J. crew coat vs. Old Navy coat? - YouLookFab Forum

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J. crew coat vs. Old Navy coat?

agrace

Which coat should I get? I know they are very different, the main differences being hte length (mid thigh vs. hip length) and the arm length (3/4 sleeve vs. full sleeve) and a HUGE price difference ($39 at Old Navy (with coupons) compared to $260 at J Crew)

J. Crew: http://tinyurl.com/nzum5d

Old Navy: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....8;cid=5448

Question: Should I spring for the ON coat since it will cost me $40 or save my pennies for the $260 J.Crew coat that will last probably 10 years and is more timeless?

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20 replies

Latest reply was from agrace

Tanya

Veteran

I vote for J Crew, I think that coats are big investment so one should get the best possible quality one can afford and then wear them for years.

Anonymous

The J Crew coat is so beautiful and sleek. The ON coat will do. So it depends on if you want a beautiful coat or one that will do. Hmm. I bet I know which one you want! Tease, tease!
I actually do not really care for the ON coat. It has a huge collar and it is too short. The belt looks bulky.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I much prefer the J Crew coat, regardless of price I think it looks more elegant, will look more streamlined due to being single breasted and I'm a sucker for ruffles.

Maya

Veteran

I agree with all of the above. I think the ON collar might be meant to button up into a funnel neck, so unless you have a long neck, I would pass on it.

Maya

Veteran

Oh nevermind, I just realized it doesn't button up far enough to be a funnel neck. So then you just have a gigantic collar, which isn't much better.

April

Veteran

I would also ask whether you've tried on the J Crew coat, to see if that particular shade of camel is a good one on you? I have found camel to be tricky: sometimes it's a warmer, more yellow-y tone and sometimes more pinkish, and that can matter a lot.

Wouldn't it be nice if J Crew once in a while had a sale that wasn't final? <sigh>

Lee Hovey

Def. get the JCrew coat for sure. It's a much more classic, yet eye-catching piece that would give you many years of fabulousness.

The ON strikes me as more of a trendy one-off season piece.

shana

Veteran

I prefer the J Crew coat - I saw it in the store and loved it. BUT I wonder whether the ruffles make it trendy rather than timeless (enough that you would feel like wearing that coat in 5, 8 or 10 years)?

agrace

Shana - I have not seen it in person and was wondering what it was like in person....is it nice, does it feel like quality?

Thanks for all of your input - I know that the J.Crew one is much more classic and probably just looks a whole lot better. Does anyone think the ruffle will make it less wearable in 5 years? .

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Agrace,
I agree with everyone about preference for the Jcrew coat. I think that the ruffle is beautiful and romantic and happens to be very in at the moment. I am not sure if it will be considered classic in 5 years. That is an expensive coat and it is something I would consider. However, if you love it and you have a romantic feminine style than it will always be right for you. How do you feel about the ruffle?

agrace

I love the ruffle, I just wonder if it is 'too young' for me - I am 31. Is it meant for a younger woman do you think?

Vani

Veteran

The JCrew coat looks like it would be a beautiful choice. I agree with Jean, if the ruffles match your style personality then it will always be right for you

kimlee

Veteran

The J Crew coat is lovely and as you said could last you for many years. As the otheres have mentioned, you need to make sure that the ruffles fit into your overall style and are something you would want to wear in 5 years or more. If the answer is yes, I would advise you to start saving those pennies!

shiny

Veteran

You are not too old for the Jcrew coat!!!

That said, I would worry the ruffles would date it too fast. I have to say, I'm already starting to OD a bit on the ruffle trend myself. Personally, I would not invest in a ruffled coat - I'd stick to ruffles on tops and sweaters instead. I'd opt for this same coat, just without the ruffles, and I'm betting Jcrew has just such a coat... and that would last you for decades.

Otherwise, I think the two coats are like comparing apples to oranges. The Old Navy one is shorter; you would not likely wear it with a dress. I'll be an enabler and say you probably have room in your closet (if not your budget) for both styles - the knee length and the car coat length. If you only have room for one or the other style, then I would ask yourself how much you wear skirts and dresses. If you wear them a lot, then go for a knee-length coat for sure. If you are more of a pants gal, the shorter length may be the better way to go. Unless you live in a cold clime and you commute outdoors on your feet... in which case, the longer coat is practical as it will keep you warmer.

As for quality, hands-down, Jcrew coats are worth every last penny. I love the one I bought last fall, and I hope to add a second one this year, possibly a cream coat.

BUT!

I also have found, in the past at least, that ON makes a very nice coat for the money. I admit I haven't bought one of their coats in a few years, but the ones I do own, are still going strong. So I do not think you could go wrong buying this one.

Good point about the shade of camel though....

Vani

Veteran

I agree shiny, that the ON coat is probably of good quality too. I bought a long coat from Gap Outlet during an after Thanksgiving sale over 6 years ago and it is still going strong. I dare say it almost looks only about or so old even though I wore almost every single day of fall through spring for about 4 years straight.

agrace

I really appreciate everyone helping me to objectively look at these two coats. I feel coats are such a statement and possibly an investment. Camel coats truly seem to be timeless though I think everyone has valid points about the ruffle. I do wonder if 3 - 4 years from now I wont think that ruffle is very dated. I could see getting tired of it. Plus, it might be annoying when trying to wear scarves. Not sure as my local j.crew doesn't carry it!! argh!

Well, this is excellent advice to think on. I will let you guys know when I decide. And Shiny, they definitely are apples and oranges! If I had my way, I would own about 10 coats. I love coats!

Anyone else getting either of these?

shiny

Veteran

Where do you live, I forget? I easily own 10 coats, but I'm in a cold clime so it just makes sense! I don't add that many each year, of course! But living around here, tossing on a coat can add instant personality to an outfit, especially in the dead of winter when you get sick of wearing nothing but cardigans...

Looking at the ON site, now that you mention it <grin>....

This one has some appeal:
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=675620012

This one is *adorable* and very similar to my cobalt Jcrew coat! I do love this color green.... the white is also nice:
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=675619022

This one is very similar to Jcrew's lady coat, except with the interesting sleeves. The purple is luscious:

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=675618022

Wow, they have some really nice coats this year. I may be tempted to try them out first, before Jcrew... hmmm.

Now looking at Jcrew...

I saw this one mentioned on Omiru as the coat to buy if you are a Jcrew fan:
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Brows...../16729.jsp

I can totally see this on Angie or Ana! The yellow is too bright for me.

I have a cream coat very similar to this, which I got a lot of use out of last year:
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Brows...../17507.jsp
... it's still in good shape so no need to upgrade.

This is the color of the coat I bought last year from Jcrew, but in a different style. This Lady Coat style they have every year, it's a nice classic. It's also a very warm, thick coat. The style doesn't work quite right on me though:
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Brows...../79203.jsp

This is the coat I was thinking I might invest in this year - in the cream:
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Brows...../18263.jsp

Again, it's another style they have every year, it seems. I have seen this coat on other people, and I love it. It's expensive, but it's WARM. The camel is also tempting, but I already have a camel coat from ATL that is still in good shape.

Looking at all of this, I have to say I would very likely give some of those knee-length ON coats a shot first. I figure that the Jcrew stadium coat will be offered next year again.

That was fun!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Super advice from everyone!

agrace, these coats are completely different animals and there is room for both styles in your wardrobe. They are both adorable. But unless you are very dark skinned, this is not the colour to choose.

Steph

Veteran

Like everyone else, I prefer the J. Crew coat. However, as someone who has owned a J. Crew coat of a similar style (the Plaza coat, with no ruffle), I don't think that it is going to last you decades. I loved my Plaza coat, and it was very well-made. It lasted me about six years, and I was so happy it lasted that long. I had the lining repaired a couple of times, but eventually the fabric just started to look and feel tired.

If it were me, I would get the J. Crew coat, but without the ruffle, because I think that if I were planning to wear it for years, I might get tired of the ruffle. I would also worry that it would seem too much for something I wore every day for months, and people would think of me as the woman with the ruffled coat. But if the ruffle makes you smile every time you wear it, then maybe it's for you. It would definitely be fun and different (and winter coats are so often boring).

agrace

Shiny - wow you found a whole bunch o' coats on the ON site that i had not even seen. I'm really liking that first swing coat with the plaid. I actually really like the style of all of these coats a whole lot! I live in the South (Nashville) and so it does not get that cold here at all but I like coats. Plus, with little ones I am at the park a lot, even all winter.

Angie - I have medium tan colored skin and blond hair. My concern about the camel color is I think I am kind of camel colored (LOL!) so would it blend too much? I love neutrals and pale colors, but I appreciate your advice on this.

Thank you so much everyone! This is so helpful!