Warm Winter Coats

This Season's Best Coats

Fashion can mean many different things depending on the audience. Just to be clear, I'm looking for winter coats for women that are elegant, stylish and likely to cause a stir when you head out for the evening. I'm seeing quite a bit of a return to the sixties and an A-line look by the designers. Coats are fairly short for the most part although there are exceptions. So as I said, there's quite a variety. If you're looking for a sharp, trendy winter coat let's take a look at the places most likely to have something to suit you. I'm thinking Neiman, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Sak's Fifth Avenue. I'll find what we need in those places.

Right away I can spot a very elegant winter coat at Neiman Marcus by Loro Piana. It's a Freestyle Trench Coat in a shade the designer calls Caviar which is a very dark gray. The coat has a wide notched collar and button front. Epaulets and belted cuffs and belted waist. Crafted in Italian microfiber. On the model, the catalog coat looks to be about 5' above the knee. The Neiman item is #NMOF8_B0LZ5 and the coat is priced at $1,995. A pretty coat to be sure and apparently wind and water resistant.

The next one I really like. It's still at Neiman Marcus and is by Burberry from London. A tweed coat in a chestnut/white/black/tan check. Got a bit of a military cut with yoked shoulders, spread collar, epaulets and button front. Tie waist. Again about 5" above the knee. It's item #NMOF8_T1754 Priced at $1,495.

Moving right along, I'm jumping over to Nordstrom and I've spotted a coat by DKNY that I like. In wool/cashmere Double breasted, three-quarter-length walking coat with a wide split-lapel collar and an inset waist accented with buckles and buttons. Slanted besom pockets. The approx. length from shoulder for a regular is 40 1/2". Item # 192755 and a very reasonable $268. I like it in camel best, I think.

Last stop is Sak's Fifth Avenue. Well, quite a lot of Burberry over here as well. I like this metallic trench coat a lot. Not very wintry - true. But it has a good look, don't you think? Sak's item # 192755 Price $995. It's described as a metallic twill double-breasted trench coat. Signature logo buttons, belted waist, Shoulder epaulettes, Side flap pockets buckled belt tab on cuffs, about 38½" from shoulder to hem. Yup, I'm afraid it's unlined so don't buy for warmth, buy for razzmatazz. Made of Italian cotton/polyurethane. Quite hot, I'd say and we can get a lined coat when we go back next time! (Don't say anything!)