Ask Angie and all: long, white wool coats in snowy, wet winters - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Ask Angie and all: long, white wool coats in snowy, wet winters

Eliza

Veteran

I have just fallen in virtual love with a HEWI: a non-black, winter wool coat. It is simple, with fluid lines and a classic, yet modern sensibility. It is described as eggshell, and reads barely a hint off white. I am 5'7" and it is 41 inches long. I live in the cold, snowy northeast. I drive everywhere. I'd love to post a link/find, but am on a little tablet and can't use my computer now due to surgical recovery. Thank you for your patience! If you are curious, the coat is at Nordstrom and even on sale, for me it is a big investment. It is the Cinzia Rocca DUE stand collar long coat that comes in camel and black as well. I like camel, but it hates me.

So, talk me off a cliff or convince me that the high happiness factor (assuming it fits well) is worth the care needed around salty, sandy winter parking lots, and entering my own car. Have you owned such a coat? Was it at the cleaners more than on your back? Did it come back pristine from dry cleaning or did permanent spots accumulate? I won't be wearing it daily, but would need it to hold up to date nights and outings a couple of times a week, as well as a few holiday parties. Also interested in experience with this brand. The coat seems to have a soft hand, which matters greatly to me.

Thank you!

ETA: Link to coat in my post below.

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

catgirl

Veteran

For me, it's impossible to maintain white outerwear. Angie is somehow able to stay pristine without being precious about her clothing. I am not! And I don't even care about being pristine, but I find white in winter shows everything - dirty slush splashing up from boots, brushing against the car (scraping windshields!), pets with muddy paws, kids with backpacks and wet coats, etc.

I actually love the look even not being a big wearer of white. If you can manage it, go for it!

retailgirl

Veteran

It sounds lovely. That's a very nice, high end brand. If you have other costs and can wear them in the worst weather, I say go for it! I live in the northeast and have a black coat and a red coat but I have had light colors in the past. I just didn't wear them on the worst days, or in situations where I knew I might brush up against dirty things, etc. As far as it coming back pristine from the cleaners, it all depends on your cleaners. Ask them to clean it with other whites and in new solution. The cleaners I go to has a special process for whites and I've been happy with the results.

crutcher

Veteran

Seconding all retailgirl said...very practical...I would check with my dry cleaners to be sure they have a special process for whites...
But..if that coat makes your heart sing, then I say go for it...You will be careful and even if you get a little dirt on it, think of the fun to wear such a lovely creature...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I saw that coat on line. It is lovely. I completely understand the temptation. For me, it wouldn't work because I walk and slush flips up and spots me in back. Plus cars driving by spray slush upon me. And I prefer a shorter coat when I drive to not get caught in the door, feel bulky, etc.

I think a washable white coat or a shorter wool one would work better for me. But there is no harm in ordering it to try on. That way you can add fit and flattery to the factors you are weighing. A HEWI is nothing to sniff at even if impractical.

Zibbets

Veteran

Oh that coat is gorgeous. I completely understand the attraction.

I have had bad luck with white coats but like this one, they can be utterly fabulous. I'm no help, am I?

jackiec

Veteran

That is a beautiful coat!

I've had 2 white winter coats, one puffer and one parka. Try as I might I cannot keep them clean, even throwing them in the wash periodically. Some people can do it. I seem to attract grunge....

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I would love to see a link to the coat, if possible.

I have a few white coats, and LOVE them all very dearly. My next puffer will be white. I can't say they are practical - because they aren't. But they are SOOOO pretty and soft. And if you don't make a white coat your only coat - you're in good shape, sweet Eliza. xo

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Midwest winters and my wool coat didn't remain pristine, even when I tried. Slush and salt have this magnetic attraction, but if you don't do a lot of walking, and you're not near busy streets or bus lines, you might not need to dry clean it often.

catgirl

Veteran

I did look it up BTW and it is the most beautiful perfect white coat!

Eliza

Veteran

Thanks to all for the interesting perspectives and for bearing with my lack of a link. Finally got to the computer, so here it is: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ci.....search-per

AG- I think I may be you when I picture bumping the car in the garage. No way I can get it washed daily in the bad weather!

retailgirl- you are describing my thoughts about how to wear the coat. I have other coats and would use discretion. There may be some very disappointing winters for wearing it when I wish I could, though. Great info about the cleaners. Didn't know what to ask and appreciate it.

crutcher- thanks for the info. You have nailed my dilemma. I find the coat a lovely creature.

Suz- I hear you on the walking and subsequent kick up of dirt. Although I live in the burbs, I am a huge city walker ordinarily (have to think about this for my post-recovery time). The length may be the deal breaker.

Zibbets- helpful to hear the bad luck stories too! And to see the appeal in spite of them...

jackiec- It sounds very real world that even white puffers are hard to clean and I picture salt, sand and dirt burrowing into the wool.

Angie- Thanks for the encouragement. That may be the ticket. To find the most likely to succeed white coat, wear it when possible, and carry on. I think the long length scares me more than a shorter length would in terms of the color. Cross your legs and a stripe from the sole of the shoe is the enemy, slide into the car and the door jam gets it. Do you have any familiarity with this brand?

I appreciate all the wise input. I adore the elegant simplicity of the coat and covet white. I am thinking that in the real world, if I do white especially, I may prefer a car coat length. At this price point and level of personal appeal, I would be de-moralized to find I can't get out of the house without it being too dirty to wear.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I welcome any further ones. I definitely will sleep on it. In the meantime, I will continue to see if any shorter wool coats catch my eye in white, cream, eggplant, burgundy, ink or light gray. I find it hard to find the simple lines I am craving.

Anonymous

Gorgeous coat, no doubt about that. If you aren't looking for it to provide a low cost/wear, and budget allows for a special coat like this, I say by all means add it to your closet. It certainly would be a special occasion coat in most cities with snowy winter weather, and I'd be petrified of getting it dirty myself, but it is undoubtedly stunning. If you live the Town Car life - hey, go for it!

My winter white coat is a puffer - washable- but I treat it as if it were black and wear it every chance I get!

Staysfit

Veteran

I had this in my Nordstrom shopping cart for a two days while I pondered the same question. I decided against it, and it was pointless because the same day my size was no longer available. My decision against was due to my concern about the risk of salty grime ruining it. White would be ok for a shorter coat, or something I can wash. This is gorgeous, but not for snowy, slushy, salty, winter locations.

If you think you may want it, you may want to purchase and then return if you decide against because apparently they are selling fairly quickly.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

The coat is insanely beautiful - no wonder you fell in love! I don't own white wool coat but I had white trousers for 2 years and they were doing well for me (I live in snowy Canada BTW). However my trousers were washable and I was willing to wash them after 3-4 wears if required (surprisingly they required less frequent washing that white summer jeans and trousers which I could not go more than 2 wear between washes).
So this is the key: if you commit to white (does not really matter winter or summer) you need to be prepared to do frequent washes. Unfortunately with coats washing is out of questions so it must be frequent dry cleaning which will add to the cost. Are you prepared for this extra expense on top of the coat price?
This is the reason I am not committing to a white wool coat. I would stick with a white washable puffer or trench.

SandyG

Veteran

If you love it, would it be possible to spray it with fabric protector so that you could blot off spots, and give it a fighting chance to survive IRL ?? It's a great looking design and looks quite chic.

Eliza

Veteran

Lisap- thanks for your thoughts. Town car life is not a descriptor here, so your comments are very clarifying.

Staysfit- I think I have come to the same conclusion. The combo of the white, plus the length are a deal breaker. I think I need to break into the white wool outerwear scene more gradually with a low hip length coat. Just liked the fabrication of the coat, as you did.

I think the HEWI lives on and the search continues. I will keep my eye out!

So glad to have YLFers weigh in.

Eliza

Veteran

Sveta- I appreciate your thoughts. The expense of dry cleaning would add up. I also think of the aggravation of needing to bail on wearing it if it got dirty early in a day. I'd feel the need to have a back up coat in the car and that 's a bit more fuss than I like. Also wonder about the impact of frequent dry cleanings on the fabric. You have a good point about washable whites.

Sandyg- interesting idea to treat it. Wondered how that would be on such a light colored fabric. Don't know if it would yellow or somehow shift the color unevenly.

Glad you each enjoy the coat. It is tough when your eye is drawn to the impractical. Sometimes it works to push outside the comfort zone and sometimes, you have to opt out.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

It is gorgeous, but I would have trouble with the practicality issue, personally. I have a short white coat and a very long white wool coat that was a gift over a decade ago, which ONLY gets worn for the most formal occasions. Even a bright or medium shade color of coat will hide dirt better than white, and the longer the coat, the closer all that pristine fabric is to the elements, IYKWIM.

unfrumped

Veteran

That is a gorgeous coat, but I think you are on the right track--the length is an issue. Perhaps a peacoat or washable short puffer jacket? Or maybe build winter white-out outfits that are made of easier maintenance components but give you a similar light bright feeling.
To me a coat like this would be lovely if one has a busy social life and a "formal" capsule it could fit into--so if one's coloring and clothing would be set off by the white coat and so you have drama that instead of the long black opera coat. but then, the white is so pretty in the daytime!
That's along the lines of the Town Car life--love that expression and it IS helpful, isn't it!