Fashion vs function

[tinaja]

It almost seems like people in the US try to wear as little clothing as possible.

When its chilly, do you like a
Light but cozy jacket?
Cape?
Wrap?
Full blown coat?

I have a lot of fabric ready for making at least 1-3.

[psw]

I prefer a light cozy hip-length jacket until it really gets cold. It must have buttons or snaps, not a zipper, so I can adjust for the temperature which changes so much during the day, and pockets for light gloves and a hat. Not a cape or wrap that I have to worry will get blown open.

[Phar Lap]

I do have a light jacket which is more a fashion statement, a couple of puffer jackets which come to just below the waist, one is red, the other a leopard print with gold on a white background with a bright tangerine lining and both have detachable hoods. I have a winter puffer coat with an Asymmetrical curved hemline, detachable hood, reversible leopard print/black and double ended zip. I prefer a zipper for puffer coats and jackets. 

[Queen]

I have a warm winter coat and a "tussenjasje" which is the Dutch word for the jacket or coat that you wear between seasons.

I will never have a cape or a wrap... how would that go while cycling?

[Liiisa]

In cool weather I have a lightweight down jacket; in cold weather I have a heavy down jacket. Both are black. I don't believe in owning lots of fancy-looking coats (or even one, frankly); you take it off when you get inside anyway, right?

I have a couple of wraps, but mainly just because I went to India, and they were so cheap as to be irresistible. But I rarely wear them outside - I have one very fine one that I wear to get dressed up in cool weather, but otherwise I use them as throw blankets around the house or very occasionally over my heavy down jacket if it's ridiculously cold out.

I would never wear a cape.

I'm afraid this isn't helpful to you... I used to be a person who wore art clothing but somehow now I just dress like I'm going camping all the time.

[Phar Lap]

I just remembered, I do have a cape. It was bought last year to wear to the opera. A blush fur trimmed cape. Worn once. 

[Liiisa]

See that's why I never buy fancy clothes for "occasions" because honestly it's a giant waste of money and closet space.

[ozziegiraffe]

Sometimes I’m glad I live in the subtropics.
I have a couple of polar fleece jackets and one semi-waterproof one. I wore the latter about twice this year, the others not a all. I have a longer fake fur coat that I haven’t worn for years. I prefer to wear wraps, as I have two painful shoulders, one of which is semi-frozen and has limited movement, so putting on structured clothing is literally painful.

[sophie]

Chilly usually means layers for me. T shirt, sweater and then a jacket (usually a water proof one for our climate). Once in a while it’s cold. I have a snow jacket (also waterproof) which I’ve had for a couple of decades. Buying practical and well made stuff pays off sometimes! I do have several fancier jackets (a couple are wonderful handmade ones from Guatemala) for dressing up occasions. I have a couple of cape like wool jackets from Mexico which I love but not too practical for this climate. I also have a fur jacket (inherited) which I never wear but haven’t the heart to get rid of. Wraps.. like shawls, look better on other people than on me. I have a couple but seldom worn. Again, one in particular, I love and can’t get rid of. It’s a gorgeous shot silk hand woven piece of art I got in India years ago.

[Liiisa]

Layers for sure! Today I went out with a long undershirt, a t-shirt, a hoodie, and the light down jacket, and ended the day with just the t-shirt and the hoodie.

[psw]

As for color, I will not wear a black coat. I'm out at night a lot and want to be visible, especially crossing the street. I have one long down coat that's off-white and another really toasty one that's hot pink, just because. My medium weight one is loden green with white trim and I wear a white hat with it.

[sprite]

I love coats. I would happily own a hundred. But I don't leave the house often enough.

A properly made wrap or cloak, with weighting, can cope with cycling/wind, but most of them aren't.
It's both humid and windy here, so we need layers and wind/waterproof fabrics. My suede jacket takes a lot of abuse. A lot of visitors and new inhabitants make the mistake of buying super warm Canada Goose-style coats, and then get sweaty walking to the bus stop.
I like a light jacket, turtleneck with long-sleeved thermal undershirt, and a nice scarf that can be loosened if I get warm.

I've decided that I need a classy trench coat for wet days. Tired of going around town looking like i've just finished a muddy hike.

[tinaja]

You all have reminded me that I have entirely too many coats. The dry cleaners "repaired" the lining of one with safety pins. Time to clean out.

As for making, these will be more artsy pieces. Though jackets take more work, they are more practical. Fine line between op title.

[sprite]

Desigual makes some amazing coats, but I don't know if I'd wear one enough to warrant the price tag.

[sprite]

Also, I think I need to put on some sort of indoor jacket...

[tucano]

Oct 22, 2022 7:46:25 GMT -5 sprite said:

Desigual makes some amazing coats, but I don't know if I'd wear one enough to warrant the price tag.

True, the price has always put me off.

Have decided that the winter coat I got in a sale last year is not really me so thay will go to the local charity shop.

Nothing wrong with the previous one which I still have, except it's more of a 'dress coat' so has no fastenings. Fine if I wear it with a scarf, it very rarely gets below freezing where I live.

[riverhorse]

OK, so on the basis of this thread, I went to the entry hall in our apartment, opened up the wardrobe and looked in. I have:

A longish stylish red coat (aka my "Princess Mary" coat because I felt like her wandering round Copenhagen in it years ago); a longish stylish dark Burgundy wool coat; a very battered old black leather jacket that's nearly 30 years old;a lighter shortish quilted red jacket; a big thick black denim "bomber" style jacket with very warm fleece lining that's nearly 30 years old (I have to get the zip repaired on it as it broke whilst in Oz just recently); a beautiful long Italian black wool coat with fake fur cuffs and collar and "military" style braiding and buttons (at least 25 years old as it was a gift from ex-husnand number 1); a dark Burgundy snugfit stylish leather jacket I bought in Florence 6 years ago.

Whew! I am a bit of a coat/jacket hoarder, I guess! I choose them usually on the basis of how cold it is and the colours of what I'm wearing under them.

[tinaja]

I think River has me beat on nice coats.

When I first started my current job I bought this ridiculous fake down coat. It was a little walk from the parking lot and must have been colder than normal. The only time I really needed it was when we had a winter power outtage at home. It makes me look HUGE.

[Webs]

Layers because I get hot easily and like being able to carry something if needed.

But for full blown winter I have a full length puffer coat with a hood.

I will wear scarves and gloves and stuff too.

I need new gloves. This is why I really miss Lord and Taylor. I got such gorgeous leather gloves from them.

[veronicainsocks]

I have maybe 30 jackets. And that after I cleaned up the house.
I wear only 5-6 of them on regular basis. For all weather types.
I drive everywhere, except walks wirh dogs. I don’t use public transportation, - my jackets are down to my hips. I have one long puffy winter one to my knees and I love it.

Recently, being menopausal and not anemic, I am warmer. I don’t know how this will manifest in winter.

[tzarine]

webs

yes lord & taylor had beautiful gloves!

i have a canadian made down for hardcore cold
i wear a 30 year old bomber jacket on warmers days
i have a fake leopard skin that my neighbor gave be bc it belonged to his girlfriend & he was marrying someone else
i have an old red raincoat w a corduroy collar one of clients gave me. it was part of a promotion they were doing
i also have a most excellent roots windbreaker

[Liiisa]

I used to have a black waxed cotton “motorcycle jacket” that I adored, but I left it on a ship

[tucano]

Somebody told me while waiting to cross the street that I'm very colour-coordinated. I hadn't even registered that I'm wearing a purple skirt, purple trainers, a purple scarf and a purple and blue bag. What can I say, I like purple.

[psw]

tucano - I had a chorus friend, a tiny Chinese woman, whose entire wardrobe was shades of purple from the darkest to the palest lilac. We were supposed to meet one evening before a rehearsal and go out for dinner. She was very late and I thought she had forgotten, so I described her to the doorman and asked him to please tell her I'd gone to xyz restaurant. A while later she came to the restaurant with a baffled look and asked, "How did he know it was me?"

[Webs]

Feb 8, 2023 10:19:32 GMT -5 tucano said:

Somebody told me while waiting to cross the street that I'm very colour-coordinated. I hadn't even registered that I'm wearing a purple skirt, purple trainers, a purple scarf and a purple and blue bag. What can I say, I like purple.

I have a purple scarf that matches the purple in my hair.
My barn jacket is purple.
My cell phone is purple as is my cellphone case.
My water bottle is purple and green and blue iridescent.

Yeah, I like the purple too.

[tzarine]

webs

purple is a most excellent colour

[tinaja]

Purple and lime green one of my favorite color combos.

I saw a runway model that looked like they had a down comforter stuck to them. Avant-stupid.

[tzarine]

i love lime green food
from pistachio burfi to lime sherbet

[tzarine]

why?
those hideous bathrobe coats

[sprite]

They look fabulous when a woman is sweeping through an open space.
They look frumpy when she's sat on the Tube surrounded by her groceries.