Help me pick a coat to order - ETA Bernardo won

I can acres the sale tomorrow and am looking for a coat for mild winter weather, which we get a lot of. It’s to replace a bright green coat I’ve pass on so I’d like a fun color,

My original desire was this Avec Les Filled coat that’s a top pick. But I’m now wondering if the buffalo plaid Bernardo coat might be better (last find).

Has anyone seen it? I haven’t seen it mentioned.

Bernardo pros - cheaper; lined, unlike the other; shorter (I am 5’4) so less likely to overwhelm me; I like the buffalo plaid.

ALF pros - top pick; more dramatic; love black watch plaid

Not sure of the relative warmth factor of other of them. I want them for 40 degrees plus though. I have warmer options for colder weather. My shape is also a consideration - coats can fit me well on top and poorly on the bottom, of vice versa if I size up.

I am going on vacation a week after I order and want to try to minimize returns. I prefer not to order both for that reason. I’d rather have potentially one item to return than two because it will be sitting on my credit card potentially for a few weeks. If this means I don’t get a coat, that’s okay. I can always get a nice coat later in the season from J Crew.

I plan to order these other three items too, and maybe a necklace from Kendra Scott. I may do more ordering in August in case there is anything interesting left after my vacation, but I need to see how these items work out.

ETA Bernardo seemed like the better choice for me given the available info. Ordered!

Nordstrom

Double Face Wool Blend Coat

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Nordstrom

Vicar Water Repellent Studded Bootie

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Nordstrom

Murphy Metallic Leather Crossbody Bag

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Nordstrom

Windowpane Check Ruched Sleeve Blazer

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Buffalo Check Car Coat

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4 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

I'm in the market for a similar coat (must be lined, fun colour would be nice) and have similar vacation constraints (this is why I try not to shop in the summer!). The Bernardo caught my eye; I like those colours. But does it have Angie's seal of approval? I didn't see it in her top picks.

Christina F.

La Ped - I’m hoping that Angie just didn’t see it in person. But if she disliked it, I’d like to know why! Bernardo usually gets nice marks around here. I hope someone has seen it!

nemosmom

I haven't seen it, so I am no help, but I could see those colors working well with your wardrobe.

nemosmom - the colors are definitely great. And it's supposed to be a bit oversized, which will help with fit.

notsaf

Great set of finds: hope you get what you're looking for!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Based on the title and the photos, before I read your post, I picked the Bernardo over Avec Les Filles for you, because of the length alone. After reading your post, I still lean toward the Bernardo. One thing the ALF coat has going for it, though, is raglan sleeves, so if you had to size up for the hips, the fit in the shoulders would be more forgiving (i.e., shoulder seams wouldn't be falling off your shoulder line). When I looked at the Bernardo coat online, I also noticed the Sam Edelman here in Finds. I think it could work for you, too. It has a fun pleat down to the back! And it would go with your new Pikolinos boots. Haven't seen any of these in person, so keep that in mind.

Grid Plaid Pleat Back Wool Blend Coat

Also, Angie will have more picks once the sale goes public!

That cost is pretty, Firecracker! But I think the color is not punchy enough for the statement I want the coat I buy to be, if that makes sense. The more graphic plaids appeal to me on that level.

I hope to not need to size up beyond my normal Large. I do have small shoulders even though my arms are on the thicker side. Blah.

Jenava

(website)

I would think if you want to play it safe on size you should go for a swing type coat? I like the Sam Edelman...If I were going for a coat it'd prob be that one, as the straighter coats are always a pain to fit on a slightly pear shape. I love the bold plaid of the SE, but if it doesn't sing to you, it doesn't. (-:

The SE is very pretty - just not what I was envisioning to fill this niche for reasons that are probably too complicated and idiosyncratic to explain.

The Bernard coat may be an easier fir for the reasons you say, Jenava.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I'm here!

BIG SEAL OF APPROVAL ON BERNARDO IN GENERAL. They are a specialized coat manufacturer, and it shows. Like Pendelton - KILLER quality.

Christina & La Ped, I didn't make this a top pick because I haven't seen it! My guess is that it's splendid, so order it.

Everything else is a top pick.

Thanks! I figured you hadn't seen it since Bernardo usually has the thumbs up from you. "Like Pendleton" is all I need to hear. Given that I think this might be easier to fit on me, I'm leaning towards the Bernardo for sure. I will report back on fit and quality if I can successfully order.

Can't wait to see the Bernardo on you. I hope it works--fingers crossed! And by "size up," I was really thinking about what Jenava was getting at--the dress/coat dilemma of buying for hip size and then having the shoulder fit too wide.

I see what you mean now, Firecracker - I have that problem a lot, sadly, also because my arms are relatively larger than my shoulders. My shoulders are very slight.

I was able to order the Bernardo coat, 1State Blazer and Pikolinos boots. The T&B bag is sold out as of this morning I have my eye on a few other things but they will have to wait til the tail end of the sale for my monthly budget to renew. If I miss out on anything, I miss out--anything else is gravy at this point.

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