I can't make judgments about $800 coats but I like the cut on you very much, though I find it saucier than UWP. My favorite part is also the zipper line.. I think it makes the coat.
People wear the cover the hands look but it's awfully girly. Now if you added a thumbhole. Anyway, shortening sleeves is not hard. I can't see it up close but the tailor would just subtract some length - you want a coat sleeve a bit longer than a blazer sleeve - and if it has that binded opening like on men's shirtsleeves, tailor can remove binding, cut higher and reattach binding before adding back the cuff.

It's --SO CLOSE-- to perfect. For me, it's the A- things in life that are the hardest to make decisions about....and this might be one of those. And for the pricing, etc I'd really, really want it to be A+. But I hear the love, most especially from you. Definitely worth a little consideration time.

I secretly harbor Burberry lust in my heart as well, but...I'm afraid I'm another naysayer. I also like an edgy zipper on occasion...but this one looks jarring to my eye as well (particularly from the back, but also from the front. My eye immediately goes there, and the line (being horizontal) just looks so static, for lack of a better descriptor. I'm sorry to be a downer! The bell shape is also not the most pleasing to my eye, and doesn't really read AG to me. I am SURE there is a Burberry out there for you...I'm not sure that this is it. You are certainly getting lots of love for it, too!

Huh. Well, you know, I like the zipper and all the things that the jacket does - 3/4, moto crop, high concept skirt. To me that makes it a bit more exciting.

I've been warming up to Burberry for these reasons, because mostly I've found it pedestrian. It's been popular as a preppy thing, but preppy style and stylish aren't what you'd call the same thing.

I guess the question is, has Burberry found style and conquered the ho-hum factor, or has it just tacked on some whiz-bang stuff. I don't know. Got cloudy vision.

I'm trying not to look at everyone else's responses so I don't color my initial impression!

I think it's very you, which surprises me because I don't equate Burberry with your style. But then I don't equate them with MY style either, and I went for the Burberry teal trench because the color is what makes it *me* and not *Burberry.* That's what I think the zipper detail does for you here.

It sounds like you love it, and I think it's pretty great. Just enough military/tough detail to make it you, yet still classic and appropriate for a wide variety of activities. The fit looks great. Personally, I would not want that much flare on the bottom half of a coat for me, but I realize that's where you and I have opposite figure flattery priorities!

*says the enabler*

Okay, I have to admit that I am ecstatically happy that you are waiting a bit to snap off the tags.

First, the good: I really really like the jacket. I really like it in all its incarnations. Skirt especially (LOL!). The zipper wouldn't work for me because I don't have that warrior vibe in my clothes, but I totally see how it works for you. I feels very Una to me and everyone else. The color is amazing. Also, I totally get what you are saying about weather. Perception of cold is different when you live in a very cold place versus a temperate one. Also, we all think of Alaska as arctic day in day out, but of course it isn't. I agree too about the functionality of a jacket that just gets you from sheltered point A to sheltered point B in cold weather. I've lugged around my share of anoraks. A light jacket is sometimes really nice (with backup anorak in the car). So, you've convinced me on the weather too. And sleeve alteration? If you need it (big if; long sleeves are nice to cut the cold), having a free alteration at B. is a good thing. It should also be something a competent tailor could do for a reasonable amount.

Now, the qualifications: I worry about zippers as bling having their fashion moment. Not visible zippers. Not bright zippers. But zippers as a stand alone embellishment. I think that the cropped look needs that in order to carry it off. I also think that the bell is a little exaggerated from the side. Also, need I say it, it is a big purchase. You could buy 7 of the blue tote bags you were in love with this spring for the price of this.

I think that more time will tell you whether to keep it or not. With a purchase this big, an enforced courtship makes sense. A week or two of looking at a big purchase often tips the scale for me: either I've wished I could wear it twenty times during the waiting period and am ecstatic to get hitched and tear the tags off, or I slowly find that it wasn't as perfect as I hoped and the little things start getting to me. So those are my two cents!

When I opened the first picture, I fell in LOVE!! Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!

And then I saw the coat as a whole, and my love turned to like. I didn't mind the zipper (in fact I LIKE the zipper...a LOT) but like Sylvie, I am not crazy about the way it appears to fit from side and back on the bottom.

The sleeves, I think, are a non-issue. Those can be altered, and if you decide you adore it, then that's what I think you should do.

The fabric and colour look gorgeous on you. It's an amazing piece, and totally "you" - but like Angie, once I got past that first photo I just didn't think K -worthy.

Having said that, I also know that if your love for it remains you will style it and wear it beautifully. And it will be worth every single penny. If you're going to invest in anything in Alaska, make it an amazing coat or boots!!

Such interesting and thoughtful feedback! I'm going to post a separate thread with some specific questions based on what's been raised here. I'm also going to haul this baby to L.A. for the eyes of the YLFers (and what a contingent of expertise and diverse style!). I'm not sure the photos do it justice, and of course, I can't see it on myself. I may also take it to my friend's house this weekend and have her daughter, who is my size, prance around in it so I can see it on someone else.

THANK YOU ALL! And if there's more input, I'd love to hear it. This is not a casual amount to spend on anything!

To be completely blunt with no sugar coating whatsoever :), I'm not a big fan, especially for the hefty price tag. When you first posted the pics, I said that I thought the top half and bottom half were mismatched: The relatively sleek top half and the oddly puffy, horizontal channeling on the butt were discordant to my eye. On you (not you specifically, just on a live body!), it looks even more mismatched.

To me, the coat has an identity crisis, with the exposed zipper, the traditional horizontal channeling on the butt, and the classic pea coat double row of buttons creating a mishmash, stylistically. I also don't think it looks nearly as expensive as it is: it's not special enough to my eye, to warrant the huge price. It looks too run of the mill to me. If the coat's label said "Pendleton" would you be drawn to it and willing to spend $900?

But, ultimately, it's up to you!! If you have fallen in love with it and will treasure it and it makes you feel fabulous, then that's your answer! Style isn't really a democratic process in my book--you should follow your heart and head :).

Thanks, Jonesy - no worries about being blunt; that's why I asked.

I will say I don't think it has to do with coveting the label itself. If I could find a coat like this by a gear brand or at Sears or a knock-off, I wouldn't pass it up. I live in a place where hardly anyone will recognize that it's a designer coat.

I'm not impressed with what I see Burberry making these days. I find their things so overpriced and not of that great quality. It seems they are falling back on their brand name. I'm not an expert but this is my impression.

Una, I read this thread when you posted it and decided to think on it for a while before responding. What I came up with is that overall, this comes across to me as a pretty normal black quilted coat. The zipper is neat but it doesn't make the coat so amazing to me as to be worth $700 more than a zipper-less version.

I hate the time difference - I'll post on the other thread too but first thoughts are
I LOVE it. I love it because of the zip. I would love to see it in real-life.

Not reading other comments as I sense you want honest untainted feedback:).

I am not crazy about this coat. But I am aware that IRL it may in fact look different.
The top and bottom look a little mismatched and I am finding the zipper confusing to my eye. We have a store here that has a lot of casual and "gear" type looks and I could probably pick up something kind of similar there for under 100.00:(. I think what I am really saying is that to my eye, the look and the price of the garment don't correspond.

Deborah, you're not the only one with that comment. I guess, short of something I'd likely not wear, what should a coat of this price look like? I'm perusing the Burberry site for anything similar in this range. Or is anything puffer-like just not going to look expensive enough? Truly curious!

Please forgive me if this sounds harsh:

What part of Alaska do you live in? I thought it got really really cold there.

I guess if you love the zippers and are willing to blow your oil money on a coat that won't take you through the coldest part of your winter, then why not? It just seems like there could be a better use of so much money - a (different) great coat AND money in the bank for a rainy day. Does it seem like it's just expensive because of the name?

Lose the skirt look, though!

i really like it. i dont know if i like it for $800 though...

but you exude enthusiasm for this coat so if you can afford it i think it's worth it.

I can't give an untainted opinion because I got here late and first saw the other thread and then had to find this one to see what all the controversy is about! So this is my tainted opinion: when I first saw you in the theory jacket I was wowed. I knew this was the jacket for you. I don't feel that way about this coat, although I do see its good qualities. Money is a relative thing, but if you think about it in terms of what else you could do with the money, and whether the happiness factor of the coat outweighs the happiness from your other options, you will know what to do.

Holy cow! I'm coming to this thread way late but have to chime in too nonetheless.
I vote yay. Not for everyone or intrinsically, but for you, Una UWP. I think you look great in it!

Why do I think this works for you? I think the style is very Una. It's versatile--you can wear it cropped or full length (or even skirt, LOL). Both ways suit your style persona. The quilted black and zipper is very UWP. I think the zipper adds that extra twist (I don't think you would be happy with a "classic" Burberry--it would be too boring for you). I actually like the flared bottom on you and it works with your IT shape. And I think it works for your environment as people tend to dress down and dress in gear a lot. This is like "stealth luxury"--it's not in your face with branded logos or whatnot so you can still blend in a bit, but you know the quality is there and can feel it. The only thing I might consider with the too long sleeves and slight bagginess is whether you should try a size down just to be sure? It's such an expensive purchase that you want to make sure it's absolutely perfect. This might be the right size esp if you want to layer, but I'd hate to have that question mark hanging over it.

The main thing to consider is how do YOU feel when you put it on? If you love it so much that you'd wear it over and over, then keep--I can see this being a real workhorse for you. If you're in love with the idea of it but have some nagging doubts, then maybe it's worth looking around some more. Do you think it's worth the money you paid? Only you can tell, no matter what all of us say!