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Special Occasion Winter Coat

kerry

Veteran

The first of my purchases for my CPW budget experiment may be a special occasion winter coat. I would mostly use this in November and December. It needs to be somewhat warm but not for arctic temps as I'll be mostly getting in and out of a car for the occasions when I'd need it.

I'm loving burgundy this season. Some of my special occasion items are blush and I especially love a burgundy/blush combo.

Does anyone have any experience with these coats? A strong preference? I'm hoping to try on the T Tahari tomorrow on my first trip to Nordstrom (Toronto)!!

London Fog The Coat Edit Wool-Blend Robe Coat

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Eliza J Grooved Faux Fur Coat (Regular & Petite)

$228.00 $169.90

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T Tahari Wool Blend Belted Wrap Coat

$348.00 $229.90

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Eliza J Grooved Faux Fur Coat (Regular & Petite)

$228.00 $169.90

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24 replies

Latest reply was from kerry

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like the idea of a faux fur for special occasion purposes, assuming the length of (dress?) you have in mind is a good match, and that your climate is not too cold.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow! Lovely choices. I say definitely try them on and see.

For myself, I always like the elegant idea of a wrap coat with a belt (it feels so 40s movie star!!) but in reality I tend to feel a bit sloppy and fussy in them when the belt is wool -- it's hard to keep tied. But that might just be me. I really love the Tahari wrap one.

Joy

Veteran

I like the second coat, the light faux fur. You could wear it with a special occasion dress or jeans you special occasion coat was lined black velvet. I finally gave it to a friend that borrowed it several times. None of my occasions were that special and a had a fairly warm black trench with some sheen that looked dressy enough for most occasions...kind of a wrap style like Suz mentions.

Style Fan

Veteran

Great choices. The Faux Fur coats would be right on trend with the maximal look. Faux Fur seems to not date. My Faux Fur coat is 15 years old and is still in good shape. I would certainly get another one.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I like the furs. It's a classic choice if it suits your style. Leaning towards the lighter colour.

I don't see either style as an occasional coat. I think any of these could work very well for a smart casual look.

kerry

Veteran

Thanks!

I guess I should confess that none of my special occasions are particularly dressy. Mostly holiday stuff.

approprio, Style Fan, Joy and UmmLila, I agree the faux furs seem more special, on trend and have some staying power. I hope to try one on today. I lean toward the lighter colour too. I have light hair but threw in the burgundy because I'm loving that colour right now. I don't do true red so the burgundy feels a little holiday.

Suz, love the T Tahari too. That wrap is delicious. I think it makes the coat a little more special too. By comparison, the London Fog is pretty ho-hum.

Anonymous

I love the idea of a special occasion coat. Your choices are gorgeous. My preference is for the belted T Tahari Wool. It looks gorgeous in the stock photo. So elegant.

Now I have a question. I am seeing burgundy everywhere I look in the stores. But the color I am seeing in the stores is as much brown and it is burgundy. The stock photos you show are brown on my screen. Are the colors more burgundy in real life? This color is confusing me. Either I don't know what burgundy is or the color in the stores is not really a burgundy.

kerry

Veteran

Sterling, I know exactly what you mean. I bought these two tops from H&M. I wore them a couple of times each. One day I pulled one out, looked and had a panicky moment where it looked brown and thought oh no! I bought 2 brown shirts! Brown is not a flattering colour for me so I avoid it especially on top.

I do still think these are burgundy or maroon, wine, whatever this colour is supposed to be called. I like the colour that skews eggplant, purple, brown rather than red, orange, rust, IYKWIM.

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Anonymous

I love the TT coat and the faux furs with a slight preference for the burgundy fur.

viva

Veteran

This is such an interesting idea: a special occasion coat. Do you have enough special occasions to keep such a coat just for best? Is there a reason you want to keep it just for best? I ask only because I agree with approprio. I am drawn to the furs, but I can easily see those also worn with jeans and booties for a more "regular" night out.

Colette

Veteran

I really like these coat options. I have a similar version of the T Tahari coat and I love it. I use it for special occasion and also wear it with jeans when I'm bit more dressed up (because my special occasions are few and far between). Mine is black with a texture. I did add two large snaps so I could wear it without the belt if I choose, but I'm mostly wearing it without the belt. The collar can be adjusted and worn a few different ways depending on my mood. I always receive compliments when I wear it.

Anonymous

I really like the London fog for the length and colour. It seems to be a redder burgundy than the Tahari. But I think I like the style of the tahari best.

You'd also need a dressy boot with it.
For some reason the fur ones read casual to me.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree with smittie -- the fur ones don't seem all that dressy to me. It might be that quilted effect, which is throwing me off a bit as it reminds me of a puffer.

I love the dramatic shawl collar on the T Tahari coat -- that is my favorite style for "occasions" of the ones pictured here.

I have a very long, cream colored wool coat that is ever so slightly big on me, that I save for special occasions. It was a gift many years ago, and the last time I wore it was an inaugural ball in 2008! Yikes. I should pull it out and see if it even suits me anymore. For most winter dress-up occasions now, I just wear my black Trina Turk military-ish coat. I just add color via gloves and scarf. Not many occasions are very dressy anymore anyways!

shedev

Veteran

my favorites are the Trina Turk and the light furry.

Staysfit

Veteran

I love the concept of a special occasion coat. It's so cold around here during the times I need a coat, that I have never bothered. I do have a very long sleeping bag like down puffer that goes over all but my longest maxi dresses.

I like the fur. My mom wore faux fur for special occasions, and real fur sometimes too.

Cerinda

Veteran

As much as I love the wrap (It's all over Pinterest; have you seen it there?), when I tried it on, the dramatic collar felt fussy on me. But pulled up and folded asymmetrically, it definitely looked wonderful and out of the ordinary -- maybe it would read special occasion on you.

kerry

Veteran

Just got back from my first trip to the new Nordstrom in Toronto. Beautiful store! Tons of staff asking to help at every turn. No Eliza J faux furs or T Tahari wrap coat

I did pick up my favourite Halogen cami!

Went to The Bay (Canadian department store) to try on the London Fog coat - not good on me!

Tried on this gorgeous Cinzia Rocca coat but in black with a gold zipper. Also tried on a Hiso grey coat with faux fur collar. Loved both.

For those of you that caught my CPW budget experiment, I'm trying to spend about $1500 for the whole year (Sept.-Aug.). Each of these coats is about $1000. So that would obviously blow the budget BUT I also don't want to buy something I don't love.

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Cinzia Rocca Relaxed Fit Woolen Coat

$1,065.00 $639.00

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kerry

Veteran

I think maybe special occasion was overstating it. I don't have a dressy coat. No matter what I'm wearing (I dress pretty casually most of the time) if it's cold I wear the Nobis. But if I'm in and out of the car for the occasion I could do with something less warm. That's where I was headed.

Having tried on a few today maybe I just want a wool coat! That Cinzia Rocca is really pulling at my heart strings. It's beautiful but not really special occasion.

I wish I had a B&M source for the T Tahari and Eliza J coats. Such is shopping in Canada!

Nobis Nobis Ladies Bomber Jacket MERIDETH-Heathered Burgundy

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The North Face The North Face Women's Metropolis Down Parka

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Penny

Veteran

Good luck with your search! About a decade ago, I picked up a dramatic black shawl-collar wrap coat at WHBM for a steal and still wear it for most formal occasions today (although I opt for a faux-fur stole when it's not too cold). It seems to me that if you plan to spend a significant amount, a wool coat that you could dress up or down (e.g., I love my knee-length single-breasted belted wool coats in navy and deep purple) might be your best bet.

Anonymous

I'm so wanting a nobis coat this winter. I know this is OT, but do you have the kind with the pit zips? Am interested to know if they're useful.

I like the latest coat you posted. Did you see JCrew? They have one similar, in a few colours and $450 plus 25% off.

kerry

Veteran

Penny, I think that's exactly what I'm lookin for! Something different but not a ton of money.

I did start exploring faux fur trimmed cape/poncho as an alternative.

Smittie, I did look at the J Crew cocoon coats online when I got home. I think they're worth a look for comparison. My Nobis doesn't have pit zips. I don't miss it. I love my Nobis. Best winter coat I've ever owned. I've had coats in the past with pit zips. Definitely used it for an active day of snowshoeing etc.

Jules

Veteran

Have you hear of Coats by Mary Ellen? They make good quality wool coats in Toronto and are at the One of a Kind show every year. The chamois lining is impressive. I plan to get one when I'm ready to invest/commit to a size.
http://www.coatsinc.com

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I vote faux fur.

kerry

Veteran

Thanks Angie.

Thanks for the tip Jules. I'll check them out.