Coats of Many Colors
Posted on November 17, 2005 10 Comments
I’ve been thinking a lot about coats lately – maybe because it’s getting cold in Chicago, but also because I left one at La Bodega restaurant in Louisville last week. (That sweet sangria took the chill right out of the air, I guess!)
Coats are an expensive item, but a necessity if you live in a cold weather climate. I personally have an entire coat closet, outfitted with the following:
- 2 fleece vests
- 1 fleece jacket
- 1 spring/summer jacket (suitable for high 60′s, low 70′s temps)
- 1 fall coat (suitable for 40 – 60 degrees)
- 1 dress winter coat with Thinsulate (suitable for 0 to 39 degrees)
- 1 “active” winter coat (Columbia) – (This piece layers so it’s suitable for all conditions)
Impressive collection, I know! Luckily, I’ve gotten most of my coats with huge clearance discounts, including those from J. Crew, GAP and Campmoor. My last good coat (the one that I lost) was from the sale rack at Kohl’s. I also used to shop at (gasp!) Burlington Coat Factory until it closed – if one exists near you, go there. I couldn’t tell the difference between BCF coats and their pricey department store look-alikes. They’re all going to be covered in snow, salt and exhaust fumes, anyway.
If you’re in the martket for a new coat, here are some tips that can help you save some dinero:
1. Buy off-season. Truthfully, there is no true “off-season” for coats in Chicago. In the summer, they sell winter coats, and in the winter, well, they probably sell spring coats. My advice is to shop right in the last quarter of the current season. Winter coats are always marked down in February, right before the spring warm-up. (At least that’s what I’ve noticed…any confirmation of this fact is greatly appreciated.)
2. Shop online. I bought a J.Crew coat for more than 50 percent off during the peak season two years ago. Speaking of J.Crew, I just checked their site and found deep discounts on several wool coats with Thinsulate in my size under their “fall sale” tab. (Note…I did NOT buy a coat just then.) I also recently checked out L.L.Bean online and found several “sale” coats at reasonable prices (comparable to but cheaper than Columbia). Overstock.com has all kinds of outerwear sales, with brands like Anne Klein, Steve Madden, J-Lo and Michael Kors.
3. Think beyond your usual high-end department stores. As I mentioned, Burlington Coat Factory has the same type of coats as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. You can also look at Filene’s Basement and Kohl’s for great deals that look respectable.
Do you have suggestions for discount coat shopping? Seattle? Alaska? Let us know. My suggestions are far from complete, I know.
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10 Responses to “Coats of Many Colors”
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November 17th, 2005 @ 7:32 pm
A couple of other online stores for “sportier” coats (e.g. North Face and similar brands):
- Sierra Trading Post
- REI Outlet
- Campmor (check their Bargain Bin)
- Mountain Gear
These are also excellent places to buy other outdoor gear (including things like donating sleeping bags to the homeless).
-Ray
November 17th, 2005 @ 10:11 pm
I got a great Anne Klein wool coat at overstock.com — cheap, warm, cute and $1 shipping! (eek, I sound like a commercial, don’t I?)
November 18th, 2005 @ 3:42 pm
I second all the links posted so far (though mountain gear is new to me). LL Bean has some factory stores too, though I’ve only been to the Freeport one.
I will also give a shout-out to thrift stores. I got my winter jacket (wool plaid, very toasty and retro) for $15 and it needed a new zipper for another $15. And LaLa has found many good quality winter items including her North Face shell for $8
For thrift stores, I recommend scouting out ones in your area and picking a fave…then going once a week at least until you find something you really like.
November 18th, 2005 @ 5:57 pm
Resale!! I found my medium-duty winter coat (Kenneth Cole wool-cashmere) at a consignment shop in Lincoln Park for ridiculously cheap, and it’s in perfect condition. As long as I’ve got enough time to wade through the crap in search of the gems, the consignment shops in the expensive neighborhoods are my favorite places to buy clothing.
November 18th, 2005 @ 6:34 pm
TJ Maxx. I once found a gorgeous Albert Nipon cashmere coat for $65. The department store price was $298. Even Bluefly didn’t have it for less than $198. And what’s more, it was brand new.
Nordstrom outlet is another good place for coats. Or for jeans that matter. I just bought these fabulous $130 Blue Cults for $20. Sometimes you just have to look a little.
November 20th, 2005 @ 4:25 am
I’m surprised that you’d actually need a coat for high 60s/low 70s.
November 20th, 2005 @ 3:22 pm
fivecentnickel-
60s is definetely jacket weather in windy climes like Chicago (or Wisconsin).
I remember when life was simple and I had one heavy winter coat (Lands End wool peacoat with Thinsulate – lasted my entire college career plus three years after college!), and one jacket, and in-between times just called for a hoodie under my jacket. Now with work and commutes and trips to the cabin, and the freezing Wisconsin climate, I have an arsenal of winter coats and jackets. A coat for skiing, dress coats, long coats, short coats, coats with thinsulate, a leather jacket, a fleece jacket.
I second the recommendation of consignment shops. I have purchased some great coats at consignment and thrift stores. I also bought Vaughn a beautiful London Fog overcoat with zip-out thinsulate lining at an estate sale for 50 cents… he has only worn it once (to a funeral), but it is a classic that will last for years.
November 21st, 2005 @ 6:08 pm
Yeah, the 60-70 coat is more of a windbreaker/jean jacket type. We still get colder blasts coming off the lake.
November 21st, 2005 @ 9:59 pm
I need to print out all these suggestions. The 6-year old parka can’t take too many more patches!
November 29th, 2005 @ 7:05 pm
Hit up friends and relatives who live in Florida or other warm states for some coat shopping help. Stores are obliged to stock winter coats down here in Orlando, but hardly anyone buys them because, well, the temperature tends to hover around 75 degrees on Christmas day.
90% of all the coats ordered for the season wind up on the deep discount clearance racks.