The Everyday F/W Coat & How to Find It

devil's in the details

Seeing as coats are both bulky to store and only wearable one third of the year, you would think we would all have three to five winners and be done with it. However, every year, as the August sweat starts to dry up and the first leaf falls, I find myself on Pinterest or Instagram, steeped in coat envy and stumped that everyone but me has figured out this seemingly simple mission. I sit with 27 tabs open, paralyzed by the endless combinations of lengths, materials, and accoutrements. New or vintage? Wrap or buttons? One button, double breasted, or hidden buttons? Do I need one with a belt? Which neutral do I really wear most? After hours of searching, I find what I believe to be my dream coat (!) and then crumble at the price point. I convince myself I’ll catch it next year on the off season, on sale. I forget, and repeat come next September.

While I love my larger jacket and coat collection, there were many failed attempts along the way. Plus, I still have one (count em - 1!) coat left on my wishlist (plus a utilitarian puffer I have no choice but to purchase for the imminent NYC winters).

My Coat Graveyard

Objectively good coats that failed in practice.. Too Penny Lane, too sporty, too purple, too Dad from Home Alone, too short, too plain

MUST HAVES

The Uniform Coat

I have not found my uniform coat. If I did, that would be the entire post. I rebuke the notion of the generic “6 essential coats” style lists, because basically every coat looks good with a white tee/jeans/boots, so what we’re really looking for is which coat details convey your personal style.