Winter is right around the corner and that means bringing all of the winter gear out from hiding, especially a coat. A good winter coat can last you for years, all while keeping you warm and cozy. I recently bought a coat for $30 and thought it was the greatest deal in the world. Until, the pocket developed a huge hole and the lining started to tear. Trust me, I am not one to destroy my clothing or neglect it. I just made a huge impulse buy and definitely felt a bit of remorse as I stared at the threads poking out of my sleeves. However, there are some ways to avoid this situation. There are definitely a few factors that should go into buying a new winter coat.
Color
I would definitely recommend that you never buy a coat that is considered “in trend.” The reason for this is because trends of a specific month or season quickly become fads and rarely become the next LBD (little black dress). A winter coat should be in the neutral area, so no matter what year or season you are in, you’ll look great and timeless. I recommend colors like khaki, navy, black, brown, and possibly a deep plum.
Size
What I mean by size is asking the question “would multiple layers fit underneath my coat?” The coat wouldn’t serve its purpose if you could only wear a t-shirt underneath it. A good thing to do with coat shopping is when you are in the store, try on the coat on top of your clothing without taking any layers off. That way you know if the coat would fit you, despite the layers.
Label
Always, always, always check the label on your coat. A coat that is 60% polyester, 30% nylon and 10% wool is not going to help you in any way. That coat will not be warm enough to bear cold weather and you technically bought the equivalent to a jacket. What you want is something that is wool or wool blend. You really want the coat to be over 50% wool just so you get what you paid for. A wool coat is worth the investment and the best thing is you won’t need a new one for a while!
Price
Ever hear of the phrase you get what you paid for? This applies to coats too. Spending at least $100 on a great coat will save you the trouble of taking another trip a couple of months later because the lining is ripping or some seams came undone. Invest in a great coat and it will last for years. Now, I don’t mean break the bank, but go to the store, try on a couple of coats and see how you like each one. Besides, if you wear the coat 100 times you got your money’s worth!
