On the fence about a winter coat I saw today--Help me! :)

Hi. I nearly bought this coat. I loved the color, cut, silhouette, even the length. The sleeves could be shortened, but no biggie. It's 100% cashmere, Anne Klein. It's $55 (from a nice consignment store). Mostly, it fits GREAT. No pulling or tightness at all around the bust or anywhere else. And that's with a blazer underneath. It's in great condition.

The issue I have with it is the shoulders. I don't know if I'm being picky or not--I came of age in the '80s and always had an issue with shoulder pads, etc. In this case they're not even pads; it's some kind of foam built into the structure of the coat and it wouldn't be a good idea to remove them (so I wouldn't).

Am I being too uptight about shoulders? Maybe it's a desirable look?

PS: These pics make me look a lot larger than I did in the fitting room! The fit is actually much better!

(And I'm throwing in a completely unrelated bonus WIW from my birthday. They came out dark but not as dark as I'd thought. Thrifted t-shirt, J. Crew cardigan, New Man skirt from consignment shop, slouchy boots, cap probably from The Gap from a while ago)

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14 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I love your WIW!! So fun!!

I can't see the coat very well but I am not loving what I can see of the shoulder paddage. I used to look like that in the 80s and am happy to leave it behind.

Janet

(website)

Hmm, it's hard to tell in the pics. In #3 the shoulders do look big, but it could be the camera angle. I'm cautious when it comes to shoulder pads too (another child of the 80s). Will you feel comfortable with the shoulder emphasis? If it bothers you now, will it bother you less later?

I like your birthday outfit! Animal print, red, boots, cap... what's not to love?

modgrl

Love your birthday outfit!! Animal print and red are a match made in heaven!! Perfect birthday outfit.

I know what you mean about it being hard to take accurate perspective shots of yourself with the iphone camera. I usually hold my phone down lower, at around waist level to try to get a more accurate perspective. I'm sure that a part of what's going on here with this coat. Everything about it seems very nice but the shoulder line seems very big. It is falling off of your shoulders and that is making you look larger than you probably really are on top.

rae

Since I can't quite tell from the pics, here's what I do with padded jackets, because I'm seriously paranoid about my shoulders: with the coat on, hang one arm down to your side, and use your opposite arm to feel around the shoulder seam and padding. Does the seam or padding extend past your natural shoulder line? Raise your arms up over your head, as if reaching for something or holding an umbrella. Do the shoulders of the jacket leap off your body, bringing the neck of the coat up around your ears? For me, either of these would be a deal breaker. If not, the cout sounds like it is great quality and would be a good deal!

ETA: Oops, I completely spaced on your outfit photo! I loooove it; you look great in this relaxed look, and I love your boots. Love, love, love! FWIW, you look considerably smaller in the knit tops, since they create a good demarcation between your bust and waist.

Mochi

I don't have to return to the store and do the test, rae--it definitely does extend way past my real shoulder! I'm getting closer to thinking the shoulders are a dealbreaker, unfortunately (but still open for other opinions...). They're just too bulky. Too bad

Isis

To me, the shoulder pads make the coat look dated.....Not a keeper.

catgirl

I love your outfit but the coat looks to me like a guy's coat from the 90s... It might be cute in a retro blazer style, but as a winter coat, I don't think it works. Sorry!

tarzy

I agree with the others. Sorry - I think you can find something much better!

Sheila

I agree, too bulky. But...a good tailor could assess this and advise you of the cost to alter in the shoulder area. My body came with narrow shoulders and I have had pretty good success at this kind of alteration...with an experienced tailor, of course.

If you really like the coat, maybe it would be worth the time to check out the $$$ of doing this. Just a thought.

Claudia

Mochi, it looks too outdated and masculine I think as it is. If a tailor could work some magic on it, then it being cashmere and all... may be worth looking into to reduce the shoulders, change the buttons, add a faux fur leopard or red velvet collar, etc. to change it up.

rachylou

Ya, have to agree - too '80s football shoulders.

Thanks, everyone! It's something I like, but not enough to commit to that type of costly overhaul. (ETA that it's Final Sale.) I'm thinking whatever I buy is likely to be a coat for this season...and I know for sure it's a woman's coat but yeah, it does look masculine! I wore coats like that in college--it WAS the '80s and vintage coats of that cut were considered edgy and hip (though honestly the shoulders didn't look great on me even then). BTW, it's "pre-owned" but I doubt it's anywhere near 25 years old...so someone is still manufacturing them like that.

Suz

Too bad about the coat, Mochi - so tempting with cashmere. But you can do better.

Your WIW is adorable! You look so spunky in that combo. And as Rae pointed out, your figure shows to advantage in the knit top with the narrow skirt. You look all set for fun!

Anonymous

Such a great birthday outfit! Love the leopard sweater.

I have been following your journey closely with the coats and I vote nay on this one. You can do much better, and you deserve to have something truly current and flattering. Maybe you can visit this one and pet it from time to time, lol!

missvee

Really don't like the coat on you - way too boxy. You can do so much better!

Mochi, I did too - I wore an old black dress coat of my FATHER's through college, very similar to this one!

Andrea B.

Active Member

Your WIW is adorable, Mochi!

As for the coat, I just don't think it's working out for you. The shoulders don't fit and the padding does make the coat look boxy and dated. I have problems fititng this type of coat myself, and what works for me is to find a silhouette that falls straight from the shoulder, like a modified trapeze. I stay the heck away from anything belted because I just look lumpy. The only other silhouette that works for me is one that is princess seamed, but I'm short-waisted, and large busted, and most of the time the proportion doesn't work. Sigh....

I think we share a very similar body type, Andrea. It is making my coat quest really difficult!

Actually the coat, to me, didn't look too boxy in the fitting room--the pics make it look really stiff and bulky but it had a smooth, tapered silhouette, if you can believe me.

I think that it being boxy is probably the reason why it could fit well in the bust--otherwise the rest of the fit might have worked, but with my bust squooshed to both sides! I feel sometimes like I can't overcome this issue. Anyhow, I am staying away from this coat. I had just thought it would be a good coat to take me until next season. But the linebacker shoulders are not doing me any favors.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Mochi, you really *don't* have line backer shoulders! But that coat is unflattering and I absolutely vote pass.

Your b-day outfit on the other hand is KILLER.

Jonesy

I think it's just that the shoulder line doesn't fit you--the coat is made for someone with broader shoulders. Too bad--what a great deal. But your coat may be waiting just around the corner for you....

Amy

Your birthday outfit rocks! Love it.

I agree with the others. Pass on the coat.

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