When I was in high school, I asked my mom for a peacoat for Christmas. I thought it was such a “grownup” staple, and my mom assured me that a good coat would last me many years. That Christmas morning, I was so excited to find the forest green peacoat I’d eyed at JCPenney. I couldn’t wait to wear it everywhere.
Scotland. 
Ireland. 
The Netherlands.
Unfortunately, “coat season” in Florida is rather short-lived, so I don’t often get the chance to bundle up while at home. However, I most recently wore that same peacoat as we explored Scotland over the holidays last December. My mom was right – that good coat has accompanied me on many cold weather trips over the last ten years or so. During our Ireland girls’ trip in October, Liz helped me tighten up some of the buttons, and I expect to get many more years out of it!
In addition to this peacoat, I have invested in two other coats over the years that have served me well – especially while traveling. One I purchased from The Limited (now exclusively at Belk) in January 2016; the other I purchased from New York & Company in November 2017. For the last three years, I have had these same three coats in rotation. After all, since I am in Florida the majority of the time, I have to be especially thoughtful about my coat-buying decisions. Before committing to a new coat purchase, I make sure…
Belgium. 
Iceland.
- It’s needed. Both of these coats have been purchased with specific trips in mind. In 2016, I was frequently traveling to New York, and it was helpful to have two coats that were appropriate for client meetings. My 2017 coat purchase aligned with my trip to Iceland, since I knew I’d need a warmer option that could be layered.
- It’s classic. Since I hang on to these coats for a long time (We’re looking at 10+ years for that peacoat.), I can’t opt for trendy pieces that will barely get me through one season before they’re out of style. All my coats have traditional cuts and features, so I can continue to wear them year after year.
- It’s versatile. I love that my anorak allows for both the hood and the fur lining to be removed, so that I can wear it as a lighter jacket (even in Florida). My grey coat is a great neutral piece, and it goes with the majority of my wardrobe. I need these coats to work well in a variety of instances.
- It’s on sale. No matter how well I treat them, these coats won’t last forever, so I don’t want these investments to break the bank. My zip pocket coat from The Limited was on an end-of-season sale for $49.99, and I got my anorak from NY&Co for ~$70 (down from $199.95) during Cyber Monday.
At this point, I’m very happy with my coat collection, though I would certainly consider investing in another if it ticked all the boxes. While I may not get to break them out of the closet very much during the holidays this year, I look forward to packing them up for my next cold weather trip – whenever that might be.