Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with coat

Time to get a grownup coat

bunji — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:10:04 -0800

Can anyone identify this lovely plaid coat? Also seen here, and in a series of thumbnails here.

I'd also love recommendations of similar coats. What I especially like about it: mainly the muted black/charcoal plaid, as well as the knee-ish length and the slightly nipped-in shape. No strong feelings about the collar, buttons or pockets.

Any leads appreciated! My current Value Village coat has served me well, but is too big and deserves a new owner who fits it.

Where can I buy a neoprene coat?

niles — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:34:23 -0800

Where can I find a neoprene winter jacket? I'm imagining something that's relatively thin, but wind-resistant and very warm. Is this even practical? I just bought some neoprene gloves (similar to these), and they are amazing. They're really warm, but still thin enough to allow good dexterity. In fact, my hands are now considerably warmer than the rest of my body.

I immediately thought that I need a neoprene jacket to even things out. The only thing I found was this, but it looks too much like a biking jersey to me. Is there anyone else out there selling neoprene jacket?

Alternatively, would something like this work? I realize that wetsuit material is designed to have the layer of water between your body and the wetsuit (I could duplicate that with a fleece jacket, right?), but my gloves work so well, I imagine that a wetsuit top like that would be really warm. Am I horribly wrong here?

Why don't they have Big&Tall stores for women?

decathecting — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:28:33 -0800

I need to buy a warm winter coat for a woman who is a size 18 and is 6'2" tall. Where can I find such a thing? Many retailers have long wool winter coats. Some sell size 18. Some sell tall sizes. But I can't seem to find a warm winter coat in a size 18 Tall.

I'm looking for a long coat in the classic wool overcoat style. Single-breasted is preferred to double, but at this point, I can't be too picky. The coat should be warm enough to wear at a 0 degree F temperature. Something with Thinsulate or another super-warm lining would be ideal. Hoping for a standard, conservative color, so bold prints or hot pink are not ideal. This would be absolutely perfect, but since it doesn't come in tall sizes, the sleeves would very likely be way too short. Given the price for these sorts of things, I'd prefer to buy something that will last a while.

Some of the places I've already looked include:
L.L. Bean (no tall sizes)
Land's End (no tall sizes)
J Crew (only goes up to 14T or 16)
Old Navy (nothing warm enough, quality likely lacking)
Burlington Coat Factory (website and store near me had no tall sizes for women)

Can anyone find this coat? Thanks!

We all came out of Gogol's overcoat... but then it fell apart.

dnesan — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:51:14 -0800

Toronto & Southern Ontario Mefites, help me save my favorite winter coat! I have a wonderfully warm and comfortable woollen winter overcoat that has lasted me a decade of Toronto winters, but the lining is rather quickly shredding. I had it relined once about a year and a half ago, but they clearly did a rather shoddy job. I'm now looking for a tailor (or seamstress or whomever) that can replace the lining and do a good job of it, as I would like to keep this coat for as long as I can. I'm not looking for the cheapest option, but a reasonable price or good value is always nice.

Can anyone recommend places where you've had good experiences? I've read these AskMes, but I'm hoping someone might have a tailor that they know can reline a coat like nobody's business.

Help me find a winter coat in Tokyo!

Athelthral — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:27:36 -0800

I'll be in Tokyo in a few weeks, and I want to buy a new winter coat while I'm there. Budget: $250ish. I'm looking for something fairly simple, classic and durable. I'm not going to have too much time for shopping, so I'd like suggestions of specific shops I could visit, and if possible, links to online stores so that I can have an idea of what to expect. If it helps, I'm looking for a grey wool coat, of about knee length or shorter (on a short person): maybe something like this, though I'd prefer if it were single-breasted and had a higher wool content.

It doesn't have to be something that can only be found in Japan - I live in the tropics and there isn't much of a selection over here, so this trip is my best chance to find a replacement for my current coat.

Thanks in advance!

Need sites for new leather jacket

Ikazuchi — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:21:54 -0800

So its about time to get a new leather jacket. I'm male and looking for either a "car coat" or "walking coat" style and I need it in ~2XLT. I can't find anything good at Burlington, Zappos, or Wilsons. Anyone have a good idea where else to hunt something like this up online? I don't necessarily need to purchase it online, but at least hunt for a jacket whose look I like.

Help me find a new beloved leather coat?

desuetude — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:56:58 -0800

I am looking to replace my beloved leather coat, which was stolen last spring. So now it's fall, and the stores are full of coats, but I've found that nothing even remotely comparable seems to be in style at the moment. Am I missing the secret source for classic, fashionable, longer-length leather coats? Do I need a fashion lesson and some nudging? Mine was Kenneth Cole from 2001ish, black leather, lambskin, very soft and smooth and gently glossy. Longer, but not full-length – about 36" from shoulder. It zipped all the way up to a simple collar. Lightly lined. It had a belt, but wasn't a trenchcoat style at all, the cut of the coat was sleek, sleek, sleek.

I loved it. It made me feel sexy and put-together; it suited my style and flattered me. It was my perfect city coat. It reached nearly to my knees, giving me some protection from the wind-tunnel gusts, but it wasn't so long that it was a heavy nuisance to carry around or drape over the back of a chair, or cumbersome for this fast-walker while walking home.

The sleek short leather jackets I'm seeing in department stores (like Macy's) and online (Zappo's, Amazon, Bluefly) are cute, but not something I need – they're too casual and they don't fill the desired warmth/season/dressiness gap left behind by my old coat. Plus, I have a warm, lovingly-tortured biker jacket. Parkas are also too casual. I have a lightweight thrift-store leather blazer and don't want another. The longer leather coats I see in the stores are A-line sort of cut with buttons like this, but I've got a small frame and I look decidedly frumpy in this style.

I'm willing to consider other styles of coats beyond an exact replica of my old coat, but would like it to be long enough to hit me at least mid-thigh, and I'd like it to be leather. Dammit.

My company has offered to replace my coat, which is why I'm getting a little antsy. I don't want to hold up resolving this too long, for fear that this will start to get politically and financially complicated -- it seems impolite to dither around forever in taking them up on their offer.

I live in Philadelphia. If suggested stores are online, I'd need a pretty reasonable return policy in case I have to do some considerable trying-on-and-returning. I'm shooting for something in the $200-$500 range.

Help normalize my spiking blood pressure!

rachaelfaith — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:54:25 -0800

Can you help me not freak out about my suddenly spiking blood pressure? This is related to birth control and anxiety. Also looking for methods to calm myself down in anticipation of a reading. Some history: Have not had any indication of high blood pressure since I started taking birth control 5 years ago- I typically register in at 120/80. I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo for 3 years and switched to Yaz 2 years ago after some ovarian cysts showed up.

I used to be overweight but lost 45 pounds and am now at what I believe to be a relatively healthy weight [about 5'3", 137 lbs]. I do not smoke and I don't consume caffeine. I don't have a stellar diet, but I try to keep an eye on my sodium intake. I work out around 3 times a week, though college classes are taking a toll on my consistency.

I have had a history of anxiety for just about forever. Panic attacks, avoidance, social anxiety, health anxiety, and so on.

Went to my OB-GYN yesterday for a regular pap and pelvic, they were about to renew my birth control scrip when they mentioned my blood pressure was too high- about 130/89. They waited about 10 minutes and took it again- even higher, because I was nervous. Now I'm told I have to get it retaken elsewhere before I am given the scrip to prove it's not prehypertension or higher.

Of course, I'm now freaking out [over the possibility of HBP, over possibly not being able to obtain my birth control] and my heart's been racing ever since. I took one measure at home of my blood pressure and it was really quite high- something ridiculous like 144/89.

Now I fear that I will not be able to calm myself down enough to get back to normal, much less when I go for an official reading.

Is there any reason my BP would jump so high in a one-month period since my last normal reading? Besides deep breathing, how else can I calm myself down in order to obtain a neutral reading?

Yaaargh. Help!

How to find a self-belted trench coat on eBay?

Betsy Vane — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:02:47 -0800

Is there an official term for a belt on a coat that's sewn right into the coat - besides an inset belt? I have been looking on eBay and elsewhere for a trench coat but not only am I cheap, I'm very picky - I think belted ones look bunchy and non-belted ones look shapeless, so I want the kind where the belt is set right in. It creates a nice fitted look. I've seen this called an "inset belt" - seems to make sense, right? But as a search term that NEVER turns up results. Is it called something else? I can't look through 20,000 search results! Thanks for your help with this critical and weighty question.

Where can I get this coat worn in The Time Traveler's Wife?

cda — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:49:34 -0800

How can I find out where to buy the coat that Rachel McAdams wore in The Time Traveler's Wife? Is there a message board where you can ask about movie wardrobes? Or do you know where to by this coat? Or can you help me with a description of the style and fabric so I can Google it? Thanks!

Where can I get the coat Josh Groban wore at the We Are One concert?

i love cheese — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:11:24 -0800

Where can I get a coat like the one that Josh Groban wore at the We Are One concert? You can see it in this video starting at about 2:20.

How will my tailored coat turn out?

whataboutben — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:18:02 -0800

Tailoring question: Tell me what to expect if I have my wool coat altered. Details and pictures inside. I have very little experience with having clothes tailored, so I have no idea what is possible and what isn't.

I own a wool peacoat. I would like the sleeves to be 1 inch, possibly 2 inches longer. I asked two tailors if it could be done, and they both said yes. I'm assuming this would be done by taking out the hem and using the extra fabric that is already there (about 1 inch).

Here are pictures of the sleeves:

Outside detail
Inside detail
Outside and inside

Is this a common task that tailors perform? How good of a job can I expect them to do on this? Will the sleeve edges look exactly the same as before on the outside? How about on the inside? Will there be crease marks where the hem used to be?

Now, lets say I wanted to lengthen the sleeves by greater than one inch -- since it doesn't look like the hem is more than one inch, should I assume this is not possible? Or are there some magic tailoring tricks I am not thinking of?

Give me any details you can think of -- don't assume I know anything just because it's obvious.

Thanks.

I want a winter coat this cute AND warm.

Kololo — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:19:07 -0800

I am a woman in toronto, and I want to buy a winter coat that is both stylish and warm. Not stylish or warm, stylish AND warm. It's a harder combo to find than you think. I live in downtown toronto, so I walk a lot (i walk to/from work about 3.5 km away, every day), and I'm tired of either being cold on my walk or stupid looking when i arrive at work in a ski jacket.

Here's what I'm looking for:
- Mid-thigh to knee length
- Down filled
- No belt, no super shiny material (these two are very common this season , it seems.)
- Fashionable & flattering
- I'd prefer a colour other than black, but am flexible.
- Max price preferably $500, but willing to pay more for the BEST JACKET EVER.

I found a couple of jackets from Soia & Kyo that I liked, but this one was strangely unflattering on me, and this one is owned by too many people I know. But that should give you an idea of the kind of styles i've looked at.

Any ideas for brands, stores, or specific jackets? Available anywhere in toronto is fine, but downtown or on the subway line is best.

Thanks!

Cool sites for teenage boy clothing?

mygothlaundry — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:04:00 -0800

Where are the cool kids buying their winter jackets these days? Parka type garment needed for a 17 year old boy. My son needs a new winter coat and his birthday is coming up in a couple weeks, so I'd like to order something he'd really like. Last year he got a parka from CCS (now outgrown, of course) but he's not crazy about this year's picks. He also likes the Dr. Jays site, although none of their coats, but it will give you an idea of his style. He's about 6'2" and skinny with longish blondish hair. I'm hoping that this jacket will last more than one winter - I think he might be done growing - so I'm willing to invest some money into it, by which I mean, like $100 - $150. He would rather eat broken glass than actually go to the mall, so this jacket must be available online.

What is this strange buttoned-on loop on the inside of my coat?

Your Time Machine Sucks — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:14:18 -0800

What is the purpose of this weird detail (a button-on loop of some kind with wool on one side and velvet on the other) on the inside of my new coat? I just picked up a new winter coat and it has a weird interior detail which I've never seen before, and I can't seem to find reference to what it might be in any fashion dictionaries or bespoke sites, and the curiosity is starting to get to me.

As you can see in this crappy cameraphone photo, it is a buttoned-on loop of some kind, right next to the edge of the inside lining, and is basically positioned near enough to the belt line that I suppose it could be a belt loop, but I can't imagine what the possible use of belting your belt to your coat could be. The inward-facing side of the loop is velvet. Is it for securing my sidearm? I hope so. Anyway, please let me know what it is, if you know. Thanks!

(Bonus note to Berlin mefites: Karstadt Schnäppchen-Center on Karl-Marx-Str. 92 has a good coat sale right now).

Coats that go with blazers

mpls2 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:53:00 -0800

What kinds of coat should I wear with a blazer? Yes, this question is as elementary as it sounds, and I'm pretty sure than my North Face parka isn't the right answer.

For example, is this a coat that would be worn with a blazer?

Thanks!

Doggy goosebumps

little miss s — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:18:25 -0800

Are my dogs cold? These are my dogs, Cordy and Dean, sunning in Miami FL. We recently moved to Seattle WA from Miami and it is already noticeably colder here. Dean and Cordy have lived all of their 7 years in South Florida. They are totally indoor dogs, only going outside when I walk them. I keep the house somewhat heated, not letting it get below 65 F. They have dog beds and I set up an electric heater to keep their area of the house warm while they sleep. I still feel like they must be cold because I get a little chilly and often put on more clothes. Should I buy coats for my dogs? I've never been into dressing my animals and honestly, I've always thought it was a little silly. Now I'm wondering if there isn't some practicality to it in cold climates. I know Huskies and Malamutes don't need coats but maybe my dogs do?

As a followup if anyone does think I should get coats for my dogs, any suggestions where to buy them?

Just like Paddington Bear

oflinkey — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:46:36 -0800

Does anyone make rubber, lined raincoats with latch fasteners any longer? When I was much younger I had a raincoat that was yellow, rubber and lined with plaid wool. It also had metal latch closures on the front-- not buttons or snaps. One friend had one with toggles.

Maybe 10 years ago in a "rich-men-with-too-much-money-who-buy-repro-sextons-and-2k-shearling-coats" catalog, I saw what they called a "Maine Fisherman's coat"-- rubber, lined with brown corduroy, with some kind of metal closures. It was about 400 bucks. I did not get it as, at the time, I was in college.

Since then, I have looked everywhere online. This includes eBay, Bean, Land's End and Orvis. I have also looked and in a few boating/fishing stores for something similar, but to no avail. Everything looks athletic, or it looks too fashion-forward. I have searched under slicker, rain gear, rain coat, and a host of other terms. What I mostly find is more modern, construction-worker rain gear which is invariably unlined and has snap closure.

Any ideas?

Looking for a poster of Jesus

royalchinook — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:43:24 -0800

A while ago, I went into a Christian bookstore and saw a poster/reprinted painting of Jesus dressed in a very colorful coat and he had a really big smile and was possibly laughing. From what I remember, the picture showed the whole body of Jesus as opposed to just his face - can anyone help me find this image? There's a best answer in it for the winner :)

BTW - The basic Google search yielded some fine pictures, but not the one I was searching for.

Help me find a cool looking jacket

Mid — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 21:13:52 -0800

I want to find a cool winter jacket or coat - sorta like the Buzz Rickson "Pattern Recognition" jacket. Fashion details inside. So, the winter is long in Chicago and I'm already sick of putting on the same coat all the time. I'd like to get a new winter coat, but I've got some particular fashion ideas that I'm not sure even exist:

1. The coat is black or gray and is made of a synthetic fiber, I think -- it looks slick and modern. Definitely no leather. Maybe wool or a wool blend.

2. The coat is not puffy, but is warm enough for the 10-30F range. Maybe thinsulate or something similar.

3. The coat is short or 3/4 length - not a topcoat or overcoat.

4. No logos.

5. This is where it gets difficult: the coat is OK for the office, but looks cooler than a standard office drone coat (I have that). Some of the stuff that Nau makes looks the part, but I'm not sure it's warm enough.

6. The thing that got me thinking about a new coat is the Buzz Rickson "Pattern Recognition" jacket that is based on a description in a William Gibson book (you'll have to Google because I can't form links without the button). But its a little too narrow and "skinheady" for me.

Any leads appreciated. Thanks.

Help me find my boyfriend's coat!

stoneegg21 — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 04:05:11 -0800

My boyfriend has a coat he found at Salvation Army he just loves. However, it's dying from overuse. Help me find a new one for Christmas. This is what the coat looks like. It's a pretty long coat, 41' from collar to bottom. It goes down to almost his knees, but it's not oversize for him, because the sleeve length is what it's suppose to be.

It's got 'Chiavari Originals,' and on a separate line, 'Chas Grotsky, Bayonne.' The interior lining is pretty shredded, and that's all the info I can find on the inside. I tried googling it, can't find a thing.

At the least, can anyone tell me what kind of coat it is? If I know what kind, I can look for the same type, even if it won't be the same brand. If no one can find anything, I'm down to asking a tailor to copy it, and that will probably be expensive and take a while.

How do I ensure that I stay healthy while spending time outdoors during the winter?

gregb1007 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:41:28 -0800

How do I ensure that I stay healthy while spending time outdoors during the winter? I love being outdoors, walking around the neighborhood, taking the train into town and sauntering along the streets.

However, the cold weather of fall and winter has had the unfortunate effect of turning me into a couch potato. I've started fearing the outdoors because even though I dress in layers and never feel cold, I still manage to get at least a minor case of cold/sore threat. I think it may have to do something with the fact that I walk briskly and work up a sweat. ( That is phenomenon is exacerbated by layers of clothing)

So what should I do to avoid the potential cold/sore threat?
(Btw, I usually wear a coat with a warm sweater underneath, and a hat. Also, sweatpants underneath my khakis when it's really freezing out. When the time comes, gloves and a scarf will come into the equation.)

Brrr...

libraryhead — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:45:10 -0800

Help me find a flattering coat. I lost 20 pounds (yay!) and last year's winter coat is too big. Help me find a new one that fits my criteria:

* warm enough for Boston winters (avg. 20s in the morning in January)
* flattering to a shortish, size-14 hourglass figure
* works for driving, walking, riding the train
* works with pants or knee-length skirts
* appropriate with office clothes, but not too dressy for casualwear (I have a parka for skiing/outdoor exercise, so it doesn't need to cover that base)
* roomy enough in the shoulder to go over a suit jacket
* has pockets that don't look completely deformed if you put gloves in them
* closes up pretty well at the neck -- no open shawl collars or the like -- for warmth. I love nice knitted scarves but always forget to wear them. I also like hoods.
* in a nice punchy color or pattern (green? orange? I'm a redhead) -- no boring black or navy. A brown might work if it has interesting details.
* budget: up to $250

My feeling is that plain cloth coats won't be warm enough, so Thinsulate or other insulation would be a plus.

I'm not sure on the length: Long would be warmest, but is that too bulky for driving? My last coat was a shortish jacket and I hated how it would ride up and expose the small of my back to the cold carseat. Yet I don't want a ton of extra material bunching up under me.

Do I need three coats to satisfy my wishlist? Or will AskMe direct me to the One True Coat?

shopping for a woman's coat

eisenkr — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:52:01 -0800

What's a good place to buy relatively inexpensive women's coat (either online or in manhattan)? My girlfriend is sick of the winter coat she bought from H&M a few years ago, so I'm planning on buying her one as a present. I know she likes the Double-faced wool bella coat from J-Crew, but I'd love to find something similar for a little less money. We've tried thrift stores and some department stores, but they don't usually have a good selection for size 0s. I know nothing about where to shop for this stuff, so I'm hoping you all can help.

Changing the way a coat hangs.

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:31:11 -0800

Help modifying a coat. This concerns a present for a friend who reads Metafilter, so I apologize for the vagueness and unhelpful pictures. See, the friend has an old photograph that he greatly admires, featuring a man in an awesome coat. We've managed to locate a seemingly perfect replica of the coat.

There's a problem, though. It's a thick, heavy, duffle coat, designed to be worn buckled and closed. In the picture, the coat is being worn open, unbuckled, with the two, um, front halves lying flat. If it's done up, it no longer looks right. If you wear this coat open, however, the weight of the hood causes the front parts to swing open and back, revealing the lining and generally looking terrible. This is less awesome then intended.

As much as it's also supposed to be a practical winter coat, if we can get it to look right it'll mean just a huge amount to him. Is there something we can do to make it hang right? Even at the expense of comfort? Ironing and pressing it under weights failed. One of the co-gifters wants to install some sort of wire, but I'm not sure.