Coats
"A coat is not about a designer label. Rather, it is about style, comfort and adoration." Fur Coat & No Knickers 2009
The "Fur Coat" coat.
I bought my investment coat three winters ago. It is a stunning soft green colour with jeweled buttons. It is made from pure wool and has a pink silk lining. Whenever I wear it, I garner comments. I spent three years looking for this coat and hope (moths permitting) to have it for life. If you happen upon your investment coat, do not be tempted to pay expensive prices for a coat that has a low wool percentage. Your investment coat should always be at least 60% wool otherwise you are wasting your money (Cashmere, Alpaca mixes are great…obviously!) It should have minimal seasonal give away (i.e. trendy patterns, detailing and up to the minute bright colours etc.). Spend more money on this investment item because it will last you and keep you cosy for at least five seasons. This will be the Fur Coat of your wardrobe to elevate your style as and when the mood takes you.
Classic chic is the look you are going for and will require masses of research. I have had to sit out three seasons before buying an investment coat that suits me because the fashions with their funnel necks and their wide colours and belts have made me look like an angry dwarf. Do not rush into this buy. This will be a long-term commitment to a garment that will become a piece of memorabilia in the family home. A great guide to buying coats can be found at Overstock. 
Boden is a good starting place for finding a coat. Although these designs can often be staid, the designs provide a good comparison to high-end high street stores. Jigsaw also has some classic styles and typically uses classic colour ways that will not date within a year. Hobbs and LK Bennett will give you the traditional classic look with coat styles that aren't too seasonal. Reiss do more imaginative designs but watch out that their styles and particularly colour ways do not look out of fashion within a year. Also read the label extremely carefully because you may be paying for a name rather than the quality of the fabric. The classic and relatively expensive coat should be a blank, warm and cosy canvas that makes you feel like it was money really well spent.
The No Knickers 'Mood' coat
Expensive coats are however not the be all and end all alternative. We have found that a cheaper coat with expensive accessories actually pushes you higher up the style strata than a person wearing an expensive coat with cheap scarves and handbags. So don't feel pushed in to buying an expensive coat. No Knickers is yet to find her investment coat but is romantically committed to the idea that a wardrobe should have one 'classic, theatre going, and meal out coat' that was a real investment that you will love forever.
Your No Knickers coat is really a mood coat. It might be colourful, romantic, fake fur but should cost no more than £60. It will probably last you a couple of seasons and can be thrown on as and when the mood takes you!
Vintage coats make fabulous mood coats. They add a touch of unique retro chic that you cannot put a price on. Try some cheaper end forays to Camden market, Notting Hill and Brick Lane if you are in London.
The choice of colour for your No Knickers mood coat is crucial. Typically a lighter, brighter coat, unless it is vintage, will often look cheaper than a muted toned coat. This is simply because the lighter, brighter colours will emphasise the quality of the fabric and the tailoring. If you do choose a light, bright coat, make sure that the fabric is stunning and the tailoring is smart. A vintage look also suits the brightly coloured coats. You can splash out on an Fur Coat parka. However, there are some good designs in cheaper shops and it is worth being on the look out for the cheap ranges because casual clothing is harder to put a price on. Remember if you have your investment sunglasses and handbag, no one will be checking the label on your dog-walking coat!
If you cannot afford the coat you love ...
...buy a jacket or two!
No Knickers spent three years unable to afford to buy a coat that she liked. She resisted putting a coat on her Christmas present list because she had other priorities like winter boots and jumpers. She managed to make do with jackets that made a smaller dint in her bank account and she could buy two jackets for the price of one coat. Top Shop is especially good at interesting styling for cheaper end jackets. See our Jackets page for more advice.
FCaNK Recommends:
Fur Coat Coats £100+
No Knickers coats £50+
No Knickers Coats £ 30+
Casual, walk the dog coats, No Knickers Coats £15+
In summary:
- Have one Fur Coat coat, which you might wait for years to buy.
- Steer clear of up to the minute fashion details on an investment Fur Coat coat.
- No Knickers Mood coats are ephemeral fun and should cost no more than £60.
- Watch out for colour ways because some look cheaper than others.
- If you cannot afford a coat that you like, buy two jackets instead.
Comments