A Girl's Best Friend is her Winter Coat?



As I stood outside in the cold Ellensburg wind waiting to pick up my son from preschool, I was reminded of how important it is to have a nice coat or jacket in your wardrobe for the Fall/Winter months.  One of the mom's waiting along side me, commented on my yellow jacket and how she thought it was so cute.  As we chatted, I shivered due to the fact that this particular jacket has only three quarter length sleeves.  Sure the jacket is cute, but I mentioned that she may not see me in it again until spring!  :) How often do we, as women, find ourselves shivering the winter months away in hopes that someone will notice the adorable jacket that was meant for less harsh weather?  Or the opposite, we bundle up in as many sweatshirts and over sized winter coats as possible looking like the kid in  "The Christmas Story."



Good news, there IS a way to stay warm and look cute.  Lets face it, sometimes during the winter, your coat is the ONLY thing people will see you in (ok, hopefully pants too).  Those cute clothes underneath may never get a chance to show themselves for fear of freezing to death.  So take the time to find a coat that you LOVE this winter.  It may even cost you more then the 45 dollars you planned to spend, but this may be your best friend for the next 5 months and if you choose wisely your probably won't need another winter coat for a couple years! 

So what are my options for cute warm coats?

Pea coats - The classic pea coat is just that.....classic.  It's a timeless piece that is almost guaranteed to never go out of style.  Pick a classic color (black, grey, tan) or get funky and try something like yellow, green, purple or orange!  Either way I'm sure you will find yourself feeling a bit more put together on the outside, even if its your stained white tee underneath.  :)  Matched  with a fun pop of color in a scarf and no one will ever notice you were late running out the door to pick up the kids. 

Parkas -  The parka is another great option for a cute winter coat.  There are a variety of colors, rimmed with furs (hopefully fake) to choose from.  Be careful with parkas on choosing one the fits you in a flattering way.  Check the length and where or if its fitted.  I found that certain parkas, though cute on the model, just hit me at a weird length on my body.  Normally the reason was they were too long, which made my body look out of proportion.  If you are short, you will most likely look better in a shorter length, whereas if your tall you can probably get away with a longer version. 







Puffer Jackets - Puffer jackets are much like parkas and when choosing the right style, the same rules apply.  Length and fit are the two most important things to think about.  You may find the most adorable red puffer jacket, but if its too long or boxy it won't give you the results your looking for. 




Trench Coats - These are another classic style that work for many body types.  Because of the belt that cinches in the waist it creates an hour glass figure that we all strive for.  Again look for a length that fits you best. 

Rain Jackets - This is a must if you live in Seattle or anywhere that receives much rain during the year.  There are numerous colors and styles just remember to get one with a hood! 

Cape Coats - Cape coats are a current trend that I have yet to try.  They are loose fitting and seem to create a beautiful look.  I would definitely add these to your list of "try-on" styles, who knows, maybe they will strike your fancy.



My last tip.....maybe you've been wanting to try a trendy style or funky color of coat, but aren't sure if it will last through the years.  Stores with trendy, dare I say "cheap" clothes might be a great way to try something new without spending a fortune.  Though a coat is something you should normally spend a little more on, being a sucker for trends, I too find myself fighting the urge to buy the funky stuff.  Forever21, Charlotte Russe, Papaya or Wet Seal can be great places to "try" out a trend.  I hope I don't alarm anyone by saying the clothes may not live up to our normal standards as far as quality is concerned but maybe they will last as long as the trend.  Sometimes I joke that if the shirt only costs $10 I can wear it twice and get its money's worth. :)  Just keep in mind, if you find that your whole wardrobe comes from one of these stores, you might need to re-direct your efforts into finding a store that will provide a little more quality to your wardrobe.  :) 

REMEMBER .....When trying on coats, make sure you factor in what you will most likely be wearing underneath!  If you normally wear thick long sleeved shirts, you need to give yourself a little room to move.  I hate buying a jacket only to find that it's a tad too small when I have my long sleeves underneath!

Great places to shop for coats!

Nordstrom    Gap   Macy's   The Limited   Express   Banana Republic   Ross   TJ Maxx  

Target   Old Navy   Consignment Stores  

Online Shopping ! 

Shopstyle.com   Zappos.com   Victoriassecret.com   Modcloth.com  

Words of wisdom for online shopping, you really need to be able to try things on.  If your heart is set on a certain coat that you can only find online, make SURE you can return it.  It’s a pain, I know, but it’s better than wasting your time on something that doesn't look right.  You could also try to find something with a similar fit at a store (even if its not the color you want) and try it on to eliminate the coats that were adorable on the rack but didn't work right on your body.  This prevents you from wasting your time with certain styles. 

Email me at stylehelperdee@gmail.com for more ideas!