Penny Lane coats are back - YouLookFab Forum

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Penny Lane coats are back

Synne

Veteran

Afghan Coats, and 70s coats are presumably in again.

(Disclaimer: okay, a quick Google search revealed to me that this was predicted already last winter, guess that makes me late- again!)

Some of my favourite garments are 70s coats. To me they are pretty, practical (I live way up north), and carry so many fun connotations. I adored this style when it revived in the early 00s.
I have a curated collection of thrifted and hand-me-down coats, that I already wear a ton. I am looking forward to how they will be styled this time around.

Just some good tidings from my very limited trend report

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Dressing

27 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

slim cat

Veteran

Fun coats - highly impractical for my warm climate but I'd like one too
.

kkards

Veteran

oh, i didn't know that's what this style was called!
i'm a huge fan! i fact, i may have a coat that looks remarkably like #1 which i would have bought some time in the early aughts

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fabulous coats for winter climates! For sure.

Anonymous

Those look warm!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Why are they called a Penny Lane coat? My only exposure to that term is a Beatles song??

Synne

Veteran

Jenni, I wondered the same! It's the name of Kate Hudson's character in "Almost Famous", from 2000. I believe that movie kickstarted the 70s revival that's now part of the "Y2K aesthetic". I haven't actually watched that movie yet, but will do now for some inspiration:-)

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thanks for answering! I am unfamiliar with that movie. Will look it up

Anonymous

I figured it was related to the song too, though The Beatles were my parents era.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I love them too. Alas, not for my current climate.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Yes, I am seeing a ton of these on social media (mostly thrifted). Not for my climate, but I lurve them!

rachylou

Veteran

I love a ‘great coat’! I should start saving my pennies for one maybe. I could use something *scandal* more breathable than my puffy…

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I’ve never heard of Penny Lane coats, but I do like this sort of 70s style. The length and moderate warmth suits me and my needs. I hadn’t really seen them in editorial or retail yet, maybe for spring?? The vibe kind of reminds me of my Peruvian Connection leather jacket, if it were longer and more dramatic.

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

I Googled it earlier. Also known as Afghan coats originally, shearling coats. And the costuming for that movie was also influenced by the artist Erte (Russian-born French) from the 1920s- whom I have heard of and seen artwork by.

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Sloper

Veteran

Not for my current climate but I remember envying them on others back in the day. Rock stars wore them - George Harrison, Janis Joplin, etc.

An interesting bit of googling (great pix of Eric Burdon, David Bowie, etc.)

https://sweetjanespopboutique......6-197.html

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I have always wanted a coat like this! Maybe this is the year.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Wow Sloper what a fantastic article! So fun. Some of the pics look other-worldly…

Style Fan

Veteran

Sloper, great article! I love those coats, but they are part of my fantasy life.

The Cat

Veteran

Oh, I remember the Afghan coats. In the early '70s, several people in my class wore them, in the class room as well as outside. Fun hippie look, but not very practical for our Scandinavian climate--in rainy weather they smelled awfully.

Bijou

Veteran

I have a shorter version of this type of suede coat with a large wool collar bought in the early 2000’s that I have not parted with. It is definitely Penny Lane inspired. It may be fun to wear this winter. Not a particularly practical coat, but very pretty.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I’m excited to see this! We saw Almost Famous in NYC a couple of weeks ago, and I kept thinking how much I’d like a Penny Lane coat.

I had a shorter version (thigh length) around 2003-2005. It was embroidered black suede with matching faux fur trim. I can’t remember why I passed it along. I think it was because it lacked the dramatic sweep of a longer 70s style coat.

MidwestrnChic

Number two is the coat of my dreams! Have wanted this ever since seeing Almost Famous. I wore a similar style in elementary school.

judy

Veteran

Had one of these coats too, was it 1969, 70...they were beautiful and a little smelly and heavy too. What ever happened to it...? I end up asking that question about so many things! The remakes may be an improvement.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have one of these in navy! Had it for three years. It has somewhat replaced my navy puffer. I LOVE it

Bell Teddy Lined Coat

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Your second pic looks intriguing to me, but it’s hard to see. I remember the suede coats with shearling cuffs and collar, probably other detailing. That second coat though, is very colorful. That’s a path I could see going down, instead of the magenta way I’ve been considering. Now to figure out how to find it

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Not my vibe (closest I could get is maybe #2 with the longer furry look?) but I can appreciate how they'd look on Natural & Gamine Kibbe types instead - perhaps Dramatic too

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Coming back to look at these again. I don’t care for the shaggy embroidered embellished versions for myself — too boho. But I love that shearling version, which skews less boho and a bit more 70s glam and a bit more refined, which is where my preferences really lie. I love coats with length and drama.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Interesting the difference that context makes. To my eye, the bright “boho” versions are the fancier ones. The suede /shearling ones remind me of the rural context I saw them in growing up, and look clunky to me. It’s all in the eye of the beholder.