HELP! which j.crew coat? - YouLookFab Forum

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HELP! which j.crew coat?

cyan45

j.crew is offering free shipping for $100+ purchases! i've read some threads about their coats, and i was wondering:

1) which coat is warmer? (i'm a wimp, haha)

Double-cloth Madeline coat with Thinsulate

http://www.jcrew.com/browse/si.....2562378882

Wool-cashmere plaza coat with Thermore (with thinsulate option)

http://www.jcrew.com/browse/si.....2562536447

2) which of the following colors would be best? (i have fair skin and dark brown hair)

a) madeline coat (falls to thigh), dark poppy
b) plaza coat (above the knee), ivory

3) which coat length and/or color is more 'practical' for wearing skirts/dresses? they are both lovely, but i want to maximize versatility (and minimize the appearance of muck) as much as possible.

4) is it risky to purchase a red without wearing it in person first? my face tends to look better in wine, burgandy (are those 'blue-toned' reds?) i'm lost!

sorry so long! i've been on the hunt for an investment coat since forever, and want to make the right choice. thank you all so much for your tips!

Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from Tanya

Amanda

I don't know how warm the coats are -- but both are beautiful. If you are looking for a coat to wear with skirts/dresses, I think that you should definitely go with the longer coat. Coats should be at least as long as your skirts. I love the dark poppy but I know that reds can be tricky.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

If I were you, I'd get the dark poppy Madeline coat. I have the Madeline in ivory, but everybody really likes that poppy color on me. If I had a need for two warm coats, I'd buy that one in a heartbeat.

shiny

Veteran

I'd go with the plaza coat in ivory, for a few reasons:

1) I own the madeline coat with thinsulate, and it's warm but not as warm as their other coats. The material is more like a fall weight; the thinsulate is critical - without it, I couldn't wear it in the winter.

I can wear it to around 30 degree weather. Any lower, I can get away with if I'm wearing lots of layers and it's not windy. If you want maximum warmth, I'm betting the Plaza coat is going to be better.

2) That poppy color looks tricky to me, if you normally wear blue-reds. I'd hesitate if it's not returnable. The majestic purple, on the other hand, is what I have, and it works well for those of us who like blue undertones.

3) Length: the madeline runs shorter than you will probably want. I can get away with it because I'm only 5'0" - on me, the petite runs on the long side, hitting just above the knee and not on the thigh.

I love my madeline coat but given your requirements, I'd suggest the Plaza instead. Yes, Ivory is a risk but that's such a classic color.

Those prices for the Plaza coat are REALLY tempting! Wow.

cyan45

thank you all so far for your quick posts!

i am definitely leaning towards a longer, warmer coat than a shorter (but bolder red color!) one.

i am 5'4" with a short torso and long legs, so perhaps the plaza coat is the way to go?

sarbear 1121, how tall are you? i reviewed your blog pics (beautiful!), and want to get an idea how both coats may fall on my body.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I'm 5'6.75". I wasn't sure about buying the ivory initially because I didn't want it to get dirty. But I've worn it quite a few times now and it still looks very clean. The fabric is fairly dirty resistent.
I love the poppy color, but I do look better in orangy reds. It's a color you'd want to commit to before you bought the coat on final sale. Ivory probably is safer.

cyan45

thank you sarbear1121...i'm going to sit on the fence for a little while, but agree that ivory is a safer bet...

cyan45

i'm REEEALLY tempted to purchase the ivory coat, but i need to be practical, since tuition bills will be coming up soon.

i already have a warm BR 3/4 camel wool coat (thrifted for $70!) and wear it for special occasions--evening parties, SF concert with bf, etc...it is lovely, and i always receive compliments when i wear it.

is it very important to have a BLACK wool coat, or is camel ok? i see lots of women wearing black wool coats in the city at night for events, and i was just wondering if camel is considered more of a 'daytime' color.

i'm SO TORN, but after reading the thread on shopaholics, i am having 2nd thoughts...

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I don't think you need a black wool coat at all, actually. Angie is not a fan, and blogged about black coats here:

http://youlookfab.com/2006/12/.....lack-coat/

Why do you only wear the camel coat on special occasions? It sounds like a good basic, and I think if you get lots of compliments on it, you should wear it all the time.

cyan45

ana, good point

i usually wear a funky coffeeshop herringbone white-black 3/4 coat (nordstrom rack) for everyday. i love the banded waist detail, and it makes me look instantly polished.

the BR camel looks more elegant, and i'm kinda afraid of getting it dirty, lol.

so i guess i'm wondering: is camel good enough for more formal and/or evening wear? the j. crew coat is a steal (originally $345, now $150), but i don't want to regret it later...

ChristineB

Both of these coats are gorgeous. I'd go for the camel one or the red Madeline one if I was buying one for me, but I see that you already have a camel one, and the red is iffy for your skin tone. I say go for the ivory. That will transition easily from day to night, I think.

Good luck deciding. However, with prices like that, can you really go wrong?

cyan45

christineb, very good point i checked out ebay, and the coats i am interested in are a) more expensive, b) not my size, and/or c) black or brown.

has anyone with this coat had sizing issues? i am debating b/t a 4 or 6, and called my local store if they happen to have any around to try on (fat chance, no way!).

with a very small bust and curvy hips, which do you think would be the safer choice? i tend not to wear super bulky clothes underneath...

thanks so much everyone!

ChristineB

Get the coat to fit your largest part. So, if you need a little extra room for your hips, get the bigger one. You almost certainly will need to button it up on occasion, and you don't want it too tight anywhere, kwim?

Congrats on finding such a fabulous deal!

shiny

Veteran

Cyan, I'm trying to keep to a budget right now, but I'll tell you - if I knew for sure this coat would flatter me, if I'd tried it on before, or could at least return it - I would buy it in an instant without hesitation.

Reason - you can't beat the price, and I've been wanting a classic cashmere coat for ages. Cashmere is not just warm, it's lightweight. (I was thinking camel, to upgrade an ATL camel coat I have; I like the idea of an ivory coat, but I had one once, and got it stained the first time I wore it - I sat in something

It makes good budgetary sense to buy a coat like this now at this price, instead of wait until next year. This is the sort of coat you could wear for decades - it's not going to go out of style.

Unfortunately, while I did try on a lot of coats at Jcrew this season, I can't remember whether the Plaza was one of them!! All I know is that the Madeline was the most flattering that I tried on in the store, so I was pretty confident about ordering it in petite. So, since this is non-returnable, I am withholding since I can't be sure. I'm too hit-or-miss with Jcrew sizing.

Theoretically the cut should work but what stops me is the button - it looks like it hits too high for me and my chest. Hard to say.

If you are a student and you're going to be tough on an ivory coat, and you already have a camel coat, then why not try the gray?

tarzy

Veteran

I was going to suggest the gray too! It's a great neutral, and can be punched up with a fun colored scarf.

cyan45

shiny, thanks for your analysis. i have never worn j.crew outerwear before, and i have noticed that coats with some kind of waist definition--belt, waist band, etc--flatters me best. the plaza coat only have princess seams (i think) and cut to outline curves.

you are so right about the investment factor! i was so dismayed at the price of wool coats all autumn/winter, so this price for the quality (and vs. the original price tag) blows me away.

i should have gone into j.crew just to try stuff on for future reference...but i tend to feel a little depressed walking into store and loving things i know i could never buy

anyway, i have a very small chest, so high buttons are fine with me (and keep me warmer).

shiny & tarzy, thanks for the gray suggestion, i'll check it out...

cyan45

sadly, the charcoal plaza coat is not available in my size if i were to purchase this coat, i think ivory is the only option (i have a camel, and black is discouraged by angie!)

i am an art student by day, and piano/violin/viola teacher come after school hours. all of your posts have helped me increase my work-savvy wardrobe tremendously, and i love how helpful your feedback has been to all the ladies on this forum!

i am tailoring my purchases to fit my business casual lifestyle (even though i am more dressed up than most!) hence the need for a few good 3/4 wool coats.

my work formula tends to be:
1) jersey wrap dress/shirtdress; black/denim pencil skirt + blouse/cardi
2) stockings
3) knee high boots
4) 3/4 wool coat
5) scarf (bulkier for cold days, pretty silk/polyester for warmer ones)
6) tote bag (for music, planner, snacks, stickers and colorful pencils for the kids, lol)
7) stud earrings + eyeglasses
8) big violin/viola combo case! it's heavy, but lasted me years...

Tanya

Veteran

Too bad that the charcoal cashmere coat is not available in your size, i was going to suggest that one. The ivory one is gorgeous, so if you are prepared to dry clean it more often I'd go for it.