Choosing outerwear - YouLookFab Forum

Not really in the spirit of SYC...

I am looking for input on shopping. How do I avoid making another shopping mistake? So I have been stalking this navy polkadot raincoat. It is cute. I have already tried it on in store and it fits. If one thing is sure, it is that it will rain where I live. A lot. So multiple raincoats sounds like a good idea. But my other raincoat is also blue (finds). Will this only be duplicating what I already have? And still leave me stranded with "nothing to wear"? The fit is different than the other coat. I like the idea of "fun" outerwear. It isnt black, which is a plus. It isn't inexpensive, which is not a plus.. I believe it is a classic coat. I like the size of the dots. Is it even my style?

Am I fooling my self? Do you have any ideas for me?

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Custom Find

by Synne

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4 years ago

rebekahphoto

Veteran

I don't think you are fooling yourself! Certainly if you live with lots of rain, (as I do also) multiple waterproof options are a must. The pattern is different enough so it feels like another option.

I only wonder do you want even more variety? Both jackets seem relatively casual, maybe you would like a dressier or edgier option?

I often find I end up with multiple coats in similar colors, (lots of black or ink for me) but different cuts and that works. But sometimes I also want a color shift...of course I have way too many coats and the MR complains there is no room for his in the closet!

I recently found Junge coats and it is probably a good thing they are not easily available to me!

notsaf

Maybe this is a good month for you to slow down and plan a purchase, so this might actually be in the spirit of SYC after all?

I have to say, these raincoats seem quite similar, maybe not in terms of exact details (color, shape), but in terms of vibe. They both feel quite preppy to me, and that strikes me as not your vibe at all. annagybe was just looking for raincoats and found some very cools ones that seem more interesting: https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/raincolors.

Lesley

Good point, that they are similar in preppy vibe. Otherwise the colors are different enough that I don't think you'd feel like you're always wearing the same thing. I think the test is, imagine it with the outfits that would be sticking out from underneath. Do you feel like you have some outfits that would look great with one and some that would look great with the other? I wear a lot of jeans, so I have to be careful with blues in particular, like I would not love the navy with white dots (even though, hey, that's totally my style) with my dark wash jeans, because it's just too close, but I would totally love it with, say, red pants or a really light wash denim. The turquoise would be more of a natural over for black jeans or dark navy jeans. You get my drift.

BUT to answer that question about avoiding making a mistake--I'm sharing my blues/denim thoughts because I have TOTALLY been in that position of buying something new in blue and then later thinking, oh, I wish I had gone with more of a color that contrasts with my denim...

Cardiff girl

I also live in an area where it rains a lot.l have 4 raincoats.They are all different colours and different shapes to go with different outfit options. The thing that I wish I had planned abit more is the overall outfit including the raincoat so for example thinking about what Footwear,bottoms and scarf would go with each coat so that the whole effect is intentional rather than ,oh I had a nice outfit on but then it rained so I chucked this random coat on top.You can get some really funky wellies these days to go with raincoats and I think that can be a fun look .l hope this helps.l really like the spotty coat,it would appeal to me too.

slim cat

I like the polkadot rain coat - it looks different enough to my eye ( more A-line, less sporty ). If it calls to you - then go with your emotional tag, check if it's returnable anyway and do outfit lab .

Joy

The dotted rain coat looks wider and not as fitted as the bright blue so may fit well over heavier clothes.
I can see the bright blue coat with neutrals and bright colors, the dotted coat would make a great outfit with red and white, tan and orange, yellow green or aqua

rachylou

I say, what will you want to wear this over? Will it switch up things you already wear with the other? Or will this be good for a totally different set of clothes?

I find rain jacket style very difficult, very challenging. I’m never really happy.

Suz

(website)

I like the dotty coat but I'm not sure it's your style as I have observed it so far. And I do think its vibe is quite similar to the other coat's.

My style is of course different from yours, but I like to have raincoats in a couple of lengths and levels of formality.

Here are the ones I currently have...plus a lightweight bright pink rain jacket not unlike your royal blue one above. I don't have that one in Finds and I pretty much wear it only as gear.

Coat 1 is truly waterproof. It is gear-ish, very casual. For really wet days walking in woods.

Coat 2 is rain resistant, a short non-wrinkly trench that is quite flared and layers well over jackets and packs well.

Coat 3 is a classic just below the knee water resistant trench -- layers over knits and jackets and is a bit more formal.

Coat 4 is a waxed cotton utility coat -- on its way out, alas -- this coat worked a dream -- I could layer it over a thin parka and it has a ton of pockets yet somehow didn't look too casual for a lot of settings. It wasn't fully waterproof but I walked through several downpours in it without ill effect.

I would ideally like a lighter coloured coat also but haven't found my ideal one yet.

Nordstrom

Port Madison Hooded Raincoat

Top Pick

by Suz

Amazon

London Fog London Fog Women's Midi-Length Trench Coat

J.Crew

Long downtown field jacket

Jenni NZ

Well I also live in a rainy place, but I do commute by car, and the supermarket I like best has undercover parking. I have had only the one decent raincoat for over 15 years. I bought it to canoe down a wild river on a multi-day trip with the family in 2004. However I do also keep a very ancient thin light raincoat in the car as well in case I am caught out and have to park away from the destination, plus 2 umbrellas. I don’t really regard my raincoats as fashion. My umbrellas are more fashionable as I use them more. One has poinsettias on it and the other beautiful blue abalone ( NZ paua shell) colours.
So I guess I am not adding to the enablers, but YMMV.

Liesbeth

I'm with Suz that I don't think it fits your style or aspirations so great. This is more retro/playful than elegant. And I also miss your typical edgy silhouette here.
Just my thoughts of course.

Synne

Very wise replies here, I appreciate it a lot! My old self would have purchased this coat on a whim, out of sheer self gratulation that it fit me and is "classic enough". But it might not be "me" or my style at all. Another closet orphan at birth. I did also donate a very similar coat as early as last year because it never got worn (navy and white wide stripes). Bought for the exact same reason as my reasoning for bying this...

Stagiaire Fash

I’m late to the conversation again and see that you already answered your own question.
FWIW, I don’t think of “duplication” as simply an item that has all the same details as another. That is duplication, of course, but in my book, anything that plays the same role in your wardrobe is a “dupe”.

Well Debbie Roes of Recovering Shopaholic used to talk about “splitting your wears” as not always a good thing- it can allow variety but in my wardrobe it tends to mean I don’t wear anything enough, if the items are too similar. So I have been learning not to buy things that sing to me as easily as I used to, because from bitter experience, just because they sing to me, doesn’t mean I will wear them!

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