Not sure about the Purple Halogen coat

Out of the box it was love at first sight. The color is as pretty as pictured, the wool is soft, and I think it would be the right weight. It doesn't feel heavy. I love the shape.

But...I sized up to M (true fit rec was S) because who wants a tight coat? And yet the M feels snug under the arms...like the armholes are on the high side for a coat. I tried it on over a sweater (with the AC on full blast ) and I think it would bother me. It doesn't feel snug anywhere else, just the armholes, and with a sweater on, kind of in the arms. And that was even a thinner sort of sweater. And I have skinny arms.

So, I'm wondering about ordering a L...if it would look too big with that shawl collar.

Yucky picture...actually the coat looks better than shows up on camera. It looks exactly like it does on the model. (oh...maybe it's the two models. Snicker) What would you think of a size larger, just to get looser armholes?

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Nordstrom

Halogen Boiled Wool Shawl Collar Coat

$198.00 $98.98

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10 years ago

abc

Veteran

I think a size up would be (way too) big overall - but if it will drive you nuts until you find out I'd say order the L to try it out. Fwiw I am a 12-14 and I plan on ordering the L. I think it would really be way too big for you but ymmv. Edited for typos grr

Deborah

The coat is just beautiful on you Peri:) I would be concerned that the L would be too big on the shoulders and the body of the coat. But it doesn't hurt to try.

Alana in Canada

(website)

sigh. Sometimes coats are just cut weird--like they forgot they were coats, or something. Try the larger size, but be prepared to swim. Sooo sorry. It is beautiful on you.

MsLuna

Hmmm yeah tight arm holes are no good for coats. I'm concerned about you sizing up to an L though - the collar might swallow your small frame! I also think that the a-line of the coat might make you look imbalanced. I'm so sorry to be such a downer! This is often the problem I have with coats and blazers so I know this too well!

Firecracker (Sharan)

It is beautiful on you! That's too bad about the armholes. I think the L would be too big, but you could give it a try. Another possibility: Is it lined? If not, try pinning or hand-basting the armhole seam 3/8" lower, and see if that might work. It's going to be hard to tell, without cutting anything out, but the idea is lowering that curve just slightly. With a 3/8" alteration, you're gaining 3/4" in ease under the arm. You're also shortening the underside of the sleeve and the side seam of the coat each by 3/8", so it might present problems in those places.

Suz

LOVE it on you! Oh, what a dreamy colour!! I think the L will be too large but order it just in case!!

And listen to Firecracker and Diane about alterations. They know their stuff. This is one beautiful coat and absolutely stunning on you!

cciele

Yeah, I think L will be too large but you won't know until you try. So wishing the arm holes would work for you, cuz the coat looks divine on you. But that would be a deal breaker for me, not having any sewing skills.

carambola

Oh, it looks gorgeous on you! What a shame the armholes are tight. Hope the large works better.

JAileen

As others have said it definitely looks wonderful on you. It sounds like it's just a bad cut. How much you like it should tell you if you should attempt altering it.

cinnamon fern

I think it looks fab ... are you sure you're not just out of the habit of wearing anything structured? By this time in summer I forget what jackets are supposed to feel like!

Beth Ann

Arms and coats. I've been there before -- largely because my arms are, well, large and I'd like to layer my coats. It is a glorious color. If the sleeve itself is large enough, Firecracker's suggestion might well work. Do you have a Nordie's nearby? Their alterations department might do the work.

Gigi

Oh, that's too bad! The color looks great on you. But tight armholes will be annoying.

Do you return your items in-store? If so, maybe you could stop by the alterations dept. and ask someone there about enlarging the armholes. I do wonder if the collar will just be too big on the next size up.

jackiec

Aw that's too bad. The colour looks lovely on you

Diana bought this one, right, Peri? She is a pretty pear with a narrow shoulder line. I wonder if the cut is just better for that shape of person? Hmmm.

Wait- scratch that -- maybe it was Kari? Different, then.

Anonymous

The coat does look gorgeous on you. And trying a large probably couldn't hurt -- at least that way you'll know for sure if it doesn't work.

I just ordered the M and L in this, actually, so we'll see how it works on me.

Jenny H

This looks lovely on you. It's one item I wish I had the budget to buy. It's a shame about the armholes. While some here have given great advice about possible alterations or giving the size larger a try just in case, I'm going to pretend I didn't see those. Instead, I choose to believe that the armholes are just too tight on this, and the coat would simply not work for me, therefore I have no business pining over this lovely coat.

Dana

What a cute coat, and what a great color dor you! I think the size L is going to be too big also. You know, they've been doing something weird with the Halogen arm holes lately. I had a couple of client who tried on jackets this summer, and the arm holes were just off. I expected to see those on the clearance racks but didn't.

I'm sure the perfect purple coat will appear to you at just the right time!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Peri, this coat does not look snug under the arms at all. I'm confused. Is your knitwear bunching up? Large will be too big.

Peri

Thanks everyone. I've put it aside for today and will try it again tomorrow and see if I still feel the same way. I love the looks of it, but if I feel as if it will bug me every time I wear it, it obviously can't stay. I agree that the L would probably be too L.

Firecracker...Yes it is lined. Plus, you lost me at "if not, try..."!

Angie...It is just the feel of the seams up under my arms. It doesn't really bunch, more like feels snug/high cut. An inch lower would be much better and I think that is odd for a coat...like they forgot people would wear sweaters underneath and cut it more like a suit jacket. It's odd because although I am IT, I have small arms and even the sleeves could use more room.

Diana

OK, this may sound like a weird question but could the arm hole actually be too deep? This happens a lot to me, where the arm will feel tight because the armhole is too deep so it prevents the top of your arm (at the armpit) from having full range of motion. You can test this by lifting up the shoulder/armhole and seeing if that increases the range of motion.

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