COLD FRONT!
Thanks to the ol’ capsule wardrobe, I was prepared for cold weather before it hit. I had my cold-weather clothes ready and waiting this morning. Hooray!
I realize that sounds like the smallest win ever, but it feels like a big deal to me. Anyone else?
Since it’s so damn cold, let’s talk about the coat of the year — the wrap coat — and three ways to wear it.
#1 Cozy + Closed
Style: Classic
You’ll feel: Polished + like Olivia from Scandal. (Confession: I’ve never seen the show although everyone tells me I need to stop what I’m doing and binge watch it rightthissecond.)
Pull it off: Just wrap + cinch the coat belt tight in front + adjust the shawl collar to your liking. From here you’ve got a nice blank canvas to play with. I tossed on a scarf for some color and wore my bag across my body for some visual interest.
Coat: Mango / Scarf: Madewell / Hat: Forever 21 / Bag: Marc Jacobs / Boots: Kenneth Cole (similar)
#2 Half Open + Tied
Style: Modern
You’ll feel: Like you belong on a cool-kids-only street in New York or Paris.
Pull it off: Pay attention to what you’re wearing underneath — it’ll determine the success of this look — and then tie the coat belt off to one side. Here, I kept things minimal with an all-black outfit, letting the contrast make the statement for me.
Coat: Mango / Top: Aritzia / Jeans: Gap (similar) / Boots: Sam Edelman / Necklace: Moulton
#3 Open + Draped
Style: Trendy
You’ll feel: Like a street style star, because they all wear big, open coats. You also might feel a little mischievous. You’re basically wearing a blanket in public and getting away with it.
Pull it off: I prefer to tie the belt in the back and cinch it tight (notice how close the belt loops are tied) to keep a bit of girlish shape in there. But, it’s probably more street-style-cool to just wear it completely open without the tie in the back. The unstructured lapels will move + fold throughout the day, but that’s part of the charm. Go with it.
Coat: Mango / Top: J.Crew (similar) / Skirt: Aritzia / Boots: Kenneth Cole (similar)
Stay warm out there! Anyone have any suggestions of fun + warm things to do while we’re inside hiding from the cold?
xo
I love coats and jackets and really can’t get enough of them. This one is beautiful and I’d love to add a wrap coat to my collection. Unfortunately I just picked up a different style. Anyway, you wear this beautifully. I love the half open look as it’s so elegant!
Where I’m from #1 is the only way imaginable to wear a coat! Or you’ll be cold. So very cold.
I was just thinking that. It is 25 and snowing today…so…the coat is so cute but you would freeze in it here. It might work as an inside coat under my real coat. But very cute. Maybe I need to move south.
Cute! Love the plaid scarf too, haha.
Love this! Kind of want me a wrap coat now.
Stunning! Any tips on sizing for this coat?
I usually wear an XS and I sized down to XXS — fits perfect! The shoulders aren’t too snug + there’s plenty of room in the arms to wear sweaters underneath. :) xo Caroline
LOVE this wrap coat! Looks super comfy + modern!
Seems like a MAJOR win! Isn’t this weather crazy!?
Love a cozy coat! I haven’t had to break mine out yet, but it is ready and waiting for the cold front that is supposed to hit in 2 days.
Also, I giggled to myself when you mentioned Scandal because I actually just started watching it last night. I can’t really give a good review, since I only watched the first episode, but that first episode was excellent!
Question about this beautiful coat! I’ve been hunting for a great “dress” coat for when my giant, puffy, ultra-comfy down coat just won’t cut it (like going to the ballet, or meeting a client for work! It does not say “chic,” though it does scream “WARM!”) I noticed this coat is a wool-blend. Would you say it’s warm enough for a northern climate, or more of a light-chill coverup? I also was wondering how you feel about the quality of the wool-blend? Thanks so much, you wear this coat SO well: it would fit perfectly on the cool-girl street of New York or Paris, for sure!
Hi Elyse! I’m at my parent’s house in West Texas right now and it’s 29 degrees with a 19 degree wind chill … and I’m completely warm in it with a couple of layers underneath. On a scale of 1 (low) -10 (high) I’d probably put the quality at a 6 or 7, which, to me, is awesome for the price. :) xo Caroline
Thanks so much! Definitely helps me make a more educated buying decision, since I LOVE the cut of this coat (and the versatility you showed in this post!!)
This is such a gorgeous coat! I couldn’t possibly love the ways you styled it any more.
This is beautiful!!! I have a beautiful wool sweater the same length with a long tie so I can definitely capture these looks with it and use it more in my capsule! Thank you!!
Lol, I`m in Ontario and I was thinking today I`d like to get out my winter wardrobe a couple of weeks early! I don’t have enough warm items in my current wardrobe. But it’s making me be a bit more creative–I have a big chunky kimono-style sweater that I kept just to see if I’d wear it and I’ve found myself layering it over my long-sleeve tee.
And the grand total for my winter wardrobe spending this year, including brand new boots? $170! In Canada! I’m pretty impressed with myself. :) I’m actually really excited for December 1 now.
I often mean to go for the first look, end up not doing it right and get the second look, but ooh I’ve never tried third look before, complete with that cinching in the back! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
Caroline, are you ever told that your celebrity lookalike is Eva Mendes? When you photograph at certain angles, the resemblance is uncanny! :-)
Caroline, that wrap coat is lovely!
As for fun things to do inside when it is cold outside, I go old school. I love to play board games during the winter. A good game of Apples to Apples is always so much fun. And recently I’ve been wanting to get back into puzzles. Also, baking! Nothing keeps you warmer than turning the oven on and baking something warm, chocolatey and delicious! And getting your crafty on. Make your own holiday decorations and ornaments. I love making paper snowflakes!
That wrap coat looks absolutely fantastic on you! I love the way the coat looks when it’s left open, draping beautifully on the body. I find myself looking at your fall capsule wardrobe post quite frequently for my own inspiration but I can’t help but come up with outfits for you with your pieces…have you tried wearing your distressed denim with your flannel button up, boyfriend cardigan, chevron necklace from Madewell and wedge booties? I think that would make for a fantastic casual outfit for you to wear! Also, I remember reading in one of your posts that you wanted to have the heel of your Aldo Servana boots cut at the shoemaker, but it could not be done because of the materials used on the sole…if you’re ever looking for a very similar style of boot, but with a much lower heel, you should check out the booties by Loeffler Randall Franca Cut Out Booties which are on sale right now. :)
I do love 2 & 3 but there’s no way I can leave a coat open. We have snow from November through April. ;)
But Caroline! I had to pop in and say THANK YOU! I was feeling SO uninspired by my wardrobe. And then I found your blog. Last night, I took out everything in my wardrobe that I won’t / can’t wear in winter, took out the few things that I do not absolutely love (I usually do this, but since I was uninspired, I have been keeping them around – I thought more options would help), and shopped in my sister’s closet for the few things that I wear all the time (she is in Spain for the year so they are basically mine). I maybe have 25 things now, and I feel like I have this huge new expansive wardrobe. it’s the same things as before, but it helps to see only the things I would actually wear. I did not need new clothes or have all the wrong clothes! (There are maybe 1-2 holes that I will fill when I can, but that’s it.) I have so many ideas! Also, my sister has always commented on the boring-ness of my wardrobe and it must have been getting to me but now that I see this, I realize – again – that I LOVE my dull neutral palette. It makes me happy and gives me even more options.
Anyway, this book of a comment is really just to say thank you, for sharing your style and inspiring me.
So glad I stumbled across your blog!
I’m totally into make my own little seasonal capsule, and feel I’m getting there! It’s just I live in Kansas City. The weather goes from 65 to 20 in two days. Like, literally just yesterday. What would you suggest for rolling fall capsules into winter capsules at the same time? Help!
I live at the very top of northern MI and I have the same problem. My current plan is to follow our seasons instead of doing 3 months each (like, my winter capsule will be long and I will probably have a spring-summer capsule because there is almost no spring here, it just rolls into summer) and to be flexible on the timing. As in, once the snow falls, I may as well create my winter capsule right then, even if it’s Nov, because fall is over – but I always take out a warm coat early, just in case.
That is a lovely coat and I like the idea of flexibility in wearing it (if the weather cooperates). That would work well here in Seattle where it rarely gets REALLY cold.
I love a wrap coat and I am still on the hunt for one that is a shorter length. Great the see that it can be worn in three great looks.