My Favorite Fall Coats Right Now
Tina, here.
Have you seen my coat closet(s)? Yep, uh-huh, I like coats. Almost as much as I like fancy shoes. And fun jewelry. And cognac handbags. Which I have a lot of too. Well now that's it's almost October, it's time to buy coats. Because you know what happens every year? You forget you need one til it's freezing cold and then when you start looking, there are no good coats left. I'm telling you, the good coats go fast and it's especially tough to find any around the holidays.
But dolls. I am obsessed with two types of coats in particular. And I have to make myself stop buying them or I'll turn into a coat lady. The short-sleeve coat is quite a big deal, in case you missed it, and so is the cocoon coat. They are both brilliant designs, very ladylike, and very hip at the same time. If you choose the right ones. Which of course, we're here to help you do that and protect you from bad taste. Which is rampant in coats.
My Favorite Fall Coats Right Now
1. The Short-Sleeve Coat
The last time we were in Paris shopping with clients, I noticed all the chic women were wearing short sleeve furs and coats, and I thought this is what I've been missing all these years!! A short sleeve coat makes so much sense when you are popping in and out of the car or walking your neighborhood, in and out of shops and the market. It's warm enough with long gloves outside, and once you're inside, you're not dying of heat if you keep your coat on (and I find it so cumbersome to keep taking my coat off, carrying it around inside, and then putting it back on while I'm bopping around town).
I found this coat in a consignment shop a couple years ago. I must've been ahead of the curve on this one, because now I'm starting to see them on online retailers' sites. (Our Style Vault Complete members are shopping Coats this week inside the Vault, where we have extra categories to shop like jewelry, shoes and yes outerwear. Complete insiders can shop a style similar to my short sleeve puffer jacket inside!)
Right now I'm fine without gloves, but come winter I finally have a reason to wear my opera length gloves! Kidding, my elbow gloves will do just fine.
A fur collar is a bonus. Also, you can always get crafty and hem your sleeves for a short sleeve coat!
2. The Cocoon Coat
Balenciaga introduced the first cocoon coat in 1957 (the last glory days of beautiful clothes, IMHO). It was quite a bold departure from the hourglass shape Dior was famous for. Balenciaga removed emphasis on the waist by creating an ovoid shape that curves out from the shoulders and then back in at the knees; picture an egg and that's a cocoon coat.
How do you keep yourself from looking like you're wearing a sack?
A cocoon coat requires a fitted pant or skirt underneath to balance the fullness at your mid-section.
Cocoon coats really need to fall below your bum to get the right proportions. You've got to be able to see something smaller in size under the egg shape. Skinny jeans or bootcut jeans or even a pencil skirt that falls to your knees would look fantastic with a cocoon coat.
Here you can see how I am wearing bootcut jeans that are fitted through my hips and thighs, and only start to flare from my knees down (you can read all about my favorite jeans and how to wear them here). A full trouser does not typically work with a cocoon coat.
I designed my coat, why yes I did. I'm quite pleased, really. It's a Katherine Hooker coat (she should have that little crown emblem next to her logo that says "By Appointment to Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge") and all I did was pick the style and fabric and lining. I decided to make the bottom part a slightly darker color to sort of negate the widening effect around the hips.
Take stock of your coat wardrobe now, dolls! Thanks for reading and you'll be seeing more coat styles here on the blog and in the Vault this week!
Best,
Tina
(If you want to see and shop all my must-have collections, try out the Style Vault Complete for free for 5 days. Complete Insiders, you can log in and start shopping my fall coats, including short sleeve and cocoon coats, exclusive to you!)
