Helena Halme Author

Nordic Fiction with a hint of Noir and Romance

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Trench coat shopping

February 10, 2011 by Helena Halme 10 Comments

Befitting the weather in London today (rain and more rain) I’m lusting after a proper mac. It’s not that I don’t own one, I just down’t have one in the right colour. Due to some terrible lack of foresight I threw away my beige Michael Kors trench coat in The Big Move. I think I thought it had had its day. At least it went to a charity shop so I hope some lucky girl somewhere is wearing it right now. I won’t go into how lovely it was, it’s too upsetting.

So basically, I want a replacement for that mac. I don’t want exactly the same, as one of the reasons I didn’t like the coat (then) was that it had no collar. It was very sporty, though, and a little military, so on trend although I’d had it for over five years. But like most of the items I’ve ever bought in New York, it lasted and looked good year after year. Oops, I said I wasn’t going to go on about it, didn’t I?

Ok, so the choices for a replacement I’ve seen so far are:

1. Burberry

Burberry cotton blend trench coat £650 at Net-a-Porter

There’s also a shorter, waterproof version at £695 and a two-in-one trench which you can wear as long coat or as a cropped jacket.

Two-in-one twill trench Burberry £850

I really, really want one of these coats, but they are so very expensive. On the other hand, items that I’ve fallen head over heels for and that have at the time seemed to cost the earth are the items I’ve generally worn the longest. Pieces like the red Burberry mac which I already own and which I’m going to be wearing later today, has been in my wardrobe for longer than I like to think. Also the two-in-one would actually give me two coats, both of which I’d use. Ahem.

My red Burberry trench which is at least 6 years old

2. Uniqlo. The new Jill Sander collection has arrived at this Japanese store and they stock three different trench coats, all of which I’d be quite happy with. Although the +J collection prices are fairly hefty at a penny short of £200.00 (don’t you just hate when stores do the 99 thing? As if we consumers were stupid enough not to understand that £9.99 is really £10). As a comparison, this store, which prides itself on good quality at reasonable prices has another trench coat for £69.99 (ie £70).

I’ve been wearing a dark grey military coat I bought from the previous winter +J collection for two winters now and it’s still going strong. I’d show you pictures of the new collection but this store is very protective about its images. Here’s a link though.

3. Isabella Oliver.

Isabella Oliver 365 The Classic Trench at £239

I love this online store. Started as a maternity wear retailer, it now stocks every day classic pieces as well as easy to wear jersey skirts and dresses. The trench as far as I can see only has one fault – there’s no buckle, just a tie-on belt. But with a code from the wonderful fashion blogger LibertyLondonGirl there’s 15% off the collection which would make this coat nearly the same price as the Uniqlo +J one. And less than a third (or a quarter for the two-in-one) of the Burberry one.

Decisions, decisions…

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Comments

  1. mettebassett.com says

    February 10, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    My vote is on the classic Burberry one as you'll have it for the rest of your life.

    Btw have you checked if they sell them discounted in the Bicester Village outlet?

    I bought a classic black one in The Mall in Italy a while ago. It hadn't passed the quality control but I seriously can't find any faults: http://mettebassett.com/2010/02/16/the-mall-shoppingmekka-nær-firenze/

    xx

    Reply
  2. Michelle Trusttum says

    February 11, 2011 at 8:29 am

    Helena – I love the Burberry. It's sort of the quintessential trench, isn't it? Your red one is gorgeous.

    Reply
  3. Christina @ Fashion's Most Wanted says

    February 11, 2011 at 8:29 am

    Dear Helena, your red Burberry is fantastic and six years is nothing to own something. I resent people making you think you have to change things every season when they will never go out of fashion. I have things I've owned for twenty five years and the oldest thing in my wardrobe is about 100!

    I would suggest wearing your lovely red coat and visiting Burberry when their sale is on. You will get it for half price if your lucky xx

    Reply
  4. Knackered Mother says

    February 11, 2011 at 8:29 am

    No buckle will annoy. Love the Burberry one.

    Reply
  5. Mrs P says

    February 11, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    I'm with the Burberry trench too, but I would go to an outlet store, I was in our local one last week and they had several styles to choose from. Love the red one x

    Reply
  6. Helena Halme says

    February 11, 2011 at 4:41 pm

    I think outlet store is the way to go. I will try to get to the one at Bicester next time I'm passing on my way to Wiltshire.

    Thank you for all your comments!

    xx

    Reply
  7. Zella says

    February 13, 2011 at 7:17 am

    Hello from another Finn !

    Love the red Burberry, absolutely.

    Reply
  8. ML Awanohara says

    February 16, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    Like you, I had a beloved raincoat that I decided to give to charity but have been pining away for ever since. It was an Aquascutum that I bought on Regents St. The color was gorgeous: off-white, similar to this (which I see is on sale!):
    http://www.aquascutum.co.uk/index.cfm?page=1013&productid=K631401&productvarid=K631401-03000-12&refpage=1026

    Just a thought–and a wish to live vicariously, since I'm now back in America. 🙁

    Reply
  9. Antoinette says

    March 14, 2011 at 6:48 am

    I absolutely love the fabulous bright red coat!

    antoinettemusik.blogspot.com

    Reply
  10. Cheap D3 Gold says

    October 19, 2012 at 6:41 am

    Amazing work. And incredible variety of resources to function… Great!! Diablo III items
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    Reply

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