How many black coats is too many? - YouLookFab Forum

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How many black coats is too many?

Aziraphale

Veteran

This is partly a tongue-in-cheek question, but I've just realized that I have five black coats: an oilcloth raincoat, a patterned Desigual pirate coat, a hooded knee-length toggle coat, a Buffy the vampire slayer leather duster, and now a new classic trench. How many black coats is too many? I definitely wanted a black trench, not a beige or navy one. And I'm still on the hunt for the perfect black (or possibly dark gray) winter wool coat.

I do wear all the coats. Not so much the leather duster, because there's only so many times you want to look like a vampire slayer. But in general, if there is more than one colour option for a coat, I always seem to want the black one.

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from Aziraphale

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I know! I go through this with both coats and skirts. I'm not a big black wearer in general, so I found it odd that these 2 categories seem to pile up. I have a black full length wool, black shearling leather, soon to be Spiegel leather, snake patterned blazer, bomber, trench, lightweight Guess cargo, cropped tux and just recently got rid of a too big peacoat. That makes . . . eight!
I am consciously looking for a colored peacoat though. Need to inject some fun into the coat category!

Glory

Veteran

I am probably not a good person to ask since I have a (ahem) few black coats and jackets kicking around. I don't think I should list them. Last year I bought two winter coats and am amazed to say neither was black. I bought a dark grey wool jacket/coat which I have loved wearing. So - I vote for dark grey - an easy way to ease out of the black

Louise

Veteran

I think if you wear them all then there's no problem but I would probably try to not buy any more x

Aziraphale

Veteran

Mo, I know what you mean about consciously trying to inject colour -- I've done that too -- but the only thing is, when there is a black option and a coloured option, I always end up going for the black option. At least for coats. I have only one non-black coat, a brown ski jacket, but that's only because there was no black option!

Glory, my preference for a wool coat would be a dark charcoal gray, because I wanna look like Benedict Cumberbatch...except that I'm not six feet tall or, you know, a man. But still. He looks hot in that coat. I like the one red buttonhole.

Anonymous

Ditto, what Louise said. No problem as long as you wear them.
As for me I only possess 1 black coat which I keep just for funerals as I never wear black. The only black items I wear regularly are my 1 pair of black boots.

ironkurtin

Veteran

You are asking the wrong person.

I think anytime you don't wear what you have, you have too many. If you are always wearing black, then you have too many colors if you don't wear them. Like that.

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. I have:

a black leather shrug
a black leather blazer
a black Zella workout jacket
a black wool Military Style coat
a black H&M car coat/trench

... I'm at 5. I feel like I'm skipping something, though. Hmm. In any case, I swear to you that they're all completely different. No. Really. I mean it. Really...

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

All I have is a black blazer! Besides that, all my toppers and coat(s) have color or are neutrals. Maybe the answer is "enough"?

ETA: I also have a black leather bomber. But still no coats

Day Vies

Veteran

I am not sure I could help you with any admonishing advice to stay away from the black coats since I have a coat/jacket problem myself. (My name is Day Vies and I have a coat problem...)

But seriously -- the only way this could actually be an issue of too many is if you are tired of wearing one or more of them because it no longer fits your lifestyle or taste and then you find yourself drawn to the same exact styling in a new coat.

I say if you love black try bright red, dark red, camel, or white. (I am only missing the camel coat! )

Diana

Veteran

Not couting blazers (so basically only what hangs in the coat closet) I have:
Knee length black wool coat
Hip length black wool swing coat
Black leather classic cropped moto
Black draped spiegel leather jacket
Black waxed linen capejacket

Total of five is less than I expected, and less than in the past. It's less than 50% of the coat closet! (I also have a cobalt wool mid length coat, a dark green wool toggle coat, turquoise leather, cognac leather, red trench, navy rain trench, blue denim, white denim, and printed bomber. Might have an outerwear problem.) But if I had only one coat, it would be black. My Hypothetical Future Burberry is black, no question about that.

Thing is, if you're like me (and, I suspect, you) you can wear black with just about anything. It's effortless for me, and is ideal for my coloring. Sometimes I feel like my entire closet is crazy prints and black. The black matches almost all of the crazy prints. You can't say that about any other color.

jayne

Veteran

1 black tux blazer
1 black inside weight leather moto
1 black quilted leather moto
1 black fall weight trench
1 black linen spring weight trench
1 black faux sheepskin moto winter
1 charcoal wool winter coat (so dark it is almost black)
1 black thigh length rain coat

But I also have
1 red wool peacoat
1 orange light weight trench
1 brown down winter coat
1 white long rain coat
2 sports down coats (short and long)
he he, so maybe the question is 'how many coats does a gal need?"

DonnaF

Veteran

Just don't get any long-haired shedding animals! But if you wear them all w/o looking like death warmed over, you are fine.

Jjsloane

Veteran

It's not your fault. It seems every coat or jacket always comes in Black and possibly something else (much like shoes). I would gladly have a plethora of navy coats, but sadly they are less prevalent. For the record I'm not counting mine but I know I'm in your range and I'm fine with it. I would worry if you had 5 lime green coats.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree with IK -- it's only too much if you find you don't wear them all.

And I want a BTVS leather duster.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You love black. You wear black. No problem!

Get as many as you want and wear. Only time it's an issue is if you are craving something else, or not wearing what you have.

Jeanie

Veteran

Mmmmm, coats. Coats are like shoes, you really can never have too many as they all serve different purposes. Sounds like it works for you. As far as getting a grey coat...I will say that I have a dark grey wool coat and I like it even better than black because it doesn't show lint as much and still works with all colors.

FlorenceFearne

I personally don't think a person can have too many black coats. That's like having too many boots, or too many blazers. Sadly, I now don't have many coats at all. My lovely black wool jacket is too big after a weight loss, and my vintage black coat is also in need of alterations.

Still, I can certainly help you out with your "problem." You may feel free to send me any of your fabulous sounding coats to take off your hands.

Deborah

Veteran

I am laughing because I am not the person to answer this question. Ok I will have a go...If black works for you and you have varying styles, I am not sure you can have too many.:)

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I subscribe to the notion that too many is two more than you have (so you have room to get one more)...

Jenny Weathers

Member

Hahaha goldenpig !
I totally agree, don't know how many black coats I have in my
closet but I am certain that the number is around 10, give or take 2.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Haha, Jayne, that puts things into perspective. I only have six coats. Uh, five of which are black. But still, only six coats. That means I can buy more coats, right? If I had fourteen coats, five black ones would seem reasonable.

DonnaF, no kidding! Our dog, bless her, was a poodle cross. We will soon be in the market for another poodle cross. I won't buy any other kind of dog, no matter how cute, because of the shedding issue. I had a beagle growing up and his white-and-black banded hairs got on EVERYTHING.

Jjsloane, one lime green coat would be too many for me.

Janet, you should have a BTVS duster. You would wear it well. Better than me!

So, the bottom line seems to be that I don't actually have that many black coats. Good to hear! Thanks everyone.

T-Rex

Veteran

If you wear all of them, then you don't have too many.

And as for the leather duster, you need to keep that because you never know when an outbreak of vampirism is going to happen. So that one is justified, too.

catgirl

Veteran

I have mostly black coats and jackets so I say buy what you wear! And that is despite having a white dog.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Sigh...but I'm probably not "supposed" to wear black. I've got a "spring" complexion, or possibly "autumn" -- whatever it is, it's certainly not "winter". Not that I exactly buy into all that season stuff. And actually, I'm not sure that I agree with all the advice about how most of us should avoid black. I think most people look pretty good in it. I don't feel like I look washed out in black, whereas I don't feel like I wear bright white very well. It's not just wishful thinking, because I adore bright white and wish I could wear it better.