Another Burberry Vs. Brooks Brothers Moment - YouLookFab Forum

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Another Burberry Vs. Brooks Brothers Moment

rae

(website)

Veteran

Let me preface this by saying that I would never, ever have gotten this so soon in life except for a significant windfall and the mental weirdness of being extra super glad to be around to have a milestone birthday coming up (if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's my off-topic post from about 6 months ago).

Without getting into all of that, here's what I immediately knew I would spend a portion of my windfall on (I am saving/investing the bulk of it). I was finally able to track it down at a really good price. Not returnable, nor do I have any intention of doing so. I'm over the moon in love with this one, so it's not a K/R or Battle Royale. Introducing my aniseed green Burberry London in cotton gabardine.

I had figured the Brooks Brothers had room in my closet alongside this one, because the BB is so much more a Classic Trench, whereas this is a non-classic color and style. Plus I know that my perfect shade of beige does not grow on trees. The BB is also a slouchy, fluid fit that's quite different from this tailored fit.

But I noticed on Elle and Natalie's threads that so many people are saying they can instantly tell the difference between the two in the pictures.

Knowing that have and I am keeping this one, do you think I should still keep the Brooks Brothers? Am I just being greedy by having both? Is it more practical to return the BB and get my striped bag instead?

PS: I am NOT dissing the quality or fit of the BB at all. I still love it lots! But this one is special in meaning as well as style to me (and non returnable, as I said).

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40 replies

Latest reply was from ElleH

missvee

Veteran

Well you've articulated the differences very well - colour and fit - so it really boils down to how often you wear a trench or similar weight coat? The BB has a warm lining too, right? Perhaps it is better for colder weather.
Sorry, I guess I'm no help. They're both great choices.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Awesome score! You always look awesome in trenches, they were made for you, Queen Trench! This Burberry is a great olive color for your complexion. Going back to your other thread, that BB one looks great too. It looks like a Burberry on you, truly it does. Claire also looked fantastic in hers. I think that's why so many of us (me in particular) jumped on that deal. Did you iron the trench or something? Somehow it looks so much better on you than on me. Maybe the sizing works better for your body. As for whether to keep both, I vote yes if the budget allows! Can you post side by side pics of the two? The big question is, do you feel you would reach for the BB one, or would you always gravitate toward the Burberry? I know they are different colors, but would you get enough use out of both of them or would one become an orphan?

Anonymous

OMG! It's so RAE! Okay I'm going to have to think about this. I'm leaning towards returning the BB, can you believe it? And I'm so thankful that you did find and buy the BB, if only to show us it was out there, and on sale!

I think a stripey bag might pack a bigger punch than another medium toned trench coat. I mean, if you have two Burberrys, is owning the BB that impressive? Or useful? Each of your Burberrys seem so much more "you" than the generic BB coat.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

You have two Burberrys? Can I see the other one? That may swing my vote to return the BB, as fab as it looks on you. What striped bag are we talking about?

marianna

Veteran

Woohoo! Gorgeous. Congrats!

I think I'd vote return BB in this case (saw it on you and it's obviously gorgeous) but do you see yourself wearing both? Do you have a need for both? I feel like I'd always reach for the Burberry...

Very excited for you!

Anonymous

Ok, I see the real conundrum: if you return the BB (thinking you can buy a beige trench any old time) will this specific, flattering khaki color still be available? Because I just ran through the same thought process. I was thinking why am I in such a rush to buy a trench coat, being that it's summer in Phoenix and I wouldn't need it often and then I remembered, Oh, yeah. It was because it's so hard to find a flattering beige.

Anonymous

With a breathable lining!

rachylou

Veteran

Being not into trenches, I can't tell you which is which although I can see a difference. I can't remember how often you wear a trench. If a lot, I'd go ahead and keep both. Or if the BB "does more" than the other, I'd keep it also. I.e., if it's better for rain, winter cold, etc. etc.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Claire, you are right there in my head! Thank you for understanding and not thinking I'm a silly trench hoarder.

Ok, here are a split screen of the BB and Burberry, my Ebayed Burberry (short, black, with Nova undercollar), and the coveted striped bag. Also my $1 leather trench and my dress-up satin parka.

Gotta think hard about how often I would - or would want to! - use each trench. I know from the past that I have the ability to use a large and varied wardrobe, but I guess I should question the need to do so. I have been happy having my go-to summer-weight trench and did not feel deprived not having another color. Hm...

ETA: Rachy brings a good point that the collar of the BB is more snug and warm, while the Burberry would need a scarf in serious cold. But I do own scarves.

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MsMary

Veteran

The BB looks good on you, but the Burberry is OMFG AMAZING!! And I can't honestly imagine, if I had both in my closet, ever reaching for the BB and not the Burberry. So I vote "return and get the stripey bag!"

unfrumped

Veteran

Oh wow.. Gorgeous.

I would review image needs , layering issues and my what's the worst thing that would happen if approach. If one works over jackets and the other doesn't and you'd split time between the 2, maybe you can use both. Color I can certainly see that as an issue for me since one size often does not fit all, and I like a light outerwear layer lots of times..Color IS important, and I see people hot to buy a trench when "their" color just is not offered that year. OTOH, you're young! Yes, these are investment pieces but you don't have to.make all of your investments in one year. Certainly overtime there will be lots of trenches to love.
Maybe get deep in the closet and try on side by side with its of outfits.

The best thing would be to have an iconic look you own and enjoy frequently enough. You don't have to feel disloyal if one trench does not suit every coat need. People feel free to have multiple coats all the time and it's a personal usage choice as to what this capsule includes- trenches in different colors and styles, or wool coats, or both. But you don't want an expensive orphan either, as Natalie notes.

rachylou

Veteran

Now here's another question: Would you use the stripey bag with the Burberry? I'm guessing maybe the darker trench is the Burberry because it's more UWP. It's an "off tonality", not as crisp as the bag.

Echo

Veteran

It wasn't until I saw the two side-by-side that the differences became so glaringly obvious. There is something just perfect about the Burberry fit, and I, too, cannot imagine ever reaching for the BB when you could wear this instead. Return the BB and get the bag!

rae

(website)

Veteran

The green one is the Burberry (also all the pics in the main post), the BB is the beige on the left in the split screen later in the thread.

And yes, I'd definitely wear the bag and Burberry together! At least for me, the black buttons and black stripes mean they "match."

Anonymous

I say return the BB -- you aren't going to reach for it if you have the Burberry in your closet.

Parsley

Veteran

Oh my! That Burberry trench is so gorgeous on you I can't stand it!
You're going to want to wear it all the time, so why keep another that's fairly similar. I vote get your striped bag that you've been wanting!

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, return the BB and wear the heck out of your olive Burberrry! Plus the striped bag would look great with the black Burberry!

Anonymous

Return the BB and get the striped bag. Not even I need so many trenches and I live in a true four season climate.

Sylvie

Veteran

I vote return the Brooks Brothers. There will be other 'perfect shade of beige' trenchcoats - perhaps even Burberry ones.

If I had an amazing light colored coat, I can't imagine myself ever reaching for a second light colored coat that is similar in color and in style. Unless the BB one has a hood or zip out lining or is warmer or somehow fulfills a different practical function, I think you'd always end up reaching for the Burberry.

For me, my money would always be better spent getting something else unique and special instead of an inferior duplicate of something I own already.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Ah, here is why I know I cannot trust my shopping emotions! My emotions have been telling me, "These are totally different. One is a light classic neutral, the other a dark color. One has a statement neckline. One has a liner!"

But what I hear y'all saying is that they are both medium-toned neutrals, and that the Burberry looks better.

And Zap, although our lack of true winter means I can wear trenches for three seasons, you are also right. I may be at the saturation point here with black, leather, and a medium tone.

And the BB is restocked at full price. If I truly regret returning it, there is always next year's sale season. And many years after that.

Unfrumped hit home saying that I don't need to feel disloyal to a coat... I do feel disloyal to the BB to let it go, despite it's awesomeness. It's like dumping a perfectly sweet, solid, dependable guy because my soul mate just "happens" to be a more handsome dude from old money... sigh.

MsMary

Veteran

Heh. You crack me up, Rae!

But you need to let that sweet, solid, dependable guy find a woman who will love and appreciate him for who he is...

ElleH

Veteran

First of all I love this Rae. I would have gotten a dark khaki green one if it came in the style of my one.

I don't know if you should keep BB but you have 90 days to decide. Maybe I can help though. I don't know because I am not you & am not sure of your wardrobe needs & dressing travel needs. I am going through the same thoughts about whether I should keep the BB navy, because more colours of things are good to have sometimes. You wear trenches a lot already so you know you could wear the BB a lot. You also have a lot of trenches already. You have the black Burberry now, which aside from length is similar to the BB right? Do you have any other long trenches? Is there any outfit or colours you would wear the BB with that your others don't go with? If I return my navy BB it would be because I might not wear my Burberry enough to get the cost oer wear to make it worthwhile. I am hoping my Burberry goes with everything. Oh & if it were me, which is different to you, I would return the BB. The only reason I am considering keeping mine is that I only have the Burberry one.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

OMG. OMG. OMG.

The $1 Wonder girl owns TWO Burberry's???????

Rae, I don't know what you will do with the BB, but you must keep this one!

My gut feeling is that they would fill a similar purpose, so which would you reach for most....but you definitely need one of them.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Oh. My. Goodness. The Burberry trench is all kinds of awesome on you. Congratulations!
I don't think you need the BB anymore, especially if you really want the bag that you'd trade it for. I'm afraid if you have the BB, you'll want to find times to wear it, and you might not get to enjoy the Burberry as much. I mean, if I looked like that in your Burberry and it had the meaning for me that it does for you, I'd want to wear it a LOT. It might be a real signature piece.

catgirl

Veteran

Although I am supremely envious that the BB works so well for you, I am going to vote Burberry all the way. The BB will always be that second fiddle item that was the backup for the real thing. Both it and you deserve better!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

They are photographing fairly similar side by side but that doesn't mean they are. If they feel different enough you should keep the BB as you love trenches. But yes, there are also plenty of reasons (coveted bag) to return it. Sorry I'm no help.

Anonymous

Well I certainly understand that you need a capsule of trenches, much like Angie has a white shirt capsule. To expect her to be happy with one or two would be just plain silly (not to mention impractical).

Which one would you choose for globe-trotting, your gear trench? I guess that would depend on the time of year and activities. Can you layer a jacket under either Burberry? If I remember correctly you have some sort of puffer or proper winter coat for very cold weather.

Hmmm. I can't imagine wanting to wear the BB if I had two Burberry's that suited me as well as yours do you. http://www.into-mind.com talks about removing extraneous items that "dilute your style". You are now a Woman Who Wears A Burberry. Do you really want to dilute that fabness by being seen in a BB trench? (...totally not hating on the BB folks, I have it hanging in my closet!) It's not that I doubt your ability to cycle through all of your trenches in a season, my question is, would your heart really want to take the BB out for a spin when it was his turn, or would you only have eyes for the Burberrys?

By the way, in the comparison pictures, I have to say that you now look like you're wearing your mother's coat with the BB, lol! Nothing like a little side by side shot to show the difference in cut and fit.

deb

Veteran

I say return the BB because I think The Burberry is more you. I think you will wear it all of the time and like you said, you can always add a scarf.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Return. I love the Burberry coats, both of them. You are gorgeous!

Can I ask, how did you know the Burberry ones on ebay were real?

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