Coat angst - YouLookFab Forum

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Coat angst

Cookie

Despite my being 58 years old lol, my mother thinks it is her responsibility to make sure I have a good coat, so we went shopping while she’s visiting. Our choice of shops was based on convenience more than whether I thought I would like what they had.

Photo 1: Purple plaid coat from Talbot’s. I violently dislike the shiny brassy buttons and think having just one fastening is impractical for my windy climate. I know both those things could be fixed but not sure I like it enough to bother.
2. Shopping outfit (the under layer of that wacky pattern-mixing outfit the other day).
3. Navy J. Crew coat, open
*I now own this coat.* But could return it. It was 50% off and we were getting tired. It’s very heavy warm wool and zips up. I don’t want to deal with a long coat EVERY day, but sometimes? The matte brassy buttons offend my delicate sensibilities less than the shiny ones but I am not wild about them … ideally I would find something cool to replace them with.
4. The J. Crew coat with the wonderful scarf my mom bought me from France!

Ehhh. I don’t even know what I’m looking for anymore. It’s so hard to find anything but a big sporty puffer.

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Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Joyce B

Veteran

I love the purple coat but I agree that one button only is not practical.
The JCrew coat looks good and could be a workhorse. How does the collar fit?
Is is comfortable and not too high? I have a shortish neck and collars can be too high for me, but YMMV.
A mother is always a mother, regardless of your age. Enjoy your sweet mom.

slim cat

Veteran

Nice J Crew long coat for cold days - fab with bright scarf!

Lisa

Veteran

I am very picky with outerwear and if I do not like the colors of buttons or zippers on a coat, I won't buy it. Yes I know buttons can be swapped but I'd rather find a coat with buttons I already like instead. The purple plaid coat is pretty on you but I would pass if the buttons and style of closure won't work for your climate.

Fun shopping outfit!

The JCrew coat looks like a nice neutral coat, but do you really like it? It sounds like this shopping trip was a little forced because of mom. (Which is super sweet of her to care, enjoy these moments you have together, even if coat shopping ends up being a bust). Coats can last a long time and are usually one of my more expensive purchases. If the JCrew coat isn't a "love" then I wouldn't keep it.

Very pretty colors in the new scarf!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think you should be wildly in love with a purple plaid coat in order to commit to it, honestly, and it doesn't sound like you are. It looks really nice on you and seems to fit beautifully, but I agree about the buttons -- if you loved everything else about it, I'd say change out the buttons and rock on (I did just that years ago with a beloved JCrew turquoise pea coat, changed out the shiny gold buttons for brushed pewter, too bad I went up a size a few years later and let the coat go). But you don't sound excited.

I would suggest taking a breath and thinking a little more about what you want/need in a wool coat. The zip front, in my experience, is a mixed bag -- it holds in warmth, BUT it can be annoying when you sit in it while it's zipped up, unless it has a two-way zip that can also open a bit from the bottom for ease of movement and sitting. Navy is a nice choice for a neutral that should work for a variety of outfits and occasions, but the collar style and zip lend a bit more casual vibe, while the collar and button closure of the purple read a little bit dressier. I do like the navy coat on you though -- the length is great with your skirt/dress and it plays with your scarf well too.

It's easy to get caught up in sale shopping, especially when a loved one is with you and enabling a purchase! But listen to your heart and your head. If neither one of these feels quite right, I'd suggest to keep looking. Your shopping outfit looks really nice! I miss shopping with my mom, so I get it.

Cookie

Joyce … you’re right that I should appreciate still having my mom take care of me! You’re also right that the high neck is a little poke-y but would also be warm.
Lisa … you too are correct that I don’t love, love it. It’s just soooooo hard to find what I’m looking for, whatever that is, and it was a great price for the apparent quality, etc.
I have a long gray coat that is old and getting kind of too beat up, and a really beautiful black vintage coat that I keep for dressier occasions. And some OTHER vintage coats (I have a problem, lol) that are more spring/fall weight. So this does fill a niche but …

Cookie

Janet (my mom’s name!), thank you. We are on the same wavelength.
It actually didn’t occur to me to test sitting down in the coat. The fabric is so substantial that it could be an issue.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

My first thought was that you were “lucky” to have a mother at age 58. My mother died when I was 38. Mind you I was born when she was 40, so if she had lived another 20 years she would have been 99. I guess that’s not often a happening thing.
The coat you bought looks great on you and especially with the beautiful scarf.
I think you should really consider if anything about it will annoy you enough that you won’t put it on and will reach for a puffer instead! That would be a waste and means you should send it back if that’s the case.
Once a mother always a mother, hey, like Joyce B says.

Cookie

You all are right that I am lucky to still have a mother in such good health and spirits! I do appreciate it!

Cookie

Wait … I actually hadn’t looked at Angie’s Black Friday post. This is the long version of her coat pick. Great minds haha.

Runcarla

Veteran

I think that purple coat is incredibly fab, and flattering - but if it’s impractical, and you don’t love it, you’re not going to wear it.

JAileen

Veteran

It’s nice your mother wants to help you, but if you end up with a coat that isn’t practical for you, then what good is it?

I have a JCrew Lodge coat. It’s another zip up wool coat with a quilted lining. It’s a beautiful quality, great color (light grey), and was a great price. But I rarely wear it because it doesn’t have a hood, and I like them when it’s windy, which is often around here.

Lodge coat in Italian stadium-cloth wool

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4

Jenni NZ

Veteran

So… this one, but grey in colour and longer? Angie says good fabric from Italy.

Toscana coat in Italian stadium-cloth wool blend

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3

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I actually love the look of the purple coat, but it is not really what you want or need so moving on...the J Crew coat needs to be super functional to make sense. I am not sure you are sure it is. The scarf is fabulous.

Cookie

Oh that’s beautiful, JAileen! Yes, the wool seems great quality.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

The purple coat looks fabulous on you!

It's too bad about that closure. It's a great cut for you, but impractical, I agree, if it only has one button. (People, what are you thinking???)

I can vouch for the quality of the J. Crew coats. I have an older one -- the shorter version. It wears like iron and is warm and quite wind-proof because of the weave.

J. Crew makes a version of this coat every year and this year they are also offering the longer one, which you are trying. I am not sure if the cut is the same as on mine (the shorter version) but in the shorter version, the cocoon coat has (I think?) a version of a raglan sleeve (or some other sleeve name I don't know, since I'm not a sewist)...in any case, the sleeve is not set in at the top of the shoulder but the fabric extends all the way down the arm; however, unlike some raglan sleeves on the underarm side, it is cut quite high (i.e. more like a traditional set in sleeve on that side of the body vs. a loose fit beneath the arm.) The coat is a bit wider up top and narrows to the bottom. This style of coat can be great and easy to wear for those with an inverted triangle body type or a rectangular body type -- it might be a bit less comfortable for a pear shaped body type, depending on various factors. One of which Janet mentions -- the zipper needs to be a two way zip. I am very grateful for the two way zip on my coat -- when I am sitting, I need to unzip it, and I also feel more comfortable striding if it is a bit looser at the bottom.

So test it out in motion and do a sit test if you think you might keep. As others have said, it has a slightly more casual feel because of the cut/ shape. But it looks nice from what I can tell and it really is a quality item.

Nice of your mother to want to keep you warm! But I also agree with others, you shouldn't keep anything you're not super happy about, because you won't reach for it.

Stadium-cloth cocoon coat

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24

Star

Veteran

I like the navy one. I need a high neck where I live

Dee

Veteran

The purple coat does look great but just not very practical so not very useful in the end.
The navy one seems okay but you might just be settling because of shopping fatigue and the fact that it was deal. Maybe ponder it a little longer to see if its really what you want in the long run. Perhaps something more to your liking may just pop up unexpectedly.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(Buttons are easy to change).

I love the purple coat on you! But you have to love it too. Pass.

I love the J.Crew coat on you, Cookie! The Fabbers are right - I have it in cream, and the SHORTER version. It is absolutely GORGEOUS!! I LOVE IT! Workhorse already. I sized up so that my bulky sweatshirts and sweaters can fit underneath. This version does not have a double zipper. Or side entry pockets - which is fine on a wool coat for my needs. I don't need them. (I DO need double zippers and side entry pockets on my puffers!)

This is my third J.Crew wool coat - fabrics are from Italy - and they are AMAZING. Look pristine forever and very good quality!

REMINDER: Make sure you can layer the right items underneath the coat. Size up if you need to. And make sure the length is right! There is room for longer and shorter coats in an outerwear capsule.

Toscana coat in Italian stadium-cloth wool blend

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3