coming up empty (coat shopping at Macy's) - YouLookFab Forum

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coming up empty (coat shopping at Macy's)

Mochi

Veteran

Sorry if I sound too negative with this post.

Anyway, I spent about two hours there and there were a lot of coats. Unfortunately, a huge bulk of them were puffers and double-breasted styles, which are a horrible look for me. The one coat I found that wasn't bad was similar to this one:

http://www.anneklein.com/Cashm.....in-catalog

It was a slightly different style with more detailing...I liked the store version better (don't see it on the website), but I did not like the camel coloring and they didn't have another color in my size. Sigh. So maybe try another Macy's in-store?

I have to say that even with the AK coat, and every coat I tried on at Macy's, the bust was tight. I went on to the Women's Plus section...and there the coats were loose. Go figure!

Afterwards I went to a Talbots and tried on a coat similar to the one I had ordered (and am going to return). There are two pics of it below. It's a 16W. (The AK was I think a 16 Petite.) Apart from the Talbots coat obviously having its proportions off (pockets, length), I wanted to give you a sense of a coat that fits amply in the bust for me. In the bust it's fine, and I'm also wearing a blazer underneath it as per Angie's recommendations for fitting coats.

I think it makes me look huge and matronly.

The other two pics are at home, of me and the J. Crew coat which in my heart of hearts, I think I should return. It's a little snug (though I could wear it), and the bust is definitely tight. I think it looks more structured, smart and slimming. (And yes, I'm wearing my new, perfect-fit bra in all these pics.)

Anyway, I feel like I simply can't find anything decent due to my overly-huge bust. Well, I am going to have to brainstorm, and maybe just buy something from a thrift store till I lose more weight...I really don't want to plunk down $150+ for a coat I'm not in love with.

I will be out for a few hours, but will check in later. Thanks for your responses.

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Body Type

14 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

HeleenH

Veteran

I think I would return the coat... You might want to look for coats that have no pocket detail on the tummy/hip area. I like the shoulder detail in coat 1/2. The high neck in coat 3/4 is not as pleasing to my eye. It also seems there is a little too much tension on the closure, it is almost or even just peeking.
The coat you only found in camel sounds promising, could you e-mail or call other stores to hear if they have the coat in the right colour in your size?
I sympathize, I have just finished my quest for a coat, it took me several trips to many stores.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sympathies, Mochi! Coats are so necessary, and a nice one can make us feel less miserable about winter weather. I'm so sorry this hunt is proving to be such a challenge.

I really like the collar style on coat 1/2 for you. So that is leading you in the right direction. In fact, except for the pocket placement, that coat has a lot going for it. I do not think it makes you look huge and matronly...or it wouldn't, if the proportions were right. And I agree with Helen that pockets with flaps might not be the way to go, although perhaps if they were in the right place it would be worth a try.

The J Crew coat is (to my mind) less flattering on you. I think the higher neckline is a problem, although if you wore a scarf that might be mitigated. But more than that, it just seems overall too snug. Does J Crew have a coat with an open neckline you could try? Maybe what you like is the tight weave of the coat; it gives a crisper look?

Hang in there. Even if you have to buy a thrift coat for now, you WILL find your perfect coat.

If you ARE losing significant weight, it might not hurt to wait a season if you can find a decent plain thrift coat for now. I definitely believe in "dressing the body you have" but sometimes budgetary concerns are relevant; it would be one thing if you had already found a great coat in your present size that made you feel fab (in which case, I'd say buy) but to frustrate yourself with an ongoing hunt when you may be three sizes smaller next season seems a bit much.

Astrid

Veteran

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time finding a coat you love, I commiserate! I agree with Heleen and Suz, I don't think these two coats do you justice, although I also like the collar of the first one. I think the high collar of the second coat is not the best look on you. I would definitely look for a coat with an open neckline as seen on the first coat. Also beware of the pocket placement, like Heleen said. I often have to rule out certain styles because they have big pockets that sit on the hips, not the best look for a pear. Keep looking, I'm sure you will be successful! Although Suz is right, you shouldn't frustrate yourself either. Good luck!

Mochi

Veteran

Hi. Thanks for your advice, everyone. I agree about the neckline of the Talbots coat, but my feeling otherwise was that to get a decent fit in the bust, the tradeoff was that the rest of the coat was baggy and totally ill-fitting.

I can keep searching, and I do need a casual coat more than a dressy coat (or as much, anyway)

I'm leaning toward just finding some clean second-hand coat for now. I can do some more searching but I don't see the point in going off on a mad quest. If I go down two or more sizes by next year and the bust is still causing this much trouble, then I'll have to commit to some kind of more expensive compromise. Let's cross our fingers.

More shoe money for now, I guess....

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I think you're right about not going on some "mad quest" as you say, because I've found that this can be disappointing. I sometimes find the best things when I'm not really looking. It's when I'm really looking for something, that the item I need/want seems elusive.

Not sure if this helps, but as I was losing weight, I found that certain brands of coats were smaller, some were larger and so on. Some were too big in the shoulders, and some were cut just too small overall. I found it really surprising trying on coats in a place like Marshall's or Burlington Coat Factory - lots of variety in brands, and the surprising thing was finding a Kenneth Cole in a size large was too small, while a London Fog trench in a size small fit me best. It was both enlightening and annoying. I realized then that every brand fits differently, and some brands just don't work on me at all.

In the meantime - I'm going to suggest a few things ...first one being a bit of a departure, but I found a great coat at JC Penney a couple of years ago - the brand was "Worthington" and I got for some really low price like $79 or something - it's 80% wool, 20% nylon and a lot warmer than some of the other coats I've had. I can't find that same coat on the JC Penney website anymore, but I did notice this one the other day:

http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.....atId=70656|71663

Tried copying the picture, but not having any luck. In any case, the one in black/white tweed might be worth trying.Think of all the fun handbags you could wear with something like black & white tweed! The thing about JC Penney is that they have plus, petites, talls, regular etc. They may not have every single size 'in-store' but you could go and try some on, get an idea if there's anything you might like and then go back home and order the petite or whatever size you like. This might be a good budget option for now.

Second suggestion is to go try on a bunch of coats in all kinds of brands, and actually take notes as to which brands fit you best. The idea isn't to find the perfect coat, but to try on a lot of different styles and brands to get closer to knowing what styles and brands work well on you. I discovered that I can't get a Jones New York coat to fit me in any size, and that's because they were all too big in the shoulders for me. I discovered also that even though I mostly wear a size 10 or size large in a coat - if it's London Fog, the size small might fit me best. Crazy!

Third suggestion - go to Nordstrom in person. I don't do that often myself, but the one time I went looking for some trench coats, the sales associate had a pretty keen eye for what would fit and flatter my shape. All from a great sale rack too. I just meandered on in there, and was looking through a sale rack of trench coats, and she came up asked if I needed help. At the time, I was interested in a particular Gallery trench coat that was mentioned here on the forums. The sales associate found it instantly, and she also pulled a bunch of trench coats out that all fit me. I was pretty impressed. She seemed more like a stylist - sized me up immediately, and knew what to suggest.

I hope you keep looking, and perhaps it can be more of a research project - just sussing out what brands/shapes/styles work for you.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Sorry to hear about your coat troubles. First of all, I have to say that your "girls" look great!! Ha, I know that sounds kind of not nice but they are nice and high and just in the right place. They give you a nice bust/waist ratio which is very flattering. Now on to the coats. The first one is just too big on you and the second is suffocating your girls.

Have you tried looking at petite coats? I am petite too so I know how frustrating that search can be... there are not many options out there especially for petite plus. I know that Talbots and Land's End have petite plus sections. There's also this site that I found online: http://www.onestopplus.com/clo.....38;pref=ps

Some of the coats look very nice. They might not be the exact perfect quality that you want for a long term "investment" type piece, but if your size is changing, you may only need it for this year anyway.

Don't get discouraged! The perfect coat is out there for you!

rae

(website)

Veteran

First, I must say I was kind of surprised to hear your size. I thought you were smaller - you clearly dress and carry yourself well!

I've been googling "best X for big-busted women" to no great avail. Grr... all the articles are about general collar shapes, but I was hoping for brand suggestions for you.

Have you tried any shops that specialize in plus size clothing? I'm thinking Torrid, Avenue, Lane Bryant... from shopping with my mom, who also has a large bust, she feels that these types of stores "get" the body shape more and cut for plus, whereas some stores simply use the regular cuts and scale them up. You can also look for these brands on Ebay for a secondhand version while you continue to lose weight.

Mochi

Veteran

Wow, thank you so much, ladies! You all went well beyond my expectations (vc especially!). I love the idea of going to the Burlington Coat Factory, but without the pressure on (ie, having found some cheap coat somewhere as a fallback). Also maybe I should give Nordstrom another try...I did go there recently.

And thanks, modgirl, for making me laugh! I feel like a walking, talking pidgeon in human form, but I'll take a compliment when I get one!

The funny thing was, against my expectation, it didn't really matter in terms of overall and sleeve length whether I grabbed something from Petite or Regular sizes. Also, thanks again, rae, for thinking I'm a smaller size--I actually have no idea what size I am and I suspect no one in the industry does. Thanks to YLF, I just gritted my teeth and decided not to get hung up on size. Honestly. If I had found a coat that fit me and the label said 28, I would have bought it. I can't let that bother me at this point.

I think I'm in some kind of weird no-woman's land where I'm not really regular-sized or plus-sized. I probably should have married a tailor so I could get everything bespoke.

Thanks again! You all made me feel better.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I really think you hit the nail on the head in your last comment, Mochi. It sounds like at the moment, you need a size 14P or 16P coat. Plus sizes are probably too large and too long. (I have a strong feeling that petite torso portions are the way to go in a coat, even if sleeve lengths are not a concern). The size is VERY hard to find, especailly in Dec - when stocks are low and it's end of season. I have a client who is your body-double, actually.

I had a squizz at six sites this morning looking for your size in the right style and fabric and it's all sold out. But I will keep on looking.

Mochi

Veteran

Aww, Angie, thanks but please don't; I know you're busy and I truly appreciate the effort (unless you REALLY enjoy the challenge and that's what makes your day--I could understand that

It is SO weird. I was thinking today about how many pears have issues with their perceived problem areas. In the meantime I have always wished for wider hips! To me they're so womanly and lovely. LOL, grass is greener syndrome.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

How about this one? It comes in so many nice colors, not red though...

http://www.onestopplus.com/clo.....ctTypeId=1

Mochi

Veteran

Hey, modgirl, that's a very nice coat. I've seen some nice-looking things from this company online (though have not ordered anything there yet). I might try ordering a 16P and 18P from them and see which one fits better. Thank you for tipping me off.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I have to run, but wanted to say that I agree with Angie - I don't think you're in plus sizes. One more thing to consider - when I was losing weight, I was convinced I was still in the plus sizes because some plus size stores' clothing was cut small! An example would be Lane Bryant - I was wearing their smallest Right Fit jeans for quite awhile there, and this convinced me that regular sizes were still going to be too small. This was NOT the case.

I'm voting 14P in a good quality brand.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I really like the second red coat. It would be perfect on you if it were one size up and with different pockets. I am seeing a lot of these low waist pockets with big flaps and not liking it. I prefer a simpler pocket.

ETA: I don't dislike the high neck on the Talbot's coat as others mentioned. I think this column silhouette is flattering and elongating, and I love the length.