The Best Affordable Outerwear – Fall/Winter 2010
Finally getting to wear your favorite wool topcoat or cotton trench is one of the many reasons why the start of autumn is the best time of year. A good cold weather coat is like a great suit. It makes you look better than you should. And unlike the suit, you can wear your favorite coat every single day without generating any funny looks.
A great coat gives you shape if you don’t have much of one. It’ll define your shape if you do. Your shoulders are broader, your waist a little trimmer, and your arms become magnets for women to hold on to. Plus, there’s hardly anything better than offering her your coat when she looks a little chilly, and her actually accepting. Just don’t be throwing any of the following options down over a puddle so she can step through without getting her feet wet. These coats look too good for that, and c’mon… the line on chivalrous activity has to be drawn somewhere.
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Cotton Trenches: INC – $89.00 | Banana Republic – $225.00 (as low as $135 during a sale)
Both have been tried on in person. The INC is an incredible value. The tab at the collar is going to be a little much but you can tuck that up inside to lose the shine off the metal. The Banana Republic was too good to pass up during a sale, so it’s now hanging by the home office front door. It’s tough to find the right size online, but look in store. If you find one, you’ll also notice it’s much darker in person. That, frankly… is a good thing.
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The Peacoats: Ben Sherman – $259.00 | Marc New York – $155.00
Navy, black, gray. It’s a challenge to find a peacoat in anything but those three colors. Ben Sherman provides a brown option. “Dark Chocolate” is technically the name of the color, and it’s not a solid either. It’s herringbone. Not a bad touch. For the Marc New York, it’s classic with nothing you don’t want. Including any extra cost.
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Leather-Like: DKNY Jeans – $149.00 | Topman – $140.00
Leather jackets seem to have taken on a skinny jeans style in fitting the last few years. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of options in-between bulky leather bombers like your Dad wore, or shrunken high-fashion vacuum fits. The DKNY jeans jacket looks modern and appears to have a little bit of room inside. The Topman on the other hand seems to lean slim, but the Charcoal color is undeniably cool. Both aren’t actual leather, which shouldn’t come as a surprise for how little they cost.
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Wool Blend Topcoats: Kenneth Cole – $179.99 (reg. $295) | ASOS Tweed Crombie – $185.35
Forever the choice of the businessman, a single breasted wool or wool blend topcoat is decidedly dressed up. The Kenneth Cole option is the more casual of the two, and also comes in charcoal. The ASOS tweed crombie’s contrast collar ups the formal factor, and would look pretty sweet over your favorite navy suit.
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The Classic Investment: John Varvatos Wool & Cashmere Peacoat – $495.00
Could be the last winter coat you ever buy. Unlike most peacoats that end just barely past your suit jacket, this one continues to the mid thigh. And unlike most topcoats that go to the knee, this one won’t swallow you. The fit guide says it’s cleaner under the arms. Perfect. Price? A bit of a reach. But probably worth it.
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The Different Investment: Oliver Spencer Lookout Coat – $559.35
More art than outerwear, the Oliver Spencer Lookout Coat is over the top in expense and design. These are almost impossible to find in normal sizes, and who knows if a 40 or 42 would ever hit ebay. Stand out features like the under-forearm patches and leather buttons. The official Oliver Spencer website describes those flaps on the back as “lover’s pockets.” Meaning, they’re pockets your significant other can put their hands in on cold days to warm up. Nice thinkin’. 38 & 44 available over here at MyWardrobe.com. 44 & 46 available at Bonobos.
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Got an all time favorite coat? Old or new? Leave your additions in the comments section below.
Looking for some lighter options for early fall? Click here for those.