What is a Car Coat?

The perfect coat for our times.

Lots of discussion about coats around me lately. Its a category I find hard to think about until I’m convinced fall weather is 100% behind us. But its time!

The beauty of coat season, is that it’s sort of the only item that matters. It’s the other three seasons I’m mixing, matching and layering. Come coat season, I mostly wear Everlane men’s sweaters, Levis 501s, a durable boot and a wild array of outerwear.

Lately, I’m drawn to the more feminine shape of a car coat, as opposed to traditional men’s styles like a camelhair or double breasted. Obsessing is probably a better term if you look at the text history between me and friends of 5 Things Lauren and Leandra. The term Car Coat comes from the oversized coats fancy people wore to go for a ride in a car back when cars were novel. Now it’s used to describe roomy overcoats, usually with a collar, and one set of buttons all the way down the front.

Here’s why I think this style is right for right now:

• The collar frames the face, sweetly. It’s basically an extension of the collared sweater explosion that was knitwear this fall.

• The single set of buttons and wider body makes it easy to envelope yourself. Buttoned all the way up, there’s no breeze at the chest or fussing with a double breasted situation. And it properly hides your sweatshirt underneath, because lets be honest, we’re never fully going back to full looks.

• It doesn’t really require a scarf (see buttoning all the way up above.) You can put on a dainty silk scarf for a little extra warmth or flavor but it allows you to leave the monster scarves at home…an accessory I’ve veered away from ever since adopting air pods.

• It has an old feeling. Maybe it feels vintage, or feels like your grandmother had one similar. It just feels like the little tweak that makes an outfit harder to place…the ultimate goal in personal style, no?

Below, a handful of roomy coats I want to wear. Just remember, key here is ROOMY. No cinching at the waist. No pulling at the hips when you button it. You want your coat to fall nicely, even when you have a flannel, sweater and Uniqlo down layer underneath.

She’s a great color. And she is on sale! You’re welcome.

I shot this Toteme coat (which has a removable quilted lining) for WSJ back in Sept. I’m still thinking about it. It is VERY generous in its sizing so size down.

I love this Weekend Max Mara coat. The sleeves, the fabric, the covered buttons! It’s on its last e-commerce legs though. Here it is on sale in a US12. Sizes 4,6 and 8 linked above. If you must have her and are not those sizes, call the store and have them search inventory! (212) 879-6100

Khaite Pheldon coat. I love sale season!

Tory Burch’s evening option. Though to be honest, looks great with sweatpants too.

And I know this is a newsletter about five things, but here are two more, if you still feel like clicking:
The RealReal Vintage Bill Blass. OMG.
Officine Generale Just ditch the belt.

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. See you back here next week!

Yours TRULY,

Becky

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