STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

bumblebee · Coach

coats poll

ILoveChoo · Hermes

It depends. Last year I didn't buy a coat at all- I used the one from the year before. I also have one thats a few years old that I still wear. This year, I am making a coat for myself but i don't really *need* a new one. I usually pay about $300 or so (I think- it's been a while) but there's no reason that a nice coat shouldn't last for years- I don't typically go for really trendy coats so I look at them as more of an investment. (oh, and I lived in NY until about 2 years ago- now I'm in DC)

Cortney1982 · Chanel

How much you spend on a coat depends on the type of coat, and materials used/quality. I don't always buy one every year. I usually limit to a dressier wool coat and a sporty coat in colors that will pretty much go with everything.

cc · Marc Jacobs

I've lived in NYC all my life and I've never needed to buy a new coat every year. Right now I have a knee length robin's egg blue coat from Sisley which I bought maybe 4 years ago and it is still in good shape. I think it was like $300 at the Sisley outlet. I also have a slightly shorter and heavier gray CK coat which I got at TJ Maxx 2 years ago for $150.

For casual jackets I have a black slightly puffy thing from Kenneth Cole and a thin red quilted jacket from H&M. I also have a really nice Alberta Ferretti pea coat that I got at a thrift shop for $30 but I can't find it!

-- Edited by cc at 14:01, 2005-08-03

dot · Marc Jacobs

i've owned two j. crew coats in my life. one blue peacoat that i wore from high school until college and one black more tailored coat that i bought a year out of college and donated this spring (because it was too big).

i think that spending money on a perfect coat that you can wear year to year is a great investment. sometimes, i'll buy a cheap-o coat from H&M, Macy's (great place for puffy coats!), and outlets and sample sales. Last year I bought a long black puffy coat which I plan to wear again this year if it fits for $75 and a Ben Sherman coat at a sample sale for $60. but i rarely buy a coat every year but last year i bought two!

anyway, i think a good quality coat that you love is a justifable thing to spend alot of money on! i mean to be stylish and warm is no easy task!

Lilykind · Hermes

I have only one winter coat now, a vintage cream coat with white mink collar and cuffs. I bought it for $35 at the Fairfax HS flea market last year.

When I lived on the East Coast, I had two winter coats, a dressy one and a casual one. My dressy one was a 3/4 length double breasted Ralph Lauren in black wool. My dad bought it for me for $115 at the Ralph Lauren store in Woodbury Commons (right by where I grew up). I've had that since I was 16 and I gave it away a month ago only because it's two sizes too large for me now (it was an L and I'd be an S or maybe even XS in the coat now). It held up so well to the two harsh winters (and two no-so-harsh ones in LA...hehe) worth of daily year I subjected it too. My casual was some huge men's coat from Nautica...very icky.

I think a good classic coat is an investment.

-- Edited by Lilykind at 14:33, 2005-08-03

honey · Gucci

i have several coats (i'm addicted to coats & boots -- it's really quite sad). i definitely don't think you need to buy a new coat every year, and most of my coats have been picked up on sale. i have several shorter lightweight coats that i rotate throughout fall. as far as winter 3 long coats winter coats. a cream cord one from benetton, a red one from ben sherman, and a green cord coat from benetton that were $60, $60, and $20 respectively. i also have a northface fleece and a short wool bomber coat from h & m. the fleece i've had since college, and the bomber, i've had about 2 years.

i am actually looking to buy a black coat this season. b/c i need something that i can wear everyday and while i love my other coats, none of them are everyday coats. i will most likely be spending $500 on this coat. which will make it the most expensive thing i own, but i feel like it's worth it since i've been looking for an everyday coat for like 2 years, and i'm only drawn to coats by a certain brand. so i'm going to break down and shell out the money.

anyway $500 is not insane, it's pricey but not outrageous.

atlgirl · Gucci

I moved here (Georgia) three years ago, and I only had one coat (besides a light jacket), and now I have:

- black wool mid-length ($200 @ BR a couple of years ago)

- olive trench, full length (the one I had before moving; about $200)

- my "Philly coat" which I bought last Feb. when I flew to Philly and forgot (!) a coat - it's faux shearling, but it keeps me damn warm (mid-length) (on sale for $80 - I think the brand is Jones New York?)

- my embroidered coat, which is really too thin to be for warmth, but it's mid-length and stunning (or at least, it will be when the tailor gets done with it) (don't know brand; bought it for $30 at Dillard's this spring on major clearance)

I also have a peacoat, but IMO that's more like a jacket, it's pretty lightweight. ($30 from Target)

$500 is definitely not insane - I know some coats are very style-conscious, but IMO a good, traditional style coat will last you many, many years.

Oh, and Lilykind, your flea market coat is making me drool! Both from the description and the price. *s*

-- Edited by atlgirl at 21:46, 2005-08-03

-- Edited by atlgirl at 21:47, 2005-08-03

erin · Chanel

my coat collection is a bit insane. i have about 20 coats. most of them winter coats, as it gets very cold here. none of them were more than 100.

shopgirl82 · Chanel

i have a decent amount of coats, but have averaged out to one coat a year for six or so years. all my coats i rotate and still wear. i have always lived in cities that have winters so they seem to be good investments for me, given that you don't always see much of my outfit other than my coat, boots, jeans, and handbag. i *might* invest in a Searle short brown/tan shearling coat this year.

my two most expensive, but practical ones are:

my North Face shell jacket with fleece lining that i have had for 6 + years, and it's still going strong. so the $400+ price tag was worth it to me (i use it for everyday wear, snow, skiing, etc...)

my Searle shearling coat that my bf bought since i moved here and because i needed a super warm, but stylish black jacket

other ones that i have that have been around the $200-$300 range and still get a lot of use are a red BCBG wool coat, a Black Arden B wool coat, a Black Andrew Marc leather jacket, a Brown BCBG motorcycle leather jacket, and a gray Patagonia Fleece jacket.

if you are looking for coats on a budget, i have bought some nice ones at the end of the year sales, and on bluefly.com. HTH!

Seashells · Dooney & Bourke

The great thing about coats is that the styles don't change as rapidly and several styles are just generally classic. Therefore you can get a lot of end of season sales on coats and they will look great when winter comes along! I live in PA and work in NY state I have no hope of it not being cold, so I might as well look good!

For example, I have had my black wool pea coat since my junior year in high school (i am now 23). It was great quality and still remains in amazing shape.

I bought a red hooded Anne Klein Pea coat (yes, little red riding hood) in the spring 2 years ago, still love it and it was like $20!

luckylily · Gucci

I absolutely love coats, but I don't own any winter coats other than my rain jacket. What can I say, I live in Seattle, lots of rain and never very cold. Every year I want I beautiful winter coat, but I never make it a priority because I don't really *need* one for our weather. I have tons of light jackets and those keep me warm enough.

I really would like to invest in a Mackage coat tho, and I would hope that it would last for many, many years.