I feel like it’s a wardrobe hole for me because I sometimes want to be able to wear a dress or skirt to an event or date night. I have one dress and two skirts suitable for dressier winter events. I figure 6-10 potential occasions for wear. Possibly less, or possibly more if I use it over a pants outfit and trot it out for bridge night occasionally.

I’ve been without such a coat for two years, and although there haven’t been as many events to attend as previous years, there have been some. Instead of a dress or skirt outfit, I’ve worn a pants outfit and a shorter cloth (wool) peacoat style coat. The cloth peacoat style coat is a signature of my style, and I’ve recently replaced an older one. I mostly wear puffers in winter (maybe 5 days a week) but also the shorter cloth coat (2 days per week.)

I’m not worried that a long cloth coat will split wears of the shorter coat overmuch, since I don’t see reaching for it that much.

Long story….so ‘landing the plane’…do I splurge on a good/better quality long coat in a classic style that I hope to wear for a long time - like 10 years, and into my ‘70’s, or do I buy a less expensive/cheaper coat with the same classic style, that I wear for as long as it lasts at 6-10 ‘wears’ per year?

Today I found a completely synthetic (polyester) midi coat with a classic notched collar, tie belt (like a bathrobe) design that looked surprisingly ‘okay’, wasn’t too heavy, is lined, and seemed like it would be warm enough for <$200 CAD (see photos below in beige and black.) There seem to be lots of 50% wool/50% poly coats in the $200-$500 range that would do the trick, but seem to be heavier weight. $500 and up gets a wool or wool cashmere coat, possibly with some synthetic.

My original intention was to go for the investment piece ($500-$800CAD) but now I’m wondering if a lower priced option might do just as well, and I should save my $ for a different sartorial splurge..

What say you?