The silk coat trend is one of the rare trends I actually want to spend money on, especially a silk coat with fur trim. I love the femininity of it. The embroidery, the soft collar, the way a longer coat falls around an otherwise simple outfit. It has that romantic ’60s and early ’70s feeling I’m drawn to, even though the coats themselves can come from very different periods.
I’m considering one, but I haven’t bought anything yet. I can already imagine wearing it with jeans and a slim sweater. I can also imagine buying a beautiful maxi version and then realizing I have far fewer occasions for it than I thought. Both possibilities are keeping me company while I look.
So, although this is one of my favorite trends at the moment, I think vintage or secondhand would be the better way for me to buy into it.
Explore the Silk Coat Trend
The Coats Behind My Interest in the Silk Coat Trend
Mary-Kate Olsen’s vintage Balmain coat is an obvious reference for me. She wore it with vintage Chanel to the 2013 Met Gala, and it’s still an outfit worth looking at all these years later. I love how much is happening in the coat itself. You don’t need to imagine adding accessories to make it interesting. See Mary-Kate’s look here.
Then there’s Kendall Jenner’s recent Conner Ives look, with a long pale coat over black trousers. The trousers make the whole thing feel more possible for everyday dressing, even if the coat’s price belongs to a very different shopping budget. Vogue covered her outfit here.
These designer versions can cost several thousand dollars. Conner Ives’s white silk robe, for example, is listed at £6,500 and uses vintage blue fox fur for the collar and cuffs. The brand lists its materials and price here.
That is a lot of money for something I’m already questioning how often I would wear. I admire it, but I would be looking for the feeling of those outfits rather than trying to buy the same piece.
The nostalgia is a big part of the attraction anyway. Finding an older coat would make sense to me beyond the price.
I Like the Short Ones as Much as the Maxi Versions
Usually, I would want to narrow this down before shopping, but I can see a reason for both lengths.
The hip-length coats are chic and still approachable. I could put one on with jeans without feeling particularly dressed up. The fur trim and embroidery would bring enough interest, and I wouldn’t have to think too much about the rest.
A maxi coat has more drama. That long line is beautiful, especially when the coat is open and you can see it move. It’s the version that makes me think about dinner nights and how lovely it would be to wear something a little extravagant.
But I don’t want to save it only for evenings. If I buy one, I want to wear it during the day too. Otherwise, I know why I’m hesitating about the cost.
I’m more intrigued by the embroidered styles. There’s more to discover in them, and the decoration adds to that nostalgic feeling. Still, plain silk can be very elegant. I wouldn’t pass over a beautiful plain coat just because I had started my search imagining flowers and elaborate stitching.
I haven’t settled on a color either. The actual piece would have to persuade me.
Silk Coat Outfits: I’d Start With the Jeans
The outfit I keep coming back to is also the simplest: jeans, a slim sweater, and the coat.
That’s how I would want to wear an embroidered silk coat with fur trim on an ordinary fall day. There’s already so much softness and volume in the outer layer that I would prefer a finer knit underneath. A chunky sweater would probably make the shorter styles feel crowded, particularly around the sleeves.
Straight-leg jeans and pointed ankle boots with a small heel would be my starting point. I’d try that combination with either length before deciding that a maxi coat was too formal for daytime.
And if it’s warm enough for a T-shirt, even better. I like the idea of a plain tee under a coat this decorative. It makes the whole outfit feel less precious. I don’t want to be so careful about dressing around it that I never take it out of the wardrobe.
For dinner, I would try the longer coat with tailored trousers and a simple top. Black underneath a pale or embroidered coat is an easy combination to imagine. I’d probably start there before buying anything else to go with it.
A dress would be lovely too, but I’d need to see the two pieces together. Sometimes two beautiful things don’t make a particularly good outfit. The neckline might fight with the collar, or the hems might sit awkwardly. With jeans, I have a much clearer picture of what I want.
That’s probably useful information for my shopping decision. The coat I can picture wearing with clothes I already reach for is more likely to get worn.
There Is Still the New York Weather to Consider
I love these coats, but I live in New York. That puts a limit on the fantasy.
Fall is when I would expect to wear a lighter silk version most. A full collar can make a coat look warm in a photograph, but I would want to know what’s underneath the silk before trusting it in winter. The lining and construction matter, and I’d need enough room for a sweater without pulling at the shoulders.
For a dinner night when I’m spending very little time outside, I might have more flexibility. For everyday winter use, I’m much less convinced. I’ve written more about the shapes and layers I reach for in my coat capsule wardrobe.
This is why I can love the silk coat trend and still question the purchase. There’s a difference between wanting to wear something often and having enough suitable weather to do it.
My Preference Would Be Vintage, Including the Trim
I’m against using new real fur. But I’m also uneasy about buying new faux fur and assuming that settles the environmental question. For my own purchase, I would be comfortable looking at vintage pieces or reusing faux-fur trim that already exists.
There’s a DIY possibility here too. If I found a secondhand silk coat with a shape I liked, I could look for an existing collar or trim to attach to it. It wouldn’t have to be a copy of the Mary-Kate or Kendall coats. A fuller neckline or a pair of trimmed cuffs could give a simpler piece some of the feeling I’m after.
I would get help with the sewing if the fabric needed it. Silk and a heavy trim aren’t something I’d casually put together without checking how the weight affects the coat.
I’ve also noticed Zara’s interpretations, which come at a much more approachable price. I’m not sure of the composition of each one, though, so I would check before calling them silk. Satin and silk aren’t interchangeable terms: satin is a weave, and that glossy finish can be made with different fibers.
A lower price is appealing, but I’d still compare it with what I could find secondhand. Especially for this particular style, where I’m already attracted to the idea of an older piece.
Before buying vintage, I would ask about the fabric’s condition and look closely at the cuffs, underarms, and lining. I’d also want measurements rather than relying on the size label. A loose silhouette still needs to fit properly through the shoulders.
Shop the Silk Coat Look for Less
I’m leaning toward vintage for my own purchase, but I also wanted to include some newer options. Finding an older coat in the right size, condition, and price takes patience, and you might prefer something you can order and try on at home.
You don’t necessarily need embroidery or fur trim to get the feeling of these outfits. A plain satin coat over jeans and a slim sweater would be a lovely place to start. Just check the composition: a satin finish doesn’t mean the fabric is silk.
The options below take different parts of the look, from the long silhouette to the decorative collar. They aren’t exact copies of the designer coats, and I haven’t personally tried them.
SHACI Satin Trench
A plain black satin trench for a simpler take on the look. It’s described as lightweight and fitted, with front pockets, and was listed at $75, reduced from $150, when checked. The product page doesn’t specify the fiber composition, so I wouldn’t describe it as silk. Shop the SHACI Satin Trench.
Reformation Stella Satin Coat
The full-length, oversized shape gives this coat some of the drama I like without fur trim. At a listed $428, it’s still a considered purchase, although considerably below the designer references. The fabric is 88% acetate and 12% polyester. Shop the Reformation Stella Satin Coat.
RIXO Jonah Jacquard Coat
This is closer to the decorative, trimmed look, with viscose satin jacquard and brown polyester faux-fur trim. It’s a new faux-fur option, which is different from the reused trim I’m considering for myself. Check the retailer for the current price and available sizes. Shop the RIXO Jonah Jacquard Coat.
Prices and availability may change.
I haven’t decided whether the shorter, more approachable coat or the dramatic maxi will win. I suspect it will depend on what I find. For now, I’m looking for one that makes me want to put on my jeans and go somewhere, without needing a special occasion first.
