Confused about Coats - YouLookFab Forum

It’s between 30 and 50 degrees in the Midwest, and I’m having trouble with outerwear this season. I’m okay at 50 degrees plus—a sweater and a corduroy jacket are just fine—and below 30, when the heavy wool coats come out. In between, I can’t seem to get comfortable, temperature-wise or fashion-wise.

Temperature first. Anyone who dresses for fall or winter in this temperature range—what works? Lined cotton or twill? All-weather waterproof fabric? Light wool or wool blends?

Now for fashion, the hard part. I spend most of my days in smart casual—I’m a freelance writer on the go—and feel more put together this season in skirts, jersey dresses, and wide-leg trousers than jeans. I’ve tried on peacoats (no), trenches (no) and their single-breasted relatives, mackintoshes (maybe) and light wool coats in various shapes—babydoll (surprisingly cute) and skirted a-lines with a belt (maybe). I want something with visual interest—classic walkers, lady coats, and trenches are fine, but I’m looking for something more fun. Nix on black. Gray is okay (the lighter the better) and color is better still.

But I haven’t found anything that has the right combination of fit, flattery, and quality for the money. And I know I'm having a moment when I don't know what I want to look like--there's no mental image yet to guide the search.

Suggestions, please, to jumpstart the thought process and the trying-on process!

16 years ago

marianna

Veteran

I wear my leather moto jacket in the temperature range you're talking about. I'm in Chicago and my leather jacket and a fun scarf keep me warm and I feel really put together. At night I switch to a wool coat, but during the day the leather is great.

Leather jackets are everywhere this season. Have you considered one?

garmenta

Active Member

Thanks for the tip, Marianna! I've tried on leather and suede but haven't found anything that fits or feels quite right. I'll add it to my list of things to keep trying!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oooooh! 30 to 50 degrees is wool coat weather for me, and always with a scarf and gloves to start off with because I’m on foot (it’s cold when you walk). Colder than that and I’m either in a warmer and heavier wool coat, or down puffer. Below freezing and I’m in a hat too. The layers underneath for each temperature range is another story!

Hmmm. A quilted trench or long leather coat might also work if you run on the warm side.

Kristen

I have been in my long leather Kenneth Cole NAS coat through all the same weather so far in Chicago, and it's been serving me well so far. i have a thick cotton scarf I layer with it. And I am a total dress girl this season.

Funny, I just conceded yesterday that the Guess swing coat I also got at NAS is not going to cut it as my pre-snow wool coat; it's just too short for my dresses! So I am returning it and looking for a lady day coat now. I really liked the Anne Klein walker coat I saw at Macys last week. Might need to go back for it tomorrow!

RoseandJoan

I'm currently wearing a denim jacket at the moment, 40 degrees today, however it is slightly quilted, fleece lined with a faux fur collar. I'm not quite ready to wear my wool coats everyday yet!

Louise

Angie would have an apoplexy if she saw the coat i've had on the last couple of days! It's a calf length Bench coat (sleeping bag esque) my only excuse is i am spending 2 hours outside with the kids after school and standing in a cold playground it's almost impossible to stay warm in anything else and the kids were fed up of me dragging them in because i was too cold!

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions! I had a run of luck today. Marianna, your suggestion of leather was spot on. I checked out the leather section at my nearby consignment shop, and found a Wilsons Leather brown cropped jacket with bracelet sleeves, tag still on, originally retailed for $328, which had been at the consignment shop long enough to go half off their price--I paid $55! With a sweater, scarf and longer gloves it will be perfect for 40-50 degrees, and it is such fun to wear!

As though that weren't enough, I found a wool coat at TJ Maxx about an hour later. It's the Kenneth Cole version of this DKNY coat in a slightly darker gray (http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....sn_results). I tried it on a few days ago, but the hood and the funnel neck bothered me. Everything else was great--the color, the empire waist, the a-line shape. All it needed was a little styling--the hood comes off, and when you unbutton the top two buttons of a funnel neck, you get a perfectly acceptable wing collar. Half off retail, too! So now I'm covered for 30-40 degrees.

No longer confused about coats and looking forward to the next cold snap!

Great bargins can't wait to see piccies x

Louise, we'll boil it down to a sport so you have to wear gear. No apoplexies!

Julie!!! Denim jackets are what I wear in Summer – 70 degrees. You do not feel the cold at all.

Garmenta, glad you’re sorted.

Don't worry Angie I wont get frost bite! The jacket is more of a coat and it's quilted like a thin puffer! I would freeze in a standard denim jacket at present.

Garmenta I'm so happy you have sorted the problem.

Aw thanks Angie. I did have it altered too so it's very fitted on top x

Great find! I'm glad I helped! Yay for leather jackets! I'm really enjoying mine this season.

Louise--I have to empathize--on cold days, you need something comfy!

I just saw something I liked (that would be good for a moderate climate!) in Lucky Magazine--Norma Kamali's "sleeping bag coat" at Walmart. Lucky makes it look fab:
http://www.luckymag.com/blogs/.....is-35.html

And here's the Walmart link:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog.....d=11972496

So you can cozy up in style.

Garmenta the coat looks lovely i hope it works for you . I'd love to be able to wear a puffer but i end up looking like the marshmallow man in them! The hunt continues x

In my climate, down has to pass the "warm at 20 below test"! Cute as the Norma Kamali coat is, I don't think she's rated it for Arctic weather!

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