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| J Crew Collection Tweed Topcoat |
Three of the four coats I donated had something in common: they were too small. It is frustrating to try to shrug oneself into a too-small coat over a thick jumper or dress-with-cardigan. I think I've purchased coats in the past in the summer, trying them on for size over a light frock, which if you think about it isn't very sensible!
These days I'm all about the tweed coat. Real tweed is warm and resilient, nearly indestructible. Presently I own two, one in a heather oatmeal, the other in a pale green. They are both from Brora. They have Liberty cotton linings (with a bemberg lining in the sleeves) and you'd think they wouldn't be warm enough for Canadian winters yet they are, they are warm as toast.
I'm looking for a third tweed coat in a dark gray, it's on My List for the year, do you think the J Crew tweed, above, is a contender?
This is the Brora tweed I'll be wearing today, my pale green. I'm wearing it over an old J Crew tweed sequin sleeveless dress (which has a silk lining, it is one of my favourite dresses ever), a Brora cardigan and a scarf from my first trip to Paris (Wolff et Descourtis).
Do you have a tweed coat?
xoDani
Hi Dani,i dont own a tweed coat,but i think i would love to won one.
ReplyDeleteI have been intrigued with tweed and herringbone this winter,yet i havent tried anything.
It is such a classic!
I meant to own one,not won one:)
ReplyDeleteIna but to win one would be pretty good! ;)
DeleteThey are classic, they never get tired looking in my opinion.
I don't have any tweed, Dani - but now I'm thinking about it! I love the colour of your brora. My dad used to wear tweed, and you're right, it lasts forever. Good to know it holds up well against the cold weather as well.
ReplyDeleteSulky it's indestructible. I figured that out when I started buying it for MrBP many years ago. He ruins his clothes but not his tweed, it's all good as new. I buy the J Crew men's tweed for him.
DeleteYes I've rid myself of my hideous down jacket! Old Tweedy Bird right here!
Needless to say, I do not own a tweed coat. I had one when we lived in Saskatchewan and I passed it on to a family member when we moved. It is still going strong in her closet and that was a number of years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe weather here has been so chilly, the past three nights we've had a hard freeze! I now wish I'd kept the coat, even if I would only wear it a few weeks a year.
DF you've got our weather and we've got yours. Well it is around freezing here again today but it's been absolutely spring-like. I might have another winter without cross country skiing!
DeleteCOAT OF CHARMS Dani, I had a great made-in-England gey & black tweed coat when I lived in Lake Louise but since it was my main winter coat I wore it so much from November right through April I was sick of it, so it got given away on moving.
ReplyDeleteNow, I always try winter coats on over a jacket (even if I won't usually wear them that way) to check for sleeve fit and shoulder movement etc. Also, I find the cuts of JC coats (and sizing over years) have varied quite a lot. So even with CS measurements I don't know if I will wear a 0, 2, 2P etc. (And I hate the PTTO of returning a big coat box.)
Since my day coats are dark brown, navy and grey at the moment, I am madly craving a "pretty" colour, a bright (like the JC cocoon in green) or a "swish" black coat. But it's a Barbour or trench that's on the list, so I will stand firm. Not stopping me from actually checking out the Brora coats online tonight tho'. (Usually get sweater obsessed over there and ignore the tailoring a bit.)
Oh, the actual tweed looks really nice in JC's close-up product shot, hope sleeve hits in a good spot...
DeleteHi Dani - no tweed coat for me yet. I am holding firm on the no clothing shopping. Now that we are redecorating family room, will inspire me to be even more careful! I love tweed and I think the coat looks beautiful, just so long as you are not getting it final sale. I am so distrustful of JC these days on things that I have become paranoid! I think it looks really lovely!I am like GF - the next coat for me will be a swish black one, but not anytime soon! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Dani-Tweed sounds yummy, even more so if it would keep me warm when I'm walking the pups. We've had a major weather roller coaster here and today it is snow on top of ice, brrrr! Your coat , dress and scarf are so lovely, I can easily imagine you stepping aboard the Orient Express. This is completely off topic, but have any of you lovely ladies seen the latest Anna Karenina with Kiera Knightley and Jude Law? How does it stack up against the Sophie Marceau?Sean Bean version?
ReplyDeleteINTERESTING BUT OVERWORKED Think I've seen all of the Karenina films over years (Garbo, Bisset). IMO Marceau was far more plausible as Anna K. than Knightley. I thought Sean Bean was a bit miscast as Vronsky and on-screen couple chemistry was lacking -but I tend to typecast him Brit thug. Aside from Morceau, the big pros of the earlier version for me were the St. Petersburg seasonal backdrop and the storyline. The latest version is bold and artful. But it also felt very stage-y and too fragmented (a bit like Luhrmann's Moulin). Jude Law is surprisingly good, but Taylor's Vronsky wasn't at all someone to ruin one's life over, fop schoolboy not dashing mystery man. Lots of eye candy, but after Atonement, I was quite disappointed.
DeleteI had exactly the same reaction as GetFresh, and left after 15 mins. Loved Atonement, and was very disappointed.
DeleteKathy, thank you! I wish I could have bailed but was with a girlfriend I don't get to see often and it was her pick. "David" with so many major films out now, unless you are really tempted I say wait for DVD/ movie channel.
DeleteThanks you all! I am a huge Tolstoy fan and I was really looking forward to this. Your summations are pretty much what I expected after seeing the previews. So sad, the novel is one of my favorites. I really liked Atonement and Pride and Prejudice, but I view Knightley as too strong-willed to play Anna. Of all the Annas, Marceau is my favorite. Agree with you completely, GF, about the gorgeous St Petersburg backdrop-why mess with success? I did not like Bean as Vronsky at all and I don't know that I've seen this new one in anything. My vote would be Ryan Gosling. I thought he was fab in The Ides of March and The Driver.
DeleteI've been gazing at that coat, too, Dani, but I'm dubious about the "slightly shorter" sleeve. That doesn't sound good.
ReplyDeleteps, I had a Harris tweed coat in college, it wore forever. Forever. And ever. Well, I don't think I'd have that problem with a JC tweed.
DeleteYour green tweed is so pretty. I am not a fan of the J. Crew tweed coat you pictured, though. I clicked the link and it looks better on the model than in the picture by itself, but in the picture above it looks heavy/shapeless/matronly to me. I don't own any tweed, our winters just haven't been that cold lately. Once in high school or college I attempted to make a tweed coat. I gave it away, it did not turn out very well! A seamstress I am not.
ReplyDeletecate making a tweed coat would be a trick! The coat is a definite cocoon and not for everyone. I've learned to appreciate that shape but it's taken some time I must say.
DeleteDani,
ReplyDeleteI own this coat and I am loving it. I like the multi-color aspect, amongst my solid neutral wardrobe. I don't believe the seaming in the front, is as noticeable, as in the photo above. My only complaint is that the top button is difficult to button. However, I have been wearing it around unbuttoned with a scarf.
Penny
Penny thanks for your review of the coat. I tend not to do up top buttons anyway as I feel like Ed Grimley (was that his name? SNL character!) I like the cocoon shape for wearing over tweed skirt suits, I own two of those and wear them all the time. I also like the tweed under the collar, nice touch.
DeleteHi Dani, I don't have any tweed, but my husband has a Harris tweed jacket that he has owned for well over 25 years. I really like the two tweed coats that Brora has in the winter sale (especially the one with the purple check) but they are almost $500, so not possible right now. Maybe I should stalk it on Ebay!
ReplyDeleteI don't, I never used to like tweed but now I love it and there's definitely a hanger crying out for a tweed topper.
ReplyDeleteHi Dani,
ReplyDeleteThe more tweed the better. Have loved it my whole life. As you know I purchased the Scottish Tweed coat from Brora this year and I'm very pleased.It's very lightweight so I don't know if it would suit Ontario winters. Did you see the other coat that went on sale today that has a nipped in waist .I think that would be lovely on you.
Marsha I know I saw that fitted tweed, it has the purple through it otherwise it would have been the one.
DeleteThe JC tweed is very stylish but I would hate the cold wrists, even with gloves. Hope it's a bit more cheerful irl as I don't think you would wear it every day over a cherry coloured jumper like the model. Your green tweed is so lovely and soft in colour.
ReplyDeleteI only have a tweed jacket and I am so looking at the Brora Sales (or Ebay) to find a tweed coat. Your jacket is lovely, it is not always easy to buy on Ebay as you most often you cannot return your purchase, but in your case, it seems it was good!
ReplyDeleteI love tweeds, but have never had a tweed coat. Would love a tweed blazer and plan to look when I'm in the UK in March. A charcoal gray tweed would be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough the best selection of tweed jackets every year are from Ralph Lauren. Traditional British ones tend to be rather stiff and if they're 'fashion' the tweed is thin and doesn't wear well. I have the most beautiful RL one cut just like my hacking jacket when I was a child but oh so much more comfortable.
DeleteThank you Anon - I'll take a look at RL.
DeleteI love tweed coats too (especially your light green one), but have never owned one. I live in Texas where we have only brief periods of cold weather. I tend to stick to black and gray for my coats. I find myself really liking coats in general--perhaps I was meant to live in a colder climate! I did buy two new coats this year--one short black alpaca jacket and a black wool coat. I have a black boucle coat that I have owned for about 10 years which I wear for dressier occasions.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I haven't even SEEN tweed coats in shops in Dallas. I would love to have some to choose from.
your coat is fantastic - i love that material. it has texture and personality. i will have to check out the brora link - if you say it's good for canadian winters, it is a go for me!
ReplyDeletei'm not sure about the shape of the j crew one. on the fence with it right now.
xox P
Hi Dani,
ReplyDeleteI love your Brora coat. Gorgeous green color. I have been watching Brora's Scottish Tweed coat all winter and it went on sale this morning. I love the over sized style but I am afraid that the tan/light blue colorway would most likely wash out very pale skin.
Hi AmW, Marsha has that coat and she is very fair, she loves it. Their fitted tweed went to sale too. That one was dark but has quite a bit of purple in it, a colour I'm not always on board with, I'm fickle about purple I'll just admit it.
DeleteThe scottish tweed has a matching skirt too.
I have the coat and just wanted to add that the photo of the model must be in bright sunlight. The coat in fact is darker than online pictures and has muted caramel ,blues and a touch of brown. It's over sized as you mentioned and I could have sized down but I wanted a coat to wear with jackets so I'm pleased.
ReplyDeleteHope this helps.
Marsha love that coat and it went to sale this week too so your advice is really helpful. I bet you've already worn yours so much.
DeleteHi Marsha. Thanks so much for the great advice. I don't own much in those colors as caramel can wash me out, but they are stunning (I have red hair and wear a lot of greens,browns,golds.) I emailed Brora and am waiting to hear back from them with the exact measurements. I am also planning to size up so I can layer it and most importantly want to make certain that it will be a good length since I am 5'11". Enjoy your gorgeous coat!
DeleteNo need for tweed in these quarters. I note that J Crew is often a source of disappointment for you. If I were you, I would be hanging out for something from Brora - maybe not this year, but in the future?
ReplyDeleteHi Anon, I know it's a tough call. I love Brora but there may not be a dark tweed out this year, I could really use one in that colour. Brora coats are superior but you get what you pay for, I can afford them but only at half price, full price they are beyond my reach.
DeleteI think J Crew still does a nice coat. Well fingers crossed.
dani i NEED a tweed coat.
ReplyDeletei'm interested to know if the outfit you are wearing would be an everyday outfit or were you going somewhere special? you look fabulous. xo
Thanks Janet. That's everyday, I have to dress in those layers to stay warm and I like to dress up. Yesterday I wore my jeans with a sweater which was a good thing as I ended up scrubbing down the entire kitchen. Wouldn't do that in my tweedy dress.
DeleteI bet you could find a fab one in a thrift shop!
Although I have plenty of tweed suiting, I don't have a tweed coat. The tweed reminds me of your Harris tweed jacket. Reading the copy on this one it says there is a hidden button at the front. I wonder if they mean a hidden button placket. Why would there be a hidden button? I'm also curious if the "silky lining" is polyester. Looking forward to your thoughts once it arrives.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, a coat needs to be slightly too big to be comfy (and one thing I've realised in my dotage is that if it's not comfy Its not going to see the light of day). That tweed is such a pretty blue-green
ReplyDelete