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![mannequins in a store wearing winter coats for work](https://corporette.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Favorite-Stores-for-Winter-Coats.jpg)
Alas, I think I've waited too long to do my Hunt for winter coats, as there are only lucky sizes left for everything I like. So instead, let's have a discussion about three things:
- where would you go if you're looking for an AFFORDABLE BUT DEPENDABLY WARM COAT?
- where would you go if you were looking for a STATEMENT COAT (that's slightly affordable)?
- where would you go if you were buying an INVESTMENT COAT?
{related: the best winter coats to wear on your commute}
Some Recent Picks From Our Favorite Stores for Classic Winter Coats for Work
Some of our favorite classic coats for work as of 2024 include: olive / blue / green / caramel / black / gray (not pictured but also) – and don't forget to check out our editors' favorite washable winter coats!
Hunting for great winter coats in plus sizes? These are some of our latest favorites:
![collage of 5 plus-size professional women wearing winter coats](https://corporette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/plus-coats-2024.png)
My Favorite Stores for Winter Coats for Work
My answers would be these — but I'm really curious what you guys would say. (For those of you who have loved J.Crew coats in the past, would you still put them in the first category?)
- Dependably Warm Coats in a Wide Size Range: Lands' End, LL Bean, Talbots, Eddie Bauer, Uniqlo
- Statement Coats: thrift stores/your grandmother's closet, Mackage, The Outnet, Yoox, ASOS, Reiss
- Investment Coats: Burberry, Mackage (or their more affordable line, Soia & Kyo), Fleurette, Cinzia Rocca, Patagonia
As far as statement coats go, I never got a ton of wear out of it but I was pretty thrilled to find a fake fur coat for $10 at a random thrift store in Evanston, IL during my college years — it's probably still hanging in my parents' basement. I also still regret losing my grandmother's blue tweed coat — I'm still hopeful I'll find it one day.
Finally: it wasn't a winter coat, but rather a lighterweight jacket that was a gray check lined with a red satin that I bought on a trip to Germany one summer when I only packed summer clothes, somehow forgetting that 70 degrees is jacket weather, at least for someone who's always freezing like me. It was bought during my skinnier years, and it's one of those things I stubbornly hang onto, even though I haven't fit into it in years.
How about you — where are your favorite places to go for winter coats? Have you bought any great coats recently (regale us with your sale stories, ladies!)! Have you ever had a statement coat that you were super happy to have?
More Great Winter Coats for Work
![link goes to washable winter coats from Bernardo, at Nordstrom Collage of 5 coats: 1) gray Bernardo fitted puffer 2) purple plus-size Eddie Bauer 3) gray North Face 4) black Lands End, 5) green Patagonia 3-in-1](https://corporette.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/washable-winter-coats-2022.png)
There are a ton of fun trendy winter coats for work at Nordstrom this year – these are our favorites!
![trendy coats for work in the 2023 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale](https://corporette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/trendy-coats-for-work-in-the-2023-nordstrom-anniversary-sale.png)
Psst: we've also talked in the past about what to look for in a great winter coat, and rounded up washable winter coats over on our blog for working moms.
2021 updated images via Deposit Photos / fotototo.
JCrew
I’ve always liked jcrew because they have small petites (I.e., 00P). That’s difficult to find. LE and others may have petites, but the sizing is more generous and the coats are too large for me.
uno spumono
Reposting from the tail end of the earlier post:
Hi, long-time lurker, first-time poster.
I’m looking for smartphone recommendations based on voice clarity and loudness over calls (on phone mode, rather than speaker mode) as I have late-onset hearing loss. My trusty Lumia is out of production and I have not had luck with the usual suspects like Samsung Galaxy series, HTC, OnePlus, Moto etc. I can’t afford an iPhone.
Are there any specific phones that stood out to you for their remarkable in-call sound clarity? I’m hoping for dumbphone levels of clarity or anything close to it. My last resort is to get a Nokia dumb phone and use a tablet for all emails/texting (will use Whatsapp wherever possible).
Thanks all!
Violet
I just posted this suggestion on the other thread. I don’t have suggestions for a phone but I do find using headphones with a microphone to make phone convos much easier. I have standard hearing but I find when outside or if I need to make notes or on a group chat it’s very useful. I think most headphones come with a microphone, like the ones that usually come in the smartphone box.
Anon.
I’m looking for a military style oversized parka in black – cotton or twill preferably. Any suggestions? I know H&M has one now but wondering about other sources. Thanks.
Eyecream Question
How do I know whether my eye cream is good or doing the work its meant to? What exactly am I supposed to be looking for the cream to do? Are my dark circles going to look smaller/lighter?
I have two eyecream samples I have been applying every night for a month or so. One on the left and one on the right for comparison. I can’t tell if the difference in my undereyes is due to a night of good sleep v. no sleep, bloating, sleeping on my side (blood flow to one eye more than another) or something else not attributable to the creams. I don’t want to get sucked into a marketing ploy and throw money at a product without knowing it works for me.
Anonymous
If you can’t tell if there’s a difference between the two, there’s probably not. I don’t think undereye cream does anything. You may as well just use your regular moisturizer there.
Anon
I enjoy many skincare products – Sephora, dept store, and drugstore – but I agree that I’m not sure how much eye cream in general actually does. For that reason, I usually just grab something that looks promising at the drugstore (so $25 or less?) with the belief that something has to be better than nothing. But I never really expect an eye cream to do anything other than moisturize.
Anonymous
IMO, eye creams are mostly for moisturizing that very sensitive skin that’s prone to showing signs of aging first. So whatever feels most soothing and moisturizing, go with that one. Nothing topical can really get rid of dark circles, other than plumping out skin and therefore providing a little bit of a buffer between the surface of your skin and the blood vessels under it.
Coalea
I have always heard that while eye creams can reduce puffiness, bags, and fine lines, there’s really nothing they can do to eliminate dark undereye circles.
Wow
I know what you mean about holding on to a coat. Several years ago I bought a wonderful kelly green wool coat from Macys. It fit just right at the time. Now two kids later, it’s just a tad too snug (my weight is the same but I think my ribcage has permanently expanded) and it no longer fits as well. I was about to donate it to Goodwill and at the last minute held back — I just love that coat so much.
Over the years I have found great coats at Burlington Coat Factory, and Nordstrom Rack. Nordstrom online in the sale sections often has good selections/deals.
I really liked J. crew’s offerings this year but everyone woman on the DC metro is wearing that cocoon coat, it’s so recognizable.
Fishie
Dependable – L.L. Bean
Statement (I assume you mean bright color rather than “fancy label” since that would be the investment coat – Boden, J. Crew
Investment – I’d probably go to a fancy department store and see what they have (Neiman, Saks, Bloomingdales, maybe Barneys or Bergdorf’s if I was really looking to be spendy).
Ellen
I agree with Fishie. LL Bean’s the strongest coats, but I would add Lord and Taylor to the Investment listing. I get a lot of coats there that I wear in town, and they are very nice wool and expensive. I do get reimbursement from the manageing partner this year, so I can buy quite a lot more then I used to b/c the manageing partner wants to make me the personal face of the firm. YAY!!!!!
Anonymous
I love that MM La Fleur coat. Has anyone tried it? Worth the splurge?
Anokha
You know, I tried it on, and I didn’t love it for the price point.
Fancy suits
As a longtime reader I am ashamed to be asking this, but where do high-income working women buy suits? I’m talking high ranking government officials, university presidents, CEOs, etc. Do they go to Nordstrom and just buy fancier lines than I do? Bergdorf’s? Boutiques? I feel like there has to be a higher level of quality out there than what I am seeing in department/mall stores.
Here’s what is prompting this: I recently saw “The Post” and swooned over the navy blue collarless suit that MS’s character wears (twice! With 2 different blouses!) and can’t figure out where women find suits that beautiful and well made. It was beautiful in its femininity and uniqueness (it wasn’t just another expensive but basic gray/black suit). It’s not anyplace that I shop.
I’d be willing to drop $1000 on a suit like that. If I could find one. here’s a pic that does not in any way do it justice: https://www.google.com/search?q=the+post+movie+navy+blue+suit+meryl+streep&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiazLaF_f3YAhVmzIMKHUIpDnsQ_AUICygC&biw=1920&bih=950#imgrc=lO-h2X01SXoAeM
Fancy suits
Sorry, here is the article with the pic. https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/new-spielberg-blockbuster-post-richard-11846498
Anonymous
Personal shopper at Neiman Marcus? Private stylist consultations with someone who pulls from a variety of sources?
Katie
I think this is exactly the space Nina McLemore fills. Custom high-end suits for the very accomplished woman who’s looking to make a statement. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/meet-nina-mclemore-the-designer-behind-hillary-clintons-rules-of/
Pompom
I used to walk by the Nina McLemore store every day when I lived in DC. I drooled a lot as I walked instead into the Talbots across the way, right to the back of the store for the clearance section.
Anon
That one was probably made by a costumer. I’ve seen similar suits in vintage stores – often homemade without labels. Have you considered having a tailor make something for you?
Fancy suits
I have not, but you are correct – in the article the costumer says that all of her clothes (including the insane in a good way party caftan) were made for the movie.
Marillenbaum
I am OBSESSED with Meryl’s costumes in that movie. She and Dianne Lockhart from The Good Wife are my professional style inspirations.
waffles
When I was wearing a lot of suits I would get them made at a men’s bespoke tailor. Call around first – some of the men’s shops will also serve women and some will not. They always turned out great though. I was looking for something more classic and less fussy/trendy/embellished than most high-end designers were offering at the time.
Anonymous
This is a bucket list item for me, though I worry that tailors who excel in menswear may not be quite as good at flattering curves.
Anonymous
This is also a case of where I’d want to find a place that did in-store fittings, vs the mail order option available for some men’s suit companies that call themselves bespoke. As a women, you will definitely want an in-store fitting. There’s just too much topographical information to convey otherwise.
Anon
Akris and Armani are the brands that come to mind. I had an Armani suit that fit me 30 pounds ago better than any suit I’ve ever owned.
I’d check out a larger Saks or NM in a city – not a suburban mall – and the designer section of Nordstrom.
BB
Paul Stuart in NY does high-end women’s suits. They will also do custom made – not exactly bespoke, but basically you pick a style and size and they will make that for you in 100s of different fabrics.
Anonymous
Escada, MaxMara, Michael Kors Collection,
LB
This is an investment and budget option for winter coats and suits. On your next vacation to Asia (I have made good experiences in Shanghai-Fabric Market)- have it custom made! You get to pick the fabric (super soft cashmere), cut, style and it is made to fit you perfectly. I had several cashmere winter coats and suits made. Bring pictures and ideas of what you are looking for.
Each was about $100-150. Depending on how many you need/want the plane ticket may pay for itself.
looking for a coat
I was considering this. How do you find the overall quality and do you have any places you’d recommend?
Anonymous
Bought a 100% camel wool coat from Sui Studio (womens line from SuitSupply). Very expensive for me, but I wear it constantly. It’s sleek but still extremely warm, and if I layer it can get me through some of the coldest days. I’d say it was worth it as an ‘investment piece.’
Anonymous
How did I not know about Sui Studio before? I need all the things now.
Pompom
+1 same! (also, can’t avoid singing the store name as “sui sui studio” a la phil collins…)
Anon
I always think Talbots has nice, classic wool coats.
Midwest Girl
Any recommendations as to where to find a houndstooth or tweed peacoat or car coat? I’d prefer wool and classic. I’m long and lean so oftentimes coats are too short on me.
Ms B
I like this topic!
Dependable + affordable = For work coats, any large mid-range department store – Macy’s, L&T, Dillard’s, Bloomingdales; for casual, Nord Rack, Burlington Coat Factory, LLB/Eddie Bauer, Columbia + surprisingly good choices at Cabela’s
Statement = For work, Ted Baker, DVF, Kate Spade; for casual BR, local leather store, boutiques. I love the concept of these coats, but rarely buy them unless the “statement” runs pretty close to “practical with a bit of a twist”.
Investment = For work, Eileen Fisher (at the lower end of investment), Burberry, Max Mara (this assumes a me that is taller and thinner than the actual me), Revillon; for casual Moncler, Burberry, Barbour; for evening YSL. Armani, Gucci, vintage or custom.
IMHO, coats are one of those things worth investing in if you can. I had my last winter work coat for over 10 years and plan to have my Burberry trench for 20. I bought my favorite leather jacket in 1992 (and need a place to have the almost identical jacket remade). On the per wear basis, they were pennies.
Anonymous
Got a great statement coat at Hobbs this winter: https://www.hobbs.com/en/Red-Soraya-Coat-Coats-Coats-and-Jackets/veyp2/?productID=0217-3455-3893L00&productvarid=0217-3455-3893L00-MERLOT-12&refpage=coats-jackets
Elaine
Talbot’s and Land’s End.
anon
Bought a coat from The Arrivals this year and couldn’t be happier with it.