You know how they say, “Be the person you needed growing up?” Today’s post is me being the person I needed when I began building a non-maternity, non-postpartum wardrobe.
Generally speaking, when I shop, I am instinctively drawn to the quick and easy, to the item that will deliver a flutter of fun, a piece that pops with interest. Black pants don’t sound fun, despite the fact that I will wear them fifty times per year. A cute floral shirt or a pair of new earrings woo me in, overshadowing the basics and delivering a hit of dopamine.
No more.
Coats, as it turns out, are one of the best pieces of investment clothing you can make for your wardrobe. And the best part? They deliver longevity and and fun!
I used to view coats as solely functional. Keep me warm, and a coat has done its job. But then, one day, I found the most adorable pink tweed overcoat. Not only was it on sale, but it was 60% off of sale, which brought the price down to a number that felt foolish to walk away from. So I bought it, primarily because it sounded fun and I love pink.
When it arrived, the fit was perfect, and I was delighted by how cute and distinctive it looked on. I ended up wearing that coat all the time…with jeans, with pants, with everything in my closet. With each wear I realized the value of a coat to add visual interest and distinction to an outfit.
Today I want to make the case for intentionally adding coats to your wardrobe.
The problem with coats is they are not cheap. They are usually pricey, at least at first. But what I have learned, and the case I want to make for you today, is that coats win the long game. Give me one coat over twenty fun tops. Give me one pop-of-color coat over ten trendy accessories. Give me one well-made, cute, stylish coat, and it will reward me with years of delight.
The case for coats also encourages us to hold on to our fashion purchases. Coats do not typically rotate out of rotation quickly. We hold on to coats and bring them out seasonally for warmth and flair. In all of my purchases, I have never regretted a coat. This holds true for warm overcoats, lighter trench coats, sweater coats, and seasonal blazers.
From a girl who basically lives in jeans and white shirts, coats elevate basics in a way that fast trends cannot.
My top piece of advice when purchasing a coat is to consider size and fit (a poorly fitting coat is a waste of money), but then go for it. Don’t be conservative. Buy the hot pink parka. Embrace the red pleated trench. Go for the plaid tweed blazer. The more exciting it is to you, the more preposterous it sounds, the more “out there” you think it might be…the better. Obviously, don’t buy something that doesn’t speak to you, but if a calls to you, lean in and listen.
My favorite coat purchases are the ones that make a statement. The pink tweed. The red trench. The seersucker blazer. The pale lavender overcoat. These coats are not, as you might expect, a one-trick pony. They are the piece I grab over and over, incorporating them into my wardrobe and feeling like a million bucks every time.
SHOP THE COATS
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