black merino boucle hoodie, Ibex — thrifted 5 years ago. fall/spring mainstay. maybe this belongs in the “sweaters” category, but I use it as a light jacket in cool weather and as a layering piece in cold weather.</li> <li>vintage pink/grey plaid button-up bomber, Pendleton — I’ll have to take a pic of this and add it as a custom find. it’s a great jacket, fully lined, all wool, US-made, in perfect shape, but something of a novelty piece for me. VERY 80s/early 90s. I can really only wear it with a column of color underneath, usually black — looks great with black skinny jeans and a black turtleneck, neither of which I have anymore, le sigh. I think it needs chunky shoes to balance it out. I love it and will hang onto it since it cost me next to nothing, but geez it’s tough to style!</li> <li>blue-green hardcore down puffy, Rab — for gear use and extremely cold days; 6 years old</li> <li>black soft-shell moto jacket, Oiselle — purchased new fall 2015; great for cold-weather jogging, snowshoeing, etc. Versatile travel piece, too.</li> <li>blue colorblock down puffy, Uniqlo — light puffy for casual use and warmer-weather backpacking trips; purchased new fall 2015</li> <li>turquoise trench-style rain shell, Patagonia — trench style for around town. new this summer; great so far.</li> <li>pink insulated canvas chore coat, Carhartt — gift from my mom in 2011; perfect for whenever I’m doing something that would rip a puffy jacket to shreds.</li> <li>black down vest Sierra Designs — bought new 2008; super versatile layering piece</li> <li>extremely lightweight wind shell for running/hiking/biking, Montbell -- this is really gear-only; I never wear it around town.</li> <li>I also have two very heavy wool cardigans (one from Iceland and one from Ireland) that I use as outerwear in mildly cold weather.</li> </ul> I've been leaning very heavily on that wool duffle coat as my "good" winter coat for a long time. I try really hard not to wear my gear coats except as gear, but in the past couple years I've ended up with some "crossover" pieces -- the colorblock puffy, the softshell moto, the longer-length rain shell in a fun color. These are perfect for my lifestyle but I really, really need to add some more polished outerwear back into the mix.  My fantasy capsule includes: <ul> <li>a Gloverall duffle in charcoal or black</li> <li>a Sterlingwear peacoat in black or navy</li> <li>a waxed-cotton field coat</li> <li>a lightweight water-resistant anorak (something along the lines of Everlane's City Anorak) for travel to urban areas</li> <li>a long down puffy in black or pewter -- something packable but still relatively polished, mainly for traveling but I'm sure I'd use it all the time</li> <li>a longer-length wool jacket in a casual style -- some sort of wool anorak or hunting jacket?</li> <li>lighter-weight natural fiber jackets, with and without hoods, for the transitional weather we're having right now: I'm thinking heavyweight linen, hemp, or cotton wovens, and maybe a classic denim jacket</li> <li>a dressy-casual coat in a shorter length for spring and fall (I actually have one on order that may fit this bill)</li> <li>a classic trench in a color other than tan</li> <li>some non-puffy vests -- maybe high-pile fuzzy fleece, and some soft of wool boucle or tweed...</li> </ul> So, yeah, I have a fair number of jackets, and a fair number that I know I would wear if I had them. To build the kind of capsule I really want will take at least a few years, and by then I'll probably be replacing worn-out gear coats again. Seems to be an endless cycle. If there's one takeaway here, it's that crossover gear-casual pieces may have their place but they aren't really a substitute for more polished outerwear. That's what I'd consider with that Athleta jacket: it may boost your style while you're out walking or hiking or at sports events, but don't expect to be able to transition it into situations where you really need something a bit sharper or more classic.  Suzanne (ambergreen) on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732467 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 19:16:24 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1732467@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow staysfit, you have a serious coat capsule. I chuckled at you saying, "I don't have a pea coat," Because I, with so, so so few coats, do have one...and it's just like this. LOL! Also ancient: 70s vintage, bought in the mid-to-late 1990s for $2 at a flea market (in fact pointed out by first husband )...and, bonus, there was change in the pocket. At 3.5 beaver-pelt points, it's a cold-winter item. Beth Ann on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732454 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:42:30 +0000 Beth Ann 1732454@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Gotta work in a moment, so I'll add more tonight.  For now: Staysfit:  Your "must haves sound a lot like my current holdings!  And yes, it's difficult to decide how (and how much) to branch out! Suz:  You found me out!  Yes indeed, I am the chicken laying the egg, I think.  Sometimes it's rotten, and sometimes, golden!  Seriously, I do run quite warm, and I'm mostly running in and out of a car.  I do walk and hike for fitness and fun (and bike some), and DS is a cross country and track runner, so perhaps another gear coat wouldn't be overkill.  I think I need mostly lighter weight coats, and I think I need to think better layering in my actual outfits.  Hmmm.. I'll post my musings tonight. JAlleen:  The good 'ol Heartland is a bit unpredictable weatherwise. The winter seemed mild compared to my years in Chicago, but it can still be brutish in Indy, just not as often, and not for as long.  I will not be working out in a gym this winter, however, so I might need more gear to hike and walk in! Diana:  Isn't Burberry a must in Boston? Umlilla:  Very helpful intel!  I might check it out in my local store.  I won't pay that price for something that doesn't make me look amazing!  And leopard?  Oh yes! Smittie:  Yes to vintage!  I've been rewatching the BBC Foyle's War and salivating over the coats and hats from the 40s! Suzanne:  It's many a 20something who doesn't want to spend money on a good coat!  Hee.  I just spent that decade in a single black one!  I loved your story and your wisdom! Angie:  I forgot that I do have a deep purple peacoat, but it is on it's last legs.  I think I definitely need one, particularly for dressier occasions, funerals, etc.  I think I'll collect some tonight and revisit this post.  What a lovely capsule you have!   Rachy:  I love the theater that is in your closet!  You have a costume for every scene!  And I love the idea of a leather trench.  It's positively Euro-Opera! Staysfit on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732453 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:42:18 +0000 Staysfit 1732453@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Okay, I'm home today, recuperating from some minor surgery. I had intended to work on shoes, but this thread got me started on my coats. I opened my winter closet and have already put three down parkas through the washer to get them ready for fall/winter. It was 40 F this am! What happened to our warm weather? Gone! Overnight! Here is what I have: 1. Red Eddie Bauer Down Parka, 3/4 length, tie waist. Very warm. Heavy weight. Diamond quilted. Probably 10-11 Years old. Still in great shape. 2. Brown TNF, Chevron Quilt 3/4 length, fitted down parka, light weight. Not suitable for sub-zero days. 3. Brown TNF linear channel bomber style jacket, lightweight, roomy, good for layering gear underneath. My hiking and snow shoveling staple. 4. Silver-grey Creenstone quilted winter coat, 3/4 length, removable fur trim on hood. Nice warm coat that is dressy enough for work. 5. Dark cool olive Creenctone long lightweight thinsulate coat. Works over my dresses in Winter, but not super warm. 6. Light brown TNF zip out lining, 3/4 length waterproof trench. Gets lots of use, maybe the most use of all my coats. It's 7 years old. I hope it never wears out. I would need to check the website to see if they still make them. 7. Mountain Hardware Gortex raincoat, and Gortex rain pants to pair with them, good dog walking attire. 8. Grey TNF packable, synthetic down hooded quilted jacket. Great for a fall weekend day. 9. Eddie Bauer Jean Jacket - Vintage, mine since High School. 10. Red Athleta Downalicious vest. - nice layer for fall morning walks, and keeps me warm inside 11. White Athleta Downalicious vest -see above. I love these so much I duplicated. 12. TNF packable synthetic down 3/4 coat. NAS from this year. 13. Creenstone grey mid weight trench with white piping. Good in spring. 14. J Crew Cocoon Coat, mint greet. Nice for variety. 15. Creenstone acid green/yellow-green trench, mid weight. Good for fall or spring. 16. London Fog long trench, good over a long dress, but not my best color. It's a warm olive tan. 17. Plaid wool poncho cape with fur collar 18, Brown Cole Hahn fuzzy wool/mohair coat with big high wrap collar 19. Lightweight Creenstone trench, taupe, shoeing signs of wear 20. Rebecca Taylor coral moto 21. Cole Hahn brown leather scuba jacket 22. Veda Dali Blue Suede moto 23. Veda Dali Aubergine draped leather asymmetrical leather jacket For consideration. Canada Goose grey long sleeping bag like very warm down puffer, grey. Also for consideration, J Crew stadium cloth coat in Emerald Green because it's one of my happy colors. Wow! I think I have everything covered once I add my gear which includes some polar fleece hoodies, vests, some track jackets. I don't have a pea coat, or anything military style. No true bombers, and I wouldn't call any of the Creenstone trenches classic, if you have ever seen one before. Maybe my R&B Gilet counts here someplace? Remember, this list is 4 seasons worth, and it includes gear. rachylou on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732441 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 18:17:37 +0000 rachylou 1732441@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ LOL: short puffy, long puffy, ankle length puffy, puffy vest, dramatic dressy puffy, avant après ski puffy, bracelet sleeve puffy... But also: coat dress, lightweight lagen look duster, linen duster, labcoat coat, denim trench, leather trench... Angie on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732435 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 17:57:15 +0000 Angie 1732435@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ And here are my gear coats:  Angie on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732433 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 17:56:30 +0000 Angie 1732433@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Beth Ann, do you have wool coats? You must do! I like the olive for you quite a bit. Nice wild card. Try it.  I LOVE my coats, and have many across lots of thicknesses. Here is my coat capsule. Still missing - rust and a pastel - that I wish to add at some point.  Traci on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732428 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 17:42:09 +0000 Traci 1732428@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is really timely for me. I bought the beautiful French Connection Peacoat durin NAS and I STILL haven't decided if I should keep it. I love the idea of a Peacoat, but reality usi reach for the comfort and ease of a puffer. Suzanne (ambergreen) on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732423 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 17:29:59 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1732423@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This post made me think, so you get a story. I won't mind if you skip it (TL;DR)! Agreeing with Suz that this is a really interesting post, and also quote her: "Have you simply failed to buy the right coats for your needs?" Boy, was this ever me. When I lived in the frigid, weathery Northeast US, I had a hard time getting it right. As a kid, I loved the look of classic, double-breasted, *long* wool coats. Well, as short, broad-shouldered, round-butted me (the chest took longer to get into the act), and the very heavy fabric those used to come in when they were the real deal...let's just say that fantasy fought with reality a lot. And once, in my 20s, a coworker looked at my attempt at professional wear under a boy's outdoorsy down coat (my solution to needing a nonexistent petite size) and declared me a "Glamour 'don't.'" Well, she was right. I realize now that for me, coats are like bags. I mostly tend not to think about them until I really need something that works, and traditionally, that moment has been too late (read: when I'm running out the door to some event. Fail!). So, this post has made me think a bit. Do I have a fantasy coat capsule? I might not. I think I am OK with my current years-old coats plus one I bought last year out of season. My go-tos, outside of lighter items like leather, denim, corduroy, and wool jackets and some hoodies, tend to be: <ul> <li> Gallery knee-length black trench coat, 2005</li> <li> Kenneth Cole Reaction short purple puffer, 2005</li> <li>Patagonia Torrentshell rain jacket, 2013</li> <li>New Look wool blend wrap coat, 2015</li> <li>Aleutian vintage 70s faux fur coat, 2004</li> </ul> I no longer need to address long, deep winters, but for the occasional very cold snap, the fun vintage 70s faux fur coat that my sweet hubs noticed at an antique mall back in 2004 or so is amazingly warm. Love it, but no pix...got to get one. For the record, it's in two tones of brown. And the New Look coat doesn't, of course, look quite this sleek on me and my compact bombshell figure. And the pattern on mine falls differently, and I had to have the sleeves shortened... Plus ça change... (Note: puffer photo erm...borrowed.) But, if I have a point, maybe it's this: after years of passive development, this capsule seems to cover most of my needs. Less fantasy, I suppose, but less fighting with reality. And of course, YMMV. Anonymous on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732419 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 17:11:38 +0000 Anonymous 1732419@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love this topic. I think you need a dressy coat, if you are a dressy person, Beth Ann. In my fantasy coat capsule, I have: -A dressy wool coat -A vintage wool coat -A duffel wool coat -A navy trench coat -A beige trench coat -A moto The rest is gear: -A deep winter puffer -A fall short puffer -A fall long puffer -A layering puffer -A ski jacket shell -A fishtail rain jacket Pretty long list! But not too bad. UmmLila (Lisa) on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732409 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 16:43:27 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1732409@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My most minimal winter coat collection would include: Short puffer Long puffer Long parka Long dressy wool coat Shorter stylish wool coat Things I am interested in buying but have not found the perfect one: Leopard faux fur coat High end trench coat FWIW I own that olive Athleta jacket. I do not find it quite as stylish for gear as it looks in the stock picture. If it would be helpful to you for me to post a pic, let me know. I have not committed 100% to keeping it. I see it as fulfilling the niche of: keep the front of my legs warm on daily afternoon dog walks before real winter sets in. Diana on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732390 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 15:26:49 +0000 Diana 1732390@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My minimal coat capsule: -heavy dressier winter wool coat in one of my neutrals (I have a black Kenneth Cole and my grey Burberry) -hooded, more casual heavy winter wool (forest green CK duffle with quilted lining) -mid weight black wool coat (ancient h&m swing coat) -black trench (just got a replacement one from Ralph Lauren) -mid weight water resistant, hooded casual coat (got the RL anorak from NAS) -black leather moto (right now I'm using the spiegel lemming jacket but it's not perfect bc it doesn't look good closed. My classic black moto is too small. ) -a super lightweight hooded, packable rain shell. (I have a fuchsia gear one from Eddie Bauer. I'd like a less gearish one but am not sure they exist). This is obviously only the essentials and very heavy on the black but I would always go for black if I could only have one. I do have a number of colored coats that I wear often as well. And no I don't wear puffers ever. ETA: and if we are talking about fantasy capsules, it would be the same as above but they would all be from Burberry. JAileen on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732389 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 15:24:07 +0000 JAileen 1732389@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Do you know how cold it gets in your new area? That would be a starting point I think. Also, do you get outdoors besides going to work, grocery shopping, etc. For example, we go birding every weekend, so my coat/jacket capsule is skewed toward casual layerable gear. Every time I come back cold, though, I look for another "perfect" coat. ETA: the Athleta jacket looks very useful. I bought the North Face puffer in NAS and they look like they would fill the same need - throw on and go, and easy care, for when it's not super cold. Suz on "Fantasy Coat Capsule" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/fantasy-coat-capsule#post-1732377 Mon, 26 Sep 2016 14:58:34 +0000 Suz 1732377@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, this is a really interesting post. I remember a few years ago you mentioned that you run warm so often don't even wear a coat throughout early winter, especially if you are going to be in the car. Now I wonder: which is the chicken and which is the egg? Do you not wear (or buy) coats because you run warm...or have you simply failed to buy the right coats for your needs? And of course, those needs may have change substantially with your recent move and new job! For me, climate is the absolute first consideration. I need different kinds of coats for different weather. Even in my fantasy world! Since I'm considering a move to a different climate in the next few years, I have decided to put my coat buying for this climate on hold, and even to wait (probably) when it comes to purchases for that climate, since I don't really know what it will feel like to me. But in my imagination, I think my fantasy closet would include: One classic pea coat or military style coat in ink or navy. One bright or light coloured dressy wool coat. One gilet.  :) One fantastic, higher end trench. One lighter, shorter trench. One very light and bright coloured puffer. One puffer vest. One anorak type quilted jacket. One leather moto, maybe two. One gear type rainproof jacket. Really rainproof, not just resistant. Umm. That is just a start. I think I could use and wear more....   ;) Uh....forgive me...I'm getting carried away. 1 and 2 and the leather jackets plus the long gilet are currently in my closet along with my cranberry wool coat (no find) and two black trench coats (London Fog, knee length, and Theory, shorter) and my VC military style pea coat. Of these, the puffer will go into storage when I move. The others will still be used.