https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:18:34 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1049239 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 19:03:55 +0000 JAileen 1049239@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>K's explanation is excellent. Another possibility for you is camel hair. I have a camel hair coat that is super warm and light weight. It is expensive, but cheaper than cashmere. I bought a very classic style (polo coat) and it still looks current after more than ten years. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1049226 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 18:44:10 +0000 K. Period. 1049226@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>(Sorry for the thread-jack!)&nbsp;Theodora, you aren't nuts. You probably have sensitive skin, but not a wool allergy. When someone says that they have a&nbsp;wool allergy, I take it&nbsp;to mean that a person likely has a sensitivity to the itchy stuff not a full allergy unless they say that it makes them non-stop sneeze and break out in hives. A wool sensitivity is just as legitimate a reason for not wearing it! Who wants to be uncomfortable!?!&nbsp;</p> <p>Your older wool sweaters probably have a few things going on. They likely have had all of the natural lanolin taken out by repeated cleaning.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lanolin can be irritating to some people. &nbsp;They also likely were made with wool that was virgin, meaning it has the natural, tapered tip from when it grew out of the skin, not a cut tip from a previous shearing (think of it like the difference between a new hair growing out and a hair after your haircut). The blunt edge is generally more irritating. Also, the longer the length (staple) of the wool, the softer it is because they can make more yarn out of it with fewer ends, resulting in softer yarn. &nbsp;Think of the number of ends in a tangle of full length spaghetti versus the number of ends if you take the same spaghetti and break it into 1" sections. &nbsp;You still have the same amount of spaghetti, you just have a lot more ends. &nbsp;It may also just be better quality wool from sheep with softer wool or from longer wool with fewer ends, even if it isn't virgin wool.&nbsp;</p> <p>With the shearling coat, that's probably exactly what is going on. &nbsp;Shearling is generally made with hides from sheep breeds with very soft wool and the wool is relatively long because the animal is raised for that purpose and not for repeated shearings. &nbsp;Cashmere and angora are both super soft and come from goats, but are still hair like sheep's wool. &nbsp;Alpaca is also generally super soft and can be worn by many people with wool sensitivities. &nbsp;However, any of them (cashmere, angora, alpaca) can be itchy when they are lower quality (which can even just be the same animal, but a different location: belly versus back)&nbsp;or combined with lower quality wool or (yikes!) expensive but&nbsp;bristly mohair. &nbsp;The nice thing about this? You can trust yourself on which wool will work. &nbsp;You just need to let your skin be your guide!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048694 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 02:47:50 +0000 Theodora 1048694@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Okay, so what's weird about this is that I can't wear wool fabric or sweaters either. &nbsp;It makes me itchy and break out in a rash, BUT I have a sheepskin coat that doesn't do this to me, and 2 or three old sweaters (I mean 25 years) that don't either. &nbsp;Could it be the processing? &nbsp;Or the breed of sheep?? &nbsp;Am I nuts? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048618 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 01:41:13 +0000 Liz A. 1048618@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>K, I'm not sure I've come across a dressier puffer. &nbsp;I'm open to the idea. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048596 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 01:32:54 +0000 dakotacheryl 1048596@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't even look at fleece...it's a pet hair magnet, and we have three big dogs and a cat in our house. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048475 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 22:14:05 +0000 pastrygirl 1048475@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Liz -- I'm not sure; I don't have pets. But it did pick up some weedy stuff when my son was stomping in the weeds near me... It's a relatively thick fleece, not a microfleece, but still fleece nonetheless. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048474 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 22:13:26 +0000 K. Period. 1048474@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There are some really great looking shearling coats out. &nbsp;Make sure it is artificial shearling if it is all wool that you are avoiding--real shearling is actually sheep's skin with the fleece/wool still attached! It is pretty pricey, though, so normally you won't even have to check the details because the price will tip you off. &nbsp;As Sveta said, real shearling&nbsp;isn't quite wool yet. &nbsp;It is super soft and less pokey because there aren't as many hair ends to irritate your skin. Just like cashmere is a hair fiber, but it isn't pokey and irritating.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>What about a lined trench with thinsulate or a down liner? Will that be too cold for you? &nbsp;&nbsp;I'm guessing a dressier puffer style is a no go? That would be wonderfully warm and not usually include any wool. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048451 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:25:52 +0000 Nicole D 1048451@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good idea, Sveta. &nbsp;I hadn't thought of leather or shearling. &nbsp;All I could think of was in puffer territory. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048442 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:16:49 +0000 Liz A. 1048442@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@pastrygirl, i saw that fleece pea coat. &nbsp;it's so cute, but does it pick up pet hair? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048440 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:13:26 +0000 Sveta 1048440@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shearling coat may fit the bill for you - warm and not wool (yet) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048439 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:13:17 +0000 lyn* 1048439@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't wear wool either, so I have just been shopping the lower end fabrications - also, I did find a beautiful cotton-lined coat that doesn't bug me as long as I wear a scarf :3 Zara. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048373 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:59:34 +0000 pastrygirl 1048373@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have the same problem, except I can't wear cashmere either. I just picked up a fleece pea coat from Land End that I love, but it hasn't been cold out yet. Other than that, I have an unstylish polyfill parka (not puffy) that I found at BJs to fill the gap until I find something nicer. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048301 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:12:18 +0000 Liz A. 1048301@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, Thistle, there are some good options at Land's End!</p> <p>Kkards, leather is a good idea as well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048251 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 16:25:30 +0000 kkards 1048251@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>what about leather...if you get one with a lining, it would be very warm. not sure if you are looking for long or car lenght. <br />i kind of like this one <a href="http://www.wilsonsleather.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12973986" rel="nofollow">http://www.wilsonsleather.com/.....d=12973986</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048227 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:54:16 +0000 Thistle 1048227@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would check out Land's End. I am not sure your climate, but they have a wide selection of coats that they rate by warmth factor. I find this to be incredibly useful as I live in a very cold climate and need a wide array of outerwear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048225 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:51:00 +0000 Liz A. 1048225@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can wear cashmere! A mixed media coat sounds fab. Have you come across any? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048201 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:17:27 +0000 Anonymous 1048201@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Does cashmere do the same to you? It is much thinner and finer than wool, fibre-wise.</p> <p>How about a leather/pongee cloth mixed media coat? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/winter-coat-for-those-averse-to-wool#post-1048177 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 14:52:38 +0000 Liz A. 1048177@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just Cannot wear wool no matter how hard I try. It irritates my skin too much, even if just the collar or cuff touches me. I have a large puffer, but is there hope for a stylish warm winter coat for me that is not made of wool?? Any and all suggestions welcomed! </p>