The Coat Chronicles – How I bought 10 coats for the price of one (Part Two)
January 27, 2010Welcome back!! Are you ready to meet the next six of my ten statement coats?
If this is your first time to my blog, you’ll need to read The Coat Chronicles Part One. It details my agonizing obsession over a $99 Steve Madden Cute Toggle Coat, and how I chose not to buy it.
Which leads me to the purpose of this post - because I’m a secondhand shopaholic, I was able to use that same money and indulge myself with much more than just one cute coat. In fact, I bought TEN cute statement coats and jackets that I absolutely love. Part One introduced coats 1 – 4, and here is Part Two, coats 5 – 10 and the statements they make.
Remember: For me, a “statement” is more of an impression I want to make. It’s not always how I actually feel, but how I want people to think I feel.
Left: Coat #5 – Green and Blue raincoat. I’ve always wanted a cute little raincoat like this one – it even has sailboats in the lining! It’s fun AND functional!!
I’ve always felt people who have raincoats are really detail-oriented and always prepared. They think of everything, like wearing raincoats when it rains. I’ve always wanted to be that way.
Statement: I am so prepared.
Right: Coat #6 – London Fog outdoor coat. Another fun and functional coat. However, when I Googled London Fog coats, I realized that this might actually be man’s jacket. It’s size small. But I don’t care – I still love it. It’s one of those coats that really sporty people wear. It kind of makes me want to take up some kind of sport – like hiking.
Statement: I am so sporty.
Left: Coat #7 – Salmon Colored Plastic Trench Coat. Another fun statement coat!! I had recently purchased a nice Petite Sophisticates trench coat on my Get Shorty, The Final Chapter shopping excursion, so I wasn’t really looking for another trench coat. But a salmon colored plastic trench coat for seven bucks? Come on! How fun is that?
Statement: I love to wear statement coats.
Right: Coat #8 – Liz Claiborne leather coat. This is another coat I wasn’t shopping for – I already had a black Marc Jacobs leather coat that I had purchased several years ago at a consignment store (I think I had paid $50 for it), but it was starting to show some wear and tear. And this coat really fit a whole lot better that the MJ one did. Bottom line, this jacket is a major staple in my wardrobe, and might possibly be the best $15 I have ever spent.
Statement: OK, I’m really not trying to make a statement with this coat. It’s just a nice quality coat.
Left: Coat #9 – Camel Wool coat. I lied. THIS is probably the best $15 I have ever spent. It doesn’t even have a label, so I have no idea what brand or size it is, but it fits perfectly. Notice the belted back and cuff details.
The camel coat is on Project Runway’s Nina Garcia’s The One Hundred: A guide to the pieces every stylish woman must own. In it, Nina summarizes exactly how I feel about owning a camel coat: “The classic coat that looks both elegant and expensive…” Click here to see how classy it looks with my Burberry scarf.
Statement: I’m rich.
Note: Regarding The One Hundred- I just bought it from Amazon, and I’m going to “shop” my way through it. Think about the movie Julie/Julia…with shopping instead of cooking. I’m so excited – and don’t worry – you’re coming along with me!
Right: Coat #10 - Red Wool coat: Once again, I was completely satisfied with my camel wool coat, but when I saw this for only $10, and it fit so perfectly, I just couldn’t pass it up. Click here to see how it looks with my other Burberry scarf.
Plus, according to e-how, “red is the color of bravery, daring and power. If you’re feeling powerful, wearing red lets everyone know you’re a force to be reckoned with. If you’re feeling just so-so, wearing it can transform your attitude.”
Another benefit to wearing red? Check out this article: Red Enhances Men’s Attraction to Women, Psychological Study Reveals . Woo hoo!
Statement: I’m strong and powerful, and men adore me.
And that, folks, is how I was able to buy 10 coats for the price of one CTC. Here’s the rundown:
#1: Fur-lined suede jacket – $14.99
#2: Fur-lined suede vest – $19.99
#3: Harve Bernard houndstooth coat – $14.99
#4: Amanda Smith cape – $6.99
#5: Green and Blue raincoat - $4.99
#6: London Fog outdoor coat – $4.49
#7: Salmon Colored Plastic Trench Coat – $6.99
#8: Liz Claiborne leather coat – $14.99
#9: Camel wool coat – $14.99
#10: Red wool coat – $9.99
Total: $113.40
Shipping the CTC was an estimated at $11.99, so there you have it:
One cute coat for $110.99 or 10 cute, fun, and many times functional coats for $113.40.
See? Like I said in TCC Part One, my thinking is not lacking reasoning at all. I’m actually kind of brilliant.
The ONLY thing lacking here is room in my coat closet!!
my fave are the wool coats…what a steal!
Best money I ever spent!!
Brenda: where do you put all this stuff? Laurie
I hang them up, wherever I can…Basically my bedroom has become an extended closet….but remember, I live in a loft, so the whole open, exposed concept is all part of the charm!!!
I think the cutest of these is the green raincoat
great steals, esp. if you wear them often!!! 
Thanks Melissa! I try to rotate them. I wear the heck out of the wool coats here in the Midwest, and I can’t wait for spring to wear the jacket!!
Brenda…why didn’t we ever go shopping when you lived in Houston?
We did, Marie. Don’t you remember Value Village?
That’s right…was that off of Washington or some where on that side of town?
I am so jealous! I used to have the exact same coat as #9, that I found at a thrift store as well. Shortly after I had one of my daughters, my hubby and I were de-cluttering the house. I ended up getting rid of my coat, because it no longer fit. I’ve since lost weight and now I’m really wishing I would’ve kept it. Especially now that I see iton you. So jealous!