THE Camel Coat
If you’ve followed me for longer than a few weeks, then you are more than familiar with the saga that is my search for the perfect camel coat. You may have even seen it on my Winter Wardrobe Wishlist from a few months ago. The search, actually commenced over 2 years ago, starting with new retail, then checking sites like Poshmark for gently used and also stopping at every local Goodwill and thrift shop that I drove by with high hopes of finding that prized needle in a haystack. I was dead set on my criteria: 100% wool or camel hair or equivalent blend, long (calf-length was ideal), double breasted, over-sized late 80’s early 90’s fit and preferably, a none belted waist…all for less than $200. Totally feasible when thinking vintage, but a big fat HEEEELLLLLL NO when it came to retail!
Husbae taught me an invaluable lesson regarding my process for finding my dream coat. He’d been on a hunt for a very special gold watch and I asked him what he was hoping to spend on it (as in asking what was his budget). His response: “I would never try to squeeze everything I want to fit a certain budget. If I operated that way, it’s likely that I’d have to sacrifice something to not go over budget, only to not be 100% happy with it and then eventually, go out and buy what I wanted in the first place. Why not just find what it is you want with everything that checks off your list and then set a goal to buy that thing…one time?”
Duh!!!! It made so much sense when he said it! Why would you force your big foot in a decent quality, great looking but one size too small shoe that hurts your feet??? You wouldn’t! So, I set out to find I wanted, found it, ordered it, got it and fell head over heels in love with it.
This beauty is from Aritzia, a Canadian design house known for their high style and obsession with quality. The coat is from one of Aritzia’s lines, Babaton and is the Slouch Wool Coat (the camel is out of stock, but you can see the black colorway on the site). The original price for this coat is almost $500, but I snagged it on sale for $399. Despite the $$$ pricetag, I couldn’t have found a more perfect coat for me! It’s the perfect length, double breasted, not belted, made out of wool and camel hair and had the perfect, over-sized fit that didn’t look “too big”. The best thing is that this coat GOES WITH EVERYTHING! In this post, I’m wearing what you would see me in probably 60% of the year: jeans, a graphic tee and mules, and the coat totally takes the look to another level! I look polished and pulled together, even with my wrinkled tshirt! Trust me, a camel coat can do this for any look!
This coat can be worn every day (and likely will be by me), due to it’s simple nature and classic color. I love how I can throw on my purse to head to lunch or my backpack to head to a consultation and no matter what, I look and feel like a million bucks!
I’ll be back to show you how this coats adds so much class to two more looks: one dressed up and one dressed down. In the meantime, if you’ve been shopping for a camel coat, I’ve round up a few that would’ve made a close second to my choice! Just click here to check them out!
Photography credit: Kim Thomas of KPFusion