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Coat shopping dilemmas...

Maya

Veteran

I need to talk through my coat options...

-if I open a Macy's card, i can get a Soia and Kyo coat. S&K is my dream brand. Ironically, the last and only other time I ever opened a store cc account was to buy my last coat from BR. I don't know if it's bad financially to do this, but it would get me 35% off!

These are the styles I tried:

Mia:
http://www.soiakyo.com/app/web.....38;detsc=8

Ivet:
http://www.soiakyo.com/app/web.....&pg=0

Ivet was more flattering and seemed to fit me better overall, but Mia has a higher wool content. I loved the texture of Ivet too. But...Mia is a lot less $$$.

-As usual, I did genuinely try to be good in the face of temptation, and failed. I looked all over the store (this is at the Macys flagship) I even found another coat that I liked just as much stylistically as the S&K coats on clearance. I was so elated when I found it because it was tomato red, had pleated shoulders, and had the same stylistic detailing as many S&K coats. But my jubilation was short lived since it was only 60% wool I can't tell you how bummed I was about this.

I continued to search, but the wool content in virtually everything was 60% or less. Or they were short. Or both. I found 4 coats with 80% wool:

-a boring Anne Klein coat in a boring shade of eggplant purple
-another S&K coat, which was just as expensive but less flattering and pretty than the other two
-a Rudd coat that was too short
-some brand I can't remember that was also too short (and black only)

My current coat is 75% wool and that's about where I'd like to remain. It overlaps slightly with my puffer, but works in above-freezing temps too.

-the other option is go with the JCrew Lady Day coat I found on eBay in tomato red. It will be warm, and it's certainly a lovely coat, but I don't feel too enthusiastic about it.

If only Guess hadn't been so stingy with the wool on the coat I liked, I would have been a lot smilier now!

Shopping

23 replies

Latest reply was from

Anonymous

Close your eyes... Open Macys account.... Go get Ivet before I snatched it out of your hands...
That coat would last you a lifetime....

Aida

Veteran

Oh my goodness, that Ivet coat.. no words... I wish it was half the price ><

Steph

Veteran

Maya, do you anticipate loving this coat forever and keeping it for years? I keep my winter coats for years and definitely get a lot of use out of them, so they are worth the money. If you think you will feel similarly, I think you should get the coat you love. (I actually prefer the Mia to the Ivet, but both are beautiful, and if you like the Ivet better, you really can't go wrong.)

If you think that you might get bored after one season and want a different coat, then I might go for the Guess coat and live with the 60% wool, wearing the puffer a little more often. Are you sure that the 60% wool will be significantly colder than the S&K 70% wool? I have never really paid attention to the wool content of my coats, so I don't have much experience there.

As you know, I own the lady day coat, and I like it, but it isn't really special the way these coats are. I have a coat that is much more fun (it actually looks a lot like the coat in Angie's photo today, but mine is red, and the skirt after the drop waist has a few pleats, so it flares a bit), and I find that I only wear the lady day coat when I need to wear something in that color for some reason, or if my red coat isn't available. It's never my first choice. I would go with one of the ones you found today, even if it is the Guess coat, before going with the lady day coat.

catgirl

Veteran

I love the Mia because of the a-line. But YOU should definitely get the one that fits and that you adore. The difference in price isn't that much at this price point, so if you're spending, then spend! They are both gorgeous - I don't know your coat style longevity but these seem like coats that won't get boring. The Lady Day is a coat I've eyed for years and will probably be around, but it doesn't have the WOW factor that these do!

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Hi Maya
The coat dilemma sounds solved, but if I can read back to the beginning of your post your main concern is opening the store card in order to get the good deal on the coat. I have a thing with the store CCs and have only ever used them twice when the offers worked so much in my advantage that it was too good to miss - but my self-imposed condition was to pay the balance off straight away and not accumulate any interest. In another words, I was a bad store CCs customer. And I never used them again. You need to work out how many payments you'll need to make before you clear your balance, as the interest (it IS regularly atrocious on the store cards) can easily eat up all the savings that lured you into taking the deal in the first place. And don't forget all the future temptations
Sorry if this is not the kind of response you were expecting to your question, but that's how I understood what the real dilemma here is.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Did you wear the Ivet with the funnel neck down, Maya? And the one I saw in Macys isn't quite the same false plain - is that right?

Lisa

Veteran

My winter coats are investment pieces for me. I do not replace them often so it is very important they keep me warm and that I REALLY like them. With that idea in mind I vote opening the card to get the coat you want versus settling. Too often when I purchase something to "hold me over" I spend the rest of my time trying to replace it before it wears out.

Maya

Veteran

Ellie, I would pay the balance off immediately. I can't manage the full price, but reduced is manageable and about what S&K coats go for on Bluefly.

Una, I like the Mia too...but I'm not sure if it's as flattering over the bust. I would have taken pictures, but as you can probably imagine, Macy's flagship + sale + holiday season = a whole lot of cray cray. There were SA's dressed as elves. Seriously.

Steph, that's the hard part. I have never bought anything with the intention of having it in my closet for a long time, so it's hard for me to realistically gauge how bored I would get. In general, I do get bored easily...but then again, nothing I own is usually worth hanging onto.

60% is too cold, unfortunately. My military coat that I got at STA is 60% wool and doesn't cut it below 50 degrees. By contrast, my current winter wool coat is 75% wool and keeps me warm below freezing (under 30 degrees is puffer weather). It probably also depends on the weight, but it was about the same weight as my military coat so I doubt it could be much warmer.

This was the Guess coat, but in tomato red with big shiny black buttons. I would have absolutely gone for it with no regrets if it were warmer

http://www.shopstyle.com/produ...../178060007

Angie, I wore the collar buttoned but not all the way, like in the picture. More like an envelope. I also tried it unbuttoned in a "v". I'm not sure about what you saw, but it's definitely the same coat I tried. I noted the style names on the tag.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have a hard time picturing you in a HUGE funnel necked coat Maya (the Ivet), because of your long hair, petite height and full bust (I know you have a long neck). But folded down into a V makes sense even though the collars of S&K coats are stiff. But you say it was flattering, so I believe you.

At Macys you should get 40% off this coat and another 15% with a Macys card.

Maya

Veteran

Angie, it's not that huge when folded like this:

http://www.soiakyo.com/app/web.....&pg=1

I do not wear it up all the way. My neck is long but not THAT long.

I know it's not the best thing in the world for my bust, but it is VERY warm, so warmth wins out. I love funnel collars and it was something I was specifically looking for in my next coat.

Do you prefer it to the Mia?

I also tried this in red, but didn't like the collar and double-breastedness as much. Should I reconsider?

http://www.soiakyo.com/app/web.....&pg=0

Where does the 40% come from? They told me I could get 25% + 15%.

ticksgirl

Oh, Ivet is gorgeous!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My dear, Maya - that's *why* I asked you whether you folded down the collar. I know S&K coats AND have dressed your body many times :). I trust your style judgment if this coat with the collar worked well enough.

I have a 3 S&K products and they are KILLER both is style and quality (and you know how fussy I am about quality). Like I said, the Canadians know how to make boots and coats!

All the coats at Macys are 40% off in Seattle - and the S&K coats are in that section too. I was there with a client today - and she bought two coats (not S&K).

Mellllls

Veteran

I very much love the Ivet over the Mia. Not sure about the wool content issue though. I walk EVERYWHERE and wear my wool coats for the majority of the winter but I've never looked at their wool contents.

I wouldn't bother with the JCrew coat. They are NOT that warm and the only thing they have going for them is the variety of colors. I really think you'll get bored with that coat very quickly.

For what it's worth, I LOVE my Macys credit card. Mine is an AMEX with no annual fee. It's so hard to get an AMEX without an annual fee and there are so many benefits to being an AMEX holder. So if you regularly shop at Macys I would encourage getting the card.

Maya

Veteran

Hopefully I will surprise you, Angie, like I did with the SW boots

No 40% off here How unfair.

There is also still this one...

http://www.bluefly.com/Soia---.....detail.fly

http://www.soiakyo.com/app/web.....&pg=1

I feel no closer to a decision than when I started!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I know the bluefly S&K coats well. Pass.

I like you in a belted coat style, Maya!

Maya

Veteran

Of course you do Angie. You are very persistent about those belts.

Did you see the red one above?

http://www.soiakyo.com/app/web.....&pg=0

I am just trying to make sure you definitely are enabling me to get the most expensive one...

shana

Veteran

Oooh, the Ivet is gorgeous!! Personally, my coats are usually investments that I wear at least 5 years so I think it's worth it to spend the money on something that you love. I've seen and tried on the lady day coat and own two other j crew coats and I honestly, I don't think they fit your current style very well. They are very vanilla and you're more creme brulee, Maya!

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Maya, as long as you plan to pay off the credit card before you've paid more in interested (discounted by the opportunity cost of capital) you should choose to put it on credit. It's called leverage!

Sorry, business school humor. (-:

cloud9

Veteran

Another thing about opening a store credit card... just like any other credit cards, the store will do a "credit check" on you, that action reduces your credit score for a few points. So depending on your current score, and whether you plan on buying any big ticket items like car, house where you need your best credit score for a good rate. Also, another reminder that if you do get the card, pay off the balance immediately.

Sorry, no help on the coats. I'm hunting one myself. They all look gorgeous.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Maya, those coats all scream MAYA to me. I know when you find the one, it will be worth the price. I don't have a Macys card, but with the retail cards I do have, I charge and then pay for them immediately after. IIRC, Macys doesn't allow you to do that, but you can drop a payment off at customer service. Just set a rule for yourself like that, and you can take advantage of perks but never really have it on credit.
If I don't have the money in my bank account to buy something, I can't charge it.
Anyway. After all that, I DO think a coat is an investment and it's something you don't want to regret. If you bought one that you liked you'd always wonder "what if" about the one you loved.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

PS: Angie, good to know about the Bluefly S&K's. I'd assumed it would be the same quality, but as with other retailers and brands I can understand that it wouldn't be.

Jonesy

Veteran

OMG Ivet Ivet! The collar, the texture, the pattern! The red belted one is fab too!

Anonymous

Just logging in to say that you all seem to be better accountants than me .... and I'm one by trade. LOL.
Ok... my fifty cents is that as long as the card is paid in full , within the same billing cycle as when the purchase was made, you are ok. I've opened cards to take advantage of offers and I've seen no impact on credit scores. I get montly credit reports. Scores get affected only when there are excessive inquiries or when you open several accounts in a short period of time.

Great coat Maya... I hope you get it at a price that is confortable for you.