My ideal coat capsule wardrobe would stop at five. I say that knowing how easily a beautiful coat can distract me. Oversized tailoring, chocolate brown, leather, and then a white leopard coat appears and I start reconsidering the whole plan.
Still, I care much more about the fabric and shape than having another option just because it is new. I want coats I can wear repeatedly, with trousers, jeans and the sweaters I already own.
A recent outerwear newsletter made me look through my own coat photos. Some of these pieces have appeared in many outfits. Others remind me of a shape I loved, even if I would shop differently today. The oversized grey, brown and leather looks were my favorites in the newsletter. The shorter printed jackets were lovely too, but I would consider those fall outfits. They would not get me through a harsh New York winter.
Explore My Coat Capsule Wardrobe
The Five Styles in My Coat Capsule Wardrobe
1. An Oversized Tailored Coat With Room Underneath
My Frankie Shop coat is one of the coats I wear most. Looking through these photos, I have worn it with jeans, pinstriped trousers, boots and sneakers. I like seeing the same piece in different outfits. That is what I want when I spend money on a coat.
The room inside makes a difference. I can put a chunky sweater underneath without feeling squeezed through the shoulders and arms. A coat can look oversized in a photo and still become uncomfortable once you add the layers you actually need.
I particularly like it with the wide pinstriped trousers in my photo. The coat and trousers both have a generous shape. For something more casual, I have also worn it with jeans and heeled ankle boots. I do not need another coat for each version.
2. A Long Grey Coat With a Clean ’90s Shape
My Mango coat is very long and more tailored. It reminds me of the clean Calvin Klein aesthetic of the ’90s, which is a large part of why I like it.
I wear it with a white shirt and jeans, but I also love the grey-on-grey outfit in my other photo: grey trousers, a grey turtleneck and the long coat over everything. I would choose trousers when I want the outfit to feel more refined.
There is one problem. The coat is a little thin for serious New York cold. I wear it a lot, but that does not make it the right choice for every winter day. It is useful in fall and milder weather; when it gets much colder, I need more.
If I were buying a similar coat now, I would look just as carefully at the fabric and room for layering as I do at that beautiful long shape.
3. A Brown Cape Coat to Wear With Long Gloves
My Zara cape coat is a good example of buying a shape I really wanted. I remember paying around $275 or $300. I cannot remember the exact amount, so I will leave it at that.
I have been into opera gloves with coats for the last couple of years. With a cape, you can actually see them. In these photos, I wore mine with a light-colored knit, brown trousers and pointed boots. I like the long gloves against the lighter sleeve underneath.
A pillbox hat is another accessory I would consider with this kind of outerwear. I would keep the rest fairly simple because the cape already has such a distinct silhouette.
Chocolate brown is the color I would look for. I would also want to see the coat from the side and in motion before deciding. How a cape falls matters as much to me as how it looks standing still.
4. A Long Leather Coat Worth Waiting For
The leather coat in the newsletter was one of the pieces I liked immediately. Finding that look at a price I want to pay is another matter. Leather can become expensive very quickly.
I already have a dark Theory coat with wool and leather details, shown in several of my photos. I have worn it with a light skirt, trousers and a chunky knit. For my coat capsule wardrobe, I would consider a full-length leather coat separately from this one.
For the version I have in mind, I would want a long, fairly clean shape with enough room through the body. I would wear it with trousers and keep the accessories considered. I would rather wait for one I really like than buy a disappointing version just to tick leather off my list.
5. A White Leopard Coat With an All-Black Outfit
This is the one that makes my five-coat plan harder. I was very interested in white leopard coats last year, and I am still into that look this year.
But I would be particular about everything around it. Black trousers, a black top and black boots would be my choice. Leopard can become complicated quickly, and some combinations make it look cheap to me.
I would want the print to be the part I notice first. I would not add several other patterns or colors simply because the coat is already playful. Liking leopard does not mean I like every leopard coat, either. The scale and color of the print would have to convince me.
How I Would Shop for a Coat Capsule Wardrobe
I generally look for a high percentage of natural fibers. I cannot confirm the exact composition of every coat in these older photos, but when I shop now, I check the label. If something is described as a wool blend, I want to know how much wool it contains.
My sweet spot is about $175 to $300. I could spend up to $450 for something special, but I would need to really want it. I also prefer shopping sales rather than paying full price when I can.
Mango, Zara, Aritzia, COS and Massimo Dutti are the places I would check. Some pieces can be too trend-focused for what I want, so I would narrow the selection to more classical shapes and then compare the actual fabric composition.
I have bought for shape alone before. My checked Express coat is an example. I loved the fitted, hourglass silhouette that reminded me of that Balenciaga shape, even though I consider it one of my lower-quality coats. I understand why I bought it. Today, I would want the fabric to convince me too.
For more of the colors and outfits I wear with these pieces, see my chocolate brown outfit ideas and Thanksgiving outfit ideas. For current coat collections, I would start with COS and Zara, then check each individual piece rather than assume the brand name guarantees the fabric I want.
I still love a good beige coat too. I would not recreate the very old outfit in my photo exactly as it was, but I still understand the appeal of the coat. That is something I want to remember while shopping: I may change the trousers, shoes and accessories long before I stop liking a really good shape.
Shop the Coat Capsule Wardrobe
These are shopping alternatives to the coats in my wardrobe. This section contains affiliate links; I may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability can change.
