It's a blog about coats but not as we know it.
As, to put it bluntly, I don't do coats. I mentioned this before, many moons ago, a full on coat is something that I struggle with. There is vague method in my madness which I shall attempt to justify:-
a) the expense. Normally it's a vast amount of money to spend on one item. There is always talk of it as an investment item and if point b) doesn't bother you, then it's probably worth thinking about. But for me...
b) I don't like wearing the same thing day in, day out, particularly something as distinctive as a coat. I like to spread my budget.
c) I don't spend a huge amount of time outdoors (if anyone has failed to notice, "outdoorsey" is not something that you will ever see in a sentence along with my name, apart from if "not remotely" appears immediately before it). And therefore, as much as I grumble incessantly about our weather (to be fair, it's just the rain that gets right on my nelly) it's not exactly often freezing here and so I simply am not in need of a "coat" per se.
I have an ongoing love affair with The Jacket.
Therefore, if you were hoping for a blog on a sensible selection of practical coats then please press delete immediately. I am not famed for my sense of practicality. Nor am I a big fan of the traditional coat. And to be honest, if you're looking for one of them, then they are ten a penny in pretty much every shop. Double breasted, single breasted, collar, wool Coat. Mid thigh, just below the knee, flared or straight, coloured or neutral - there are loads of them around. Marks, Next, House of Fraser, John Lewis etc, take your pick.
I can however, normally be relied on (animal jumpers not withstanding apparently!) to come up with a list of different loveliness that most people will have a good drool at.
I have forced myself therefore to look at what could pass muster for A Coat. I will admit that I have been somewhat loose and free in my description of Coat......
And so here goes. These are very much, for me, if money were no object and I could still feed my jacket habit. As this is very much not the case, I shan't be buying but they are still for me all lust worthy.
Firstly I am loving the cocoon coat. I found two gorgeous ones by Pied a Terre.
The Textured Sparkle Cocoon Coat Now it appears that this apparently is black but I would definitely say that it was more navy than black - could definitely be worn with both. Gorgeous gorgeous coat, but an eye watering £269. Wowzers. However if you are a coat wearer then cost per wear this is easily justifiable. Can be worn for work, can be worn out at night as an evening coat, but would look equally as fab over jeans, jumper and hitops.
And just to prove that practicality plays a pathetically small part in any wardrobe consideration that I make, I would so buy it in the Oyster. Swoon.
However, illustrating that I am considerate, I found this utter beauty in Marks & Spencer. I am kicking myself that I didn't photograph it instore as, no surprises, the photos from the website do not remotely do it justice. Believe me when I say that for £129 this a complete bargain. If I didn't already have a grey coat (that I wore today) I would consider buying this. Like the above coats, it will serve you from day to night, it's actually not that stand out - with a selection of scarves/gloves/hats and the fact that it would go with pretty much every colour, I think you'd be able to get more wear out of it than something more distinctive.
If it's remotely up your street, go and try it on as you won't be disappointed. The fabric is just lovely and I would say, indistinguishable from the far more expensive one above. The first photo is pants, the second photo really isn't much better. But (the first photo) that's how it looks better worn, as opposed to the photo below. M&S - I give up on how dreadful your photography is.
Along these lines, there was another great coat that caught my eye from Linea Weekend of all places. (not somewhere I frequent, I'll be honest)
The Linea "Karolina" Coat The black wool lining that you can see is part of the coat. Again great quality which one would expect for £170.
Now remembering that this is virtual coat buying, I just love this one. If your wardrobe is very plain with little print then this is your baby. Instant wardrobe update. J'adore. The Linea Weekend Multicoloured Cocoon Coat.
So sticking with the more unorthodox coat style, I love an unstructured dressing gown style. Not a style that suits me in the slightest. I am a column shape with absolutely zero waist. Now, despite Trinny & Susannah's insisting that one with no waist should add shape with a belt, I completely disagree. To my mind, all it does is draw attention to the thickest part of my body. A screaming siren of LOOK NO WAIST. If needs be, I will belt a trench but that's the limit (and that's a thin, crappola trench and normally I'll wear a big scarf with it. Although am v conscious that I didn't the other day......But I digress. Me and a belted waist? Usually? Nah.)
But they are a look I love on other people. Two that have caught my eye are this grey one from Zara
Or a more solid version in camel yum yum yum
A more expensive wraparound coat which is pure luxury and actually, I think great value considering it's from Jaeger. Not the most versatile colour but definitely a classic that you'll keep (providing you manage to steer clear of red wine, chocolate and small children. An impossibility in my book.)
And on that note, I shall draw a line under today's proceedings but do not fear - this is not the end of my coat odyssey. I have another wonderful stash to share, but shall be back tomorrow. Think leather...........
Finishing with a quick squizz at what I wore today.
Black and white cashmere longline jumper - Joseph
Black coated jeggings - Dorothy Perkins (I am love love LOVING these, DP PLEASE do other colours in a Tall)
Grey Military coatigan - 3.1 Phillip Lim
Leopard print scarf - Louis Vuitton
Black stud Madonna wedge trainers - Ash
Black sunglasses - Dior
Stone maxi zip satchel - Anya Hindmarch
More coats next time!
You promised a while back but please will you do a scarf tying/wearing blog, pretty please? 😀
ReplyDeleteI also remember that promise! Please do us a scarf post, Kat ... can't wait. :-)
DeleteAm trying to get a Vlog together...... Dear god please don't hold your breath......!!! Something will materialise shortly!
DeleteDefinitely more my style Kat!
ReplyDeleteLove coccoon shape,also the pleather sleeved coats around now.
Sue
Hope you liked the other coat blog then! A plethora to choose from x
DeleteIt's funny I am the opposite I love coats because you can throw on any old outfit if you are in a hurry and put on a chic coat and you look well.
ReplyDeleteI love an outer layer - I am drowing in jackets & coatigans - just not a huge coat!!
DeleteI just bought the black leather sleeved, cream fluffy coat from Zara today - I love it!!
ReplyDeleteoh I adore that coat - truly truly love it. Meant to put it on the other blog actually but forgot. Great buy. x
DeleteI'm the same - especially here in Atlanta it seems silly to spend a lot of money on a coat that won't get worn - even when it is cold we go straight from house to car to mall/office with no exposure. I actually bought the Zara coat with the quilted leather sleeves but just sold it at a profit on eBay as I knew it wouldn't get worn and it was in high demand. I am loving this one from AllSaints http://www.us.allsaints.com/women/coats/allsaints-strand-crombie-coat/?colour=3106&category=117 but again will never wear it - it's times like this I wish I gor to sashay the streets of NYC in the winter as I do like coats. I ordered this instead - the Force cardigan - a cross between the Zara coat and a cardigan - hope it works out! http://www.us.allsaints.com/women/sweaters/allsaints-force-cardigan/?colour=272&category=26
ReplyDeleteLOVE that. I actually have an ancient Ronit Zilkha knitted long coat which isn't dissmilar to that All Saints one, otherwise that would so definitely be on my lust list.....
DeleteA coat prob not as necessary in the south east,Kat,as up here in the north west!
ReplyDeleteSue (again!)
No you're probably right!
DeleteEasy Living have a couple of your choices featured here:) http://www.easyliving.co.uk/fashion/shopping/winter-coats-jackets/
ReplyDeleteooh great minds think alike!!
DeleteSo you don't like spending lots of money on a coat but you have a Louis Vuitton scarf which was hundreds of pounds. Err???!!! your logic puzzles me.
ReplyDeleteYou know, it was perhaps a gift. Anyways, a scarf is a bit different to a coat, being that it can be worn all year round and tends to last many seasons, esp a LV one which pretty much transends any fashion fads. Also, whose logic is ever really rational when it comes to clothing purchases?
DeleteUna
As any self respecting shopaholic girl would know, a good scarf will last you years, hence the value for money factor. Price per wear ends up making it cheap. Shopping logic x
DeleteI do apologise for puzzling you with my logic. The wonderful thing about my logic is that it's all mine and only has to make sense to me! I did say a number of times, I believe, that I appreciated I was unusual in my lack of large coats - it's not that I don't have any. I just don't like spending lots on them each year.
DeleteScarves, however, I actually do believe are a better investment. This is my personal logic (so doesn't have to make sense to anyone else!) but from experience, I think that if you do have the money, spending money on a good scarf that you love, is a great way to spend your budget. AS others above have said, they last for years - I've had mine now for 5 years, I wear it at least once a week pretty much all year round. It works on the school run, I've worn it to black tie dinners. It's a timeless print and besides all that - it was a present.
Oh and it's not that I don't like spending money on outwear - the 3.1 Phillip Lim knitted cardigan was almost double the price of the LV scarf but again, I've had it for 5 years and it comes out every year. Big coats are just NOT my thing. Everyone has that thing which floats their boat - and yes, logic rarely applies!
Clearly my logic is flawed but hopefully that shed a little light!
xx
Hi Kat,
ReplyDeleteLoving your style as always and always look forward to your blog. Really love those 2 coats from Linea. thanks for sharing those as I would not have looked there on my winter coat search.
Would there be any chance you could share your thoughts on anything that you think is particularly worth looking at this season in Zara? I quite like the tan quilted leather and the blue military cropped looking jacket , but would love to know what you think of their A/W range so that I can buy with confidence.
Kitty x
Hi there. Yes, I will do a Zara lust list in a week or so actually. Although to be fair, I did go in yesterday and tbh found lots of it a bit meh. Although a plethora of divine jackets as usual - am looking for day to day tops of which there were v few. But yes, I'll put that on the list - I need to put together a sales list......
DeleteI love, love, love coats and a girl can never have too many - at the current count I have twelve all good wearable coats (not including the one I bought today because that was just for dog walking). I actually look forward to winter so I can pull out a long coat. They are so not samey - there is faux fur Cruella de Ville coats, long red sexy coats, I could go on. Try it, you may be pleasantly surprised.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I can't do big coats. That's not to say I don't like a more jacket style outerlayer......... I fear I may be meddling with semantics here! I don't think they're samey - sorry if I said that doh, or gave that impression, I just don't like spending loads of money on one killer one which I would then have to wear every day as I couldn't justify buying other things if you see what I mean. So people would end up seeing the same coat on me every day...... Clear as mud?!!!
DeleteAlso being tall, it's hard to find coats that are a really good fitting dimension if they're longer. That's my excuse & I'm sticking with it!
You totally crack me up- I just discovered your blog from someone else's blogroll- and being a over 40 mom blogger myself- I was immediately interested! I like your style- and love your funny way of writing!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you SO SO Much! So pleased you like the blog. xxxxx
DeleteI emailed you about the grey zara coat, I guess it has your seal of approval then! I would not normally go for a belted style either but this one seems to work. Also, love, love love your coatigan! sara xx
ReplyDeleteIt does indeed and yes, definitely gets my seal of approval. Gorgeous gorgeous coat. x
DeleteI don't wear my coats as much since I moved to the country, when I was in town I walked more & got train more, now that I drive everywhere a coat is a pain.
ReplyDeletePlease please do a blog post on your hair Kat, I love it. Mine is similar colour & length but I can never get it to sit like yours , would love some tips!
These coats look so classy and well constructed! I think i now have an impulse to buy some new one for winter.
ReplyDeleteHi there! I know this is kinda off topic but I'd figured I'd
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