It’s the Rodney Dangerfield of the closet.
Despite being winter’s workhorse, battling the elements day in and day out, the winter coat just doesn’t get any respect. “You’ll see a woman walking down the street, she’s got her makeup done, her hair is done–and she’s wearing a 20-year-old coat,” said Nena Ivon, manager of special events at Chicago’s Saks Fifth Avenue. “I want to ask, ‘Why are you doing that?’
“We put a lot of time into our clothes,” added Ivon, who sees otherwise well-dressed men and women with torn coat hems or ragged lining. “We’re wearing outerwear every day, and we don’t give it the same attention.”
With that in mind, Q offers Part 1 of a guide to essential coats that will get you through Chicago’s darkest days. This week the focus is on women. Next week we’ll move on to men.
1. The peacoat: Whether traditional or a bit wilder, the peacoat inherently has a little more attitude than other coats.
Krista Kaur Meyers, owner of Krista K boutique on Southport Avenue, likes a rose-colored peacoat by Rebecca Taylor. “It’s a great way to add color in your wardrobe,” she said. “It looks great with black, tan, chocolate and denim.”
The peacoat also can double as your transitional coat. (See No. 5.)
Rose peacoat by Rebecca Taylor, $483; chocolate alpaca scarf by Rebecca Taylor, $144; handknit ivory wool bag (as carried by Carrie on HBO’s “Sex and the City”) by Christina Caruso, $331. All at Krista K boutique, 3458 N. Southport Ave., 773-248-1967.
2. The dress coat: Jo Ann Young, trend correspondent for Marshall Field’s, likes a “great coat”–one of plush wool that falls to the ankles with fur or faux fur around the collar and/or cuffs.
For everyday wear, you can skip adornments and go shorter. Try monochromatic accessories for greater sophistication.
Camel hair coat by Larry Levine, $325; honey chunky wool fringed scarf, $55. Both at Marshall Field’s, 111 N. State St.
3. The sporty, shoveling or errand-running coat: Distressed shearling is the look of the moment with actual staying power. “Shearling will take a lot of beating,” said Nena Ivon of Saks. To save, go faux. Pick classic colors–black, camel or brown instead of brights–if you want it to be more than a one-season wonder.
Or try a quilted down jacket. To avoid looking too poufy, buy at fingertip or hip length and wear tights underneath pants for warmth, Ivon added.
Caramel faux shearling coat by Bahar Korcan, $596; multicolored pocketbook with wood rings by Lauren Moffatt, $140. Both at Krista K boutique.
4. The trench coat: “The trench coat is extremely desirable and should be high on your list this season,” said Susan Glick, fashion director for Chicago’s Apparel Center. “It defines the waist; it has that look of mystery. The full-length coat is looking right again.”
Many of these coats, especially this year, are affordable with better design, she said.
“It’s not the coat you wear because it’s cold,” said Glick, who suggests shopping Burberry for investment pieces that will last. “They have a fashion message.”
Cotton Gladmore trench coat, $1,450; Icon donegal plaid cashmere scarf, $295. Both at Burberry, 633 N. Michigan Ave.
5. The transitional coat:
This coat can take a variety of forms–denim, leather, microfiber–as long as it moves from fall into winter and possibly winter into spring (unless fur is involved). Chicago designer Jane Hamill recommends a black denim jean jacket with black rabbit fur around the collar and cuffs by SPI 25 or a knee-length black nylon raincoat with gray flannel lining for added warmth.
A black leather or, for fun, red leather jacket also fills the bill.
Black denim jacket with camel hair trim by SPI 25, $202; wool boucle zigzag hat by Jane Hamill, $65; caramel wool purse by Jane Hamill, $65. All at Jane Hamill, 1117 W. Armitage Ave., 773-665-1102.
