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Let's talk about spring outerwear

SarahD8

Veteran

I attended a fundraiser last weekend for an activity that my niece participates in. Fun to get out, finally, and have an excuse to dress up a bit after so long!

I was pretty happy with my outfit (pictured) -- silk slip skirt with a pink paisley print, lightweight 3/4 sleeve pullover in ombre blue, metallic ballet flats.

My outerwear was kind of the weak link: a short gear puffer (north face thermoball, for puffer nerds out there). Definitely appropriate for my environmental norms in Seattle but I got to thinking that it might be nice to have a somewhat spiffier coat for spring.

But what, though? I know what I don't want: some kind of traditional trench. Waist belts, epaulettes, breast pockets all feel overwhelming on me. And beige is The Worst Color In The World, according to my complexion.

So what else is out there? Ideas about what I should look for? How have you cracked the spring dressy outerwear code? Grateful for any brainstorms and suggestions.

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28 replies

Latest reply was from SarahD8

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Swooning over the print of your skirt here!
I don’t have any new ideas on jackets since my search last fall, but I am slowly realizing that spring here is too chilly for the lavender trench. Since you’re currently wearing a puffer, you probably want your new out wear to also have a bit of warmth. You found an excellent secondhand option for me online (sadly, the timing of our trip didn’t allow me to try it); maybe you can do as well for yourself.

by Stagiaire Fash

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JAileen

Veteran

Get a lightweight coat without a belt. And don’t get beige. I love the paisley skirt.

Here are a couple of coats that are what I mean

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rachylou

Veteran

My solution of course has been ‘the fancy puffy’ - I’ve the metallic fur trimmed one and also a floral. I have a few wool coats as well, but they’re not particularly warm.

Sloper

Veteran

Maybe an anorak or barn/chore jacket in a more modern cut and color.

Can't post pix at the moment. JCrew seems to have some interesting styles.
https://www.jcrew.com/plp/wome.....nd-jackets

Runcarla

Veteran

Epaulettes are a big no in my book. I bought a trench coat that has slim lines, and picked off the belt loops. I wear it without the belt. It is lined, reasonably warm, and water resistant. I can layer it over a micro puffer for extra warmth.

A lightweight wool or blend coat might do the trick as well. https://bananarepublic.gapcana.....915&a or this https://www.nordstrom.ca/s/top.....ategory-pe or even this, which is kind of refined for a rain coat! https://www.marksandspencer.co.....29157.html

A spring (transitional) coat is kind of a niche garment. It might not get tons of wear, but you are glad to have it in your closet anyway. After winter, it’s good to have something colourful to go to for a pick-me-up.

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

It’s not dressy, but it is Liberty
https://www.jcrew.com/de/p/BF4.....isplay=all

unfrumped

Veteran

For dresses I also was thinking windless- breasted “ walking coat”, reefer, something in a water- resistant woven fabric. Or could go more sporty in a feather weight down, but in a happy color, or metallic.

SarahD8

Veteran

SF and rachy -- yes, a dressy lightweight puffer! Is that a thing?

(Also SF that Liberty jacket is quite pretty...I feel like a solid would be best for versatility tho?)

JAileen hmm, your second option especially reminds me of my other spring coat -- a Patagonia Vosque in bright navy (I only ever wear the shell, never the liner). Which also feels kind of gear-ish to me. Maybe I just need to accept that my climate requires gear, and put aside the notion of dressy?

Sloper I like the barn/chore jacket idea shape-wise. It would need to be lined or something though for warmth. Of course, the J Crew option I like best is the $400 one!

Runcarla, good point, I have a seam ripper and I know how to use it! I agree with you, a spring coat is a niche garment but could be very satisfying and happy-making to wear. If carefully chosen I think it could have real staying power.

unfrumped, yes! Happy color or metallic for sure.

After looking at some of the options suggested here I think I'm zeroing in on wanting something with a shorter length -- like just below the bum. More of a sub for my puffer, a polished option for relatively dry conditions. Rather than a sub for my waterproof spring coat (which I'll continue to wear if it's pouring, even if the occasion is more fancy).

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have a seam ripper and I know how to use it! I love that Sarah and would make it in to a slogan tee if I were a slogan tee sort of person.
Anyway, I am not crazy for the full epaulet sort of trench either, but there are simpler versions - maybe called a Macintosh? - without the belts and the military flourishes. And they sometimes come in colors.

SarahD8

Veteran

Jaime, hee hee! I like the Tshirt idea. Maybe I should embroider it on a tee for extra cheekiness!

Mackintosh! That's a good word and looks promising. I am not much of an outerwear person, historically, so I don't really know the terminology -- thanks.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Oh, I’m sorry. I was being kinda silly with the Liberty jacket, because I know you generally like their prints. I followed Sloper’s link, was taken to the sites front page and bam! Liberty everywhere. But no, I don’t think that would have the versatility you’re looking for.

Here are some I think might work
https://www.orvis.com/womens-u...../246N.html
https://www.columbia.com/p/wom.....038;pos=11 (9 color ways) I considered this one. Check out Suz’s comments on my raincoats search post.
https://www.columbia.com/p/wom.....038;pos=30 look at the “nocturnal” color. It’s not quite as dark as navy, but still could mix with other colors easily.
https://www.nordstromrack.com/.....;color=001 (pink!)
https://www.nordstromrack.com/.....;color=300 (Not actually dressy but so funky you could probably wear it that way).

I tried to avoid colors that would blend with the dark/grey skies & puddles, but the links somehow defaulted to blah in a couple cases.

April

Veteran

Another vote for a simpler, more elegant trench-style coat without all the flaps and straps.

I have one from Reiss that is a very deep blue with satin trim. The fabric is soft rather than crisp and has beautiful drape. A hundred years ago I had a heavy black satin one from Boden that was my standard evening coat.

Another option is a velvet coat. Not puffer warm but they do give a little extra coziness in a chilly spring.

nemosmom

Veteran

Hmmm. I think I get what you are saying - you want the function of a gear piece, but not gear?

I have a Stutterheim jacket on my wishlist. They are a Swedish company that makes rain trenches in a rubberized cotton fabric (with welded seams), so it seems like it could keep you dry. I like their simplicity - there are no belts or fussy bits on them. But I am not sure how warm they are. For warmth… I am not sure. Are you opposed to a puffy underneath?

They have versions with and without hoods and they come in various lengths and solid colors.

https://stutterheim.com/global.....ollection/

More varieties via their home page… and a sales page can be accessed there, too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Spring in Seattle is all over the place. Very changeable. Four seasons in two months!

It can therefore mean a wool coat, short puffer, short raincoat, long raincoat, pleather jacket, fuzzy trucker, wool blazer, warm trench coat, lightweight trench coat, cotton cocoon coat, aviator, or denim jacket!

(Our current cold spell is NOT welcome )

This is the outerwear that I wear in our Springs:

SAVE THE DUCK Alexis Puffer Jacket

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Marks and Spencer

M&S Collection Denim Jacket with Stretch

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7

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Hackness Wool Jacket

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9

Faux Fur Trim Faux Leather Jacket

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19

Marks and Spencer

M&S Collection Cotton Hooded Parka Jacket

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9

Banana Republic

Fuzzy Trucker Jacket

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SCOTCH & SODA Scotch & Soda Workwear Cotton Jacket | Nordstrom

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Saskia Trench Coat

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Velvet Emilia Blazer

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Levi's Women's Fishtail Hooded Rain Parka (Standard & Plus Sizes)

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Helene Berman Rever Lapel Coat

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12

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cat2

Veteran

A dressy trench with a puffy underneath?

SarahD8

Veteran

SF, that last link you posted is really cool! Totally wrong colors for me but really the first thing I've seen that's emphatically *not* gear.

April, satin or velvet sounds pretty! I hadn't really considered velvet as a spring fabric but why not???

Nemosmom "the function of gear but not gear" -- that's a fair assessment although I am *not* looking for rain gear, I am covered there. I think my mention of a trench threw people off. Here is a photo of my existing spring outerwear (SF, spot the J Crew Liberty piece!!!). On the left is my waterproof Patagonia vosque shell. It's basically a non-trench trench iykwim. What I want is a less gear-ish option to sub for the *middle* jacket in the pic.

Angie, I hereby dub you Queen Outerwear! Very nice collection. I am not really a coat gal, which is part of the problem. The emotional pull doesn't tend to be there for me, so I think: well, it's fine I guess, but what a big investment for "fine." I need to stay in touch with my practical side here and make sure all the bases are covered.

cat2 I'd definitely prefer one piece, less fussy that way. It's becoming clear through the discussion that what I really want is a non-gear lightweight puffer so that simplifies things!

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SarahD8

Veteran

A couple things I've found so far:

Intrigued by this madewell piece in gray
https://www.madewell.com/quilt.....l#start=30

Or this, a little less fashiony but has classic appeal. Navy would be the safe choice although that coral could be surprisingly versatile:
https://www.appleseeds.com/pro.....0e225df89f

Both are final sale which I think is a deal breaker for me (I have broad shoulders and find outerwear hard to fit) but at least gives some direction to the search.

JAileen

Veteran

I didn’t realize you wanted a lightweight puffer. One of the most useful things I’ve ever bought at NAS was the North Face Thermoball parka. I bought a grey one and then much later a pink one. I wish I kept track of wears because I’ve worn the grey one so many times. In my area, it’s good for chilly weather but not the depths of winter. It might be water resistant. I highly recommend it.

The North Face ThermoBall Eco Hooded Parka

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Sal

Veteran

It’s a tricky area - I struggle too with the right piece for each occasion.

Would you consider
- a faux fur - definitely a fun piece to have
- a coatigan - a dressy long more structured cardigan could be really useful
- a long blazer?

I have a variety of coats but often not the perfect one.

SarahD8

Veteran

JAileen I'm not sure *I* realized that was what I wanted when I started the thread! In retrospect my query was maybe a little over-broad, but I do think that seeing people's suggestions helped me realize: oh yeah -- I've got something like that, what I really need is this other specific thing. Interestingly, the too-gear-like lightweight puffer that I'm trying to find a functional substitute for actually IS a North Face thermoball! But the longer parka length that you posted looks much less gear-y than the jacket. Huh. Could be a good possibility -- especially because I already have a decent idea of the fit.

Sal these are good suggestions! I think faux fur is similar to velvet -- I hadn't considered it "springy" in the past but why not? Yes, I relate to the "don't have the perfect coat" feeling. I mentioned above that I'm not an outerwear gal -- so I don't tend to accumulate a variety of options. It would be nice to feel like I had something solid that could go lots of places though, I think. I am similar when it comes to bags, too -- very specific tastes, but very narrow. Not much excites me. And then I find that I have pronounced holes in my capsule...

Sal

Veteran

For my life I really only need practical outerwear - to watch winter sports, walk in the rain, dash from the car to the workplace. I rarely need a dressy coat. My faux fur comes out if I do. I have a knee length light wool coat - single breasted, unbelted and in a pattern or plain in the right light neutral ( light grey, light camel, maybe light blue, maybe olive) on my wish list. Ideally second hand! The sort you could wear over a long sleeve merino or over a tee shirt or a dress. Not evening but smart.

I wound start with where you would want to wear it, what with and how often. Is it for warmth or wind proof or rain proof? Will you take it off? How many weeks a year on average? If I am going to take my coat off eg walking to a dinner or someone’s home, I only care about practicality. If I might wear it for a few hours eg an art gallery or an outdoor event or day out that’s different.

I love trenches but as a car or bike commuter to work or working from home- they just don’t quite fit in. Perfect for work commutes on the bus or foot.

LaPed

Veteran

Oh, I'm right there with you! I was raised an outerwear minimalist out of necessity, so having one coat per season is deeply ingrained. I've been pushing myself to branch out a little bit so that I don't have to default to gear for events like the one you describe.

I wear my two wool coats quite a bit in March/April as well as in the fall. I run too cold to wear them very often in the winter, so I try to take every opportunity to wear them as transitional outerwear. I also get good use out of my two anoraks -- both are fine for light rain but not steady downpours. I added a secondhand Patagonia Nano Parka to wear alone and underneath the anoraks; total impulse purchase and I absolutely adore it. Some people complain that it's shapeless, but I find the clean cut and lack of excess details make it really versatile. I'll post a WIW at some point because I've been wearing it almost every day for the past few weeks. Now I'm on the hunt for a longer waterproof shell to go over the Nano; oddly, my old Patagonia rain shell is a couple inches too short. I sometimes get sucked into the idea of needing a classic trench, and then after trying a couple on realize that the belt/double breast/etc all feel a bit silly and costume-y. In my alternate timeline urban life this might not be the case, but here we are.

Looking at this assortment of Finds makes me realize I've leaned really heavily toward longer coats. At some point in May I'll probably be brave enough to wear a denim jacket or twill field coat as actual outerwear, and then regret it the moment the sun goes down. But I do like the idea of having something shorter that's good for cooler temps, something with a boxy/swingy/cropped vibe. Pea coat? Sherpa/faux fur? We'll see!

I love the idea of some sort of quilted barn/riding jacket for you. It feels suited to your "girl on the moors" moniker. And quilted/channeled jackets seem to be everywhere lately. A few that caught my eye (on phone, sorry no Finds):

https://www.tnuck.com/navy-qui.....EAlg0ijdBd

https://www.joulesusa.com/Wome.....;id=214397|MARNAVY|16&

https://www.summersalt.com/pro.....riant=4118

https://www.llbean.com/llb/sho.....rValue_0=N

https://www.jcrew.com/us/p/wom...../quilted-c

Some kind of teddy/sherpa in a classic cut might make sense too. I look at the J Crew version every year: https://www.jcrew.com/us/p/wom.....rpa-jacket

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The ReNew Anorak

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Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

How cold exactly are we talking for spring? I was going to suggest something like a cape but since we don't really have spring here (HK), I've almost forgotten what it was like living in a country with all 4 seasons (UK) lol...

Another fabber @Diana mentioned Mia Melon a while back - they do slightly more dressy waterproof coats (with HOODS) in a variety of colours & weights - including waterproof wool! Might be worth a look?

Bijou

Veteran

Sarah, that is a lovely outfit and I am glad that you decided to take your puffer for warmth. I guess I am lucky, because my winters are not very cold at all, so my dressy toppers can work in Autumn, Winter and early Spring.

The jackets that I would wear in this situation are in finds. The pink denim jacket is a bit dressier than indigo and the leather jacket, being cropped and reasonably fitted, works well with dresses and skirts.

When colder, I have dressy coats - the first is a brocade and the others velvet. If it was raining, I would wear the brocade, if clear and cold, a velvet coat.

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Christina F.

Veteran

I have a navy barn jacket from Boden with a pink fur collar (detachable) for these occasions. It’s partially lined. (I’m on my phone and can’t produce the Find right now.)

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I think Angie has hit the nail on the head.One requires a selection of outer wear if you live in a temperate climate as spring can be Unpredictable weather wise.l totally understand the feeling of spoiling a great outfit by having to wear a functional coat over the top.It’s a common experience in the uk.Prehaps you need to decide what you need from your coat first.Is functionality more important than looks or vice versa?Does it need to be warm,waterproof or both?And then what outfits is it likely to be going over to help decide what length and colour would work best.Good luck!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ah, the "chilly green" of spring.

I'm not much help to you. I'm still wearing my puffer coat up here in Victoria. We had snow this morning. It's melted, but...

I do have other coats, though. Also not much help in that I do like a classic trench if not in the Worst Colour in the World (beige for me, too).

My dressiest spring/ fall coats are those trenches. I don't wear them a lot (especially during Covid) but I've owned two already for more than 10 years, so I don't worry too much -- they will just stay in my closet forever and get worn when they get worn. The cobalt one was a birthday present to myself this year.

I also have a J. Crew field coat. I wish they would make this style again. Mine is beginning to show its age, but I still wear it constantly and it works so well even with a dressier outfit -- providing juxtaposition. It's so, so convenient with all its pockets, I can layer a light puffer under it if need be (or other layers) and it's my favourite coat by far. They've made similar but not similar enough versions since the year I got it. I really should look on Etsy and see if anyone has a like new version of this one they want to unload.

My long winded point being if you want a JACKET version of this -- they have a couple (search downtown field jacket or classic field jacket), and wow, these are winners. They also have something they call the "perfect lightweight jacket" which is an anorak in nylon or similar fabric -- it could also be useful.

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London Fog London Fog Women's Midi-Length Trench Coat

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Saskia Water Resistant Trench Coat

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Long downtown field jacket

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SarahD8

Veteran

Hey folks, sorry for dropping the thread. I headed out of town for a semi-impromptu spring break trip with my kiddo last week and lost track of things. Such good advice here!

Sal and Cardiff girl, very good point about needing to get clear on what my priorities are and what I want this coat to do. I think I'm zeroing in on that (I think I'm looking for a coat to wear in cool but *dry* conditions, for example -- so waterproof isn't a priority). Although I would like it to be a step up from gear, I think ideally I'd like to be able to wear it in everyday situations too. Something that wouldn't look out of place with dressier outfits but that could also smarten up everyday ones.

La Ped, I would love to see your WIWs, I agree that a very plain coat can actually be quite versatile and fun to wear. Yes, some kind of quilted barn/riding jacket seems like the right direction to go in. Thank you SO much for the links! Gosh I love that Tuckernuck one...you know how I feel about shawl collars -- more than I would like to pay tbh but of course now it's following me around the internet, so I guess I can stalk it!

Zaeobi, Mia Melon is a great tip, I will check them out!

Bijou, wonderful examples -- a diverse but tight capsule. Thanks for showing how it's done.

Christina, ooh, a fur collar sounds fun!!!

Suz, I hear you on the weather! We were actually in Vancouver last week and it was juuuuust enough farther North compared to home base in Seattle to feel like not quite the same season. Hope Canadian spring arrives for you soon. I like the field coat/field jacket idea! What you say about juxtaposition is so interesting. Because juxtaposition does appeal to me for this use case -- although I started off the thread saying I didn't want to wear my gear puffer with my dressy outfits. So clearly there is good juxtaposition and bad juxtaposition...or maybe it's a matter of degree. Fascinating to think about. And now I'm remembering that many, many years ago I read some "basics every woman must have in her wardrobe" article in Real Simple, and it talked about how women in Milan would wear their Barbour riding jackets to the opera. I just thought that sounded like the height of sophistication! Turns out, I still do...