This is an outfit I would typically wear to work.
Yes, it’s very casual. We don’t really have dress codes in Finland. Unless you count dressing for the weather, of course…
Speaking of weather… It’s late autumn now, and it’s getting significantly colder (and often rainy, too), so I’ve swapped my new utility jacket for a warmer version.
I bought this camo jacket a year ago. I needed something with a hood and a thicker lining to keep me warm and dry on for those cold late autumn mornings waiting for the train / bus at the mercy of the elements.
Whenever I buy a ‘big-ticket item’, such as coat or a jacket, I expect to wear it for several years. It simply makes no financial sense to buy a new one every year, or to have multiples for the same purpose. So, a coat or a jacket should work with many different outfits, and in many different situations. But most importantly, it should fit the wearer’s lifestyle.
Which brings me back to those early mornings at the train station / bus stop… I’ve come to the conclusion that as much as I love stylish wool coats, they don’t really suit my lifestyle.
For starters, I spend a lot of time outdoors. No, I’m not an outdoorsy person. To be honest, I’m probably the least outdoorsy person you know… In winter when it’s cold (or in summer when it’s too hot) I prefer to stay indoors. In fact, I do everything possible to avoid spending time outdoors…
However, I don’t have a car (I don’t really need it, living in a big city, and I’m a lousy driver anyway). So, wherever I go, I rely on public transport. Which inevitably means spending some time waiting for the train / bus / tram / underground…
And what I really need then (waiting for the train / bus / tram / underground, that is) is a wind and rain proof coat with a hood.
So, given that I’m on a quest to find that elusive holy grail of outerwear – a stylish and warm winter coat – I set some rules for myself. Number one: stay away from wool coats. Number two: if it doesn’t have a hood, back away immediately. Number three: if you can’t picture yourself wearing the coat while waiting for the bus at -20 °C (-4°F ), don’t even think about it.
I’ll keep you posted…
Outfit details (all old):
jacket: Makia / top: Selected Femme / trousers: Marks and Spencer /
bag: Longchamp / scarf: A + more / shoes: Ten Points
What do you look for in a coat or a jacket?
Tiina
Linking up with:
Not Dead Yet Style, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, High Latitude Style, Style Elixir, A Labour of Life, Curly Crafty Mom, Fashion Should Be Fun, Color and Grace, The Wardrobe Stylist, Not Dressed As Lamb, Style Nudge, Living on Cloud Nine, A Well Styled Life, Elegance and Mommyhood. Posh Classy Mom, Nancy’s Fashion Style, Shelbee on the Edge, A Pocketful of Polka Dots Style Splash, The Fashionista Momma, Tina’s Pink Friday, Away from the Blue, Mummabstylish , Living on Cloud Nine, Mutton Years Style and I
Ha ha I’m a lousy driver too and use public transport. An Italian friend says I drive like a Venetian, you can guess what that means. I see you are wearing a lovely Bordeaux (?) wrap that is really a good colour for you. Do you wear thermal vests? Not cute but super cosy.
Author
Ha, ha… Do you sail like a Venetian, too?
I never wear thermal vests. That’s something people here wear if they go skiing or hiking when it’s really cold. But it’s never cold indoors in Finland (good insulation and central heating), quite the contrary. Even in mid-winter I can walk around in my underwear and bare feet at home. And I only ever wear a light cashmere sweater at most for work. Outerwear is a different matter…
Your curls are looking fab – any tips? Lise
Author
Thank you! I’ve been doing the Curly Girl method for a couple of months now, avoiding sulphates and silicone and heat styling. And using a lot of container and hair masks. But curly hair is always a bit moody, so maybe it was just a good hair day.
I love how your lipstick matches the scarf – so pretty!
Author
Thanks!
I’m also a believer in quality, versatile coats which fits the wearer’s lifestyle. These elusive creatures are hard to find!.
Really love your coat and how nicely it fits your casual and elegant style. I think it can be accessorized in different ways and its color is really perfect to mix and match. Love it with the burgundy scarf (and matching lipstick!)
And I totally agree that it’s not sensible to have multiple coats for the same purpose (except winter coats if you live in a cold climate with long winters). Wool coats are really overrated!
besos
Author
Thanks. This jacket is very practical, I’ve been wearing it non-stop for the past week or so.
Yes, you need several coats for long winters. Not least because 0-degree weather is very different from -5, or +5… The only problem with winter coats is that they are so damn difficult to store. Or maybe I need a bigger wardrobe. Or a bigger flat…
The leaves are just lovely and these colors look so great on you! Thanks for joining Style Six!
Author
Thanks, Shelly.
Those are great giudelines for your hooded coat! I love the colors here, the burgundy scarf suits you so well! The leaves are gorgeous! Our leaves havent quite changed color much yet.
thanks for linking!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Author
Thanks, Jessica. The leaves are falling at such a rate that soon there won’t be any left…
You have such a good eye for jackets, I like them both a lot. Both this and the thinner green one are neat enough for going to work but casual enough for leisure. And they have nice colours.
I try to wear a neater coat to work, so trench it still is for me. And will be until it get colder, though I just realised, that I saw a snowflake in the forecast, so colder could be on Monday. I’m not prepared at all to start the one-coat time of year. I like to have a different styles for leisure and work, but I must admit, it is not going to happen during the winter. I’ve couple of wool coats, but I find it harder every year to wear them (both are years old, maybe even ten?) It’s either raining or too cold. My ultimate outerwear for work related events when it’s past-trench-time-but-before-down-jacket-time would be a trench like coat with light lining and water-repellent finishing. I wonder if that kind of coat even exists? But until I find it, I probably need to let go of my pride and start to wear my trusty old (very) sporty parka with detachable lining and hood of course (which as you put it is essential). -q
Author
Thank you! Yes, wool coats can be a bit problematic: they don’t really provide much protection against the wind, and certainly no protection from rain. As for the trench coat that is water-repellent and has a slightly thicker/detachable lining, there are a couple of labels that might be just what you’re looking for: Belstaff and Barbour.
Thanks for the tip Tiina! At least Barbour had several jackets with style I’m after. -q
Tiina, I love this camo coat! And I applaud your use of public transportation. I used to work in NYC and relied heavily on public transportation and the coat business was quite a challenge. Cold outside but then I would be sweating and claustrophobic while riding the subway. Wool coats were the worst. But now I live in a place where it is winter 9 months a year and I don’t have very far to travel anywhere, yet I have an extensive coat collection…well, because I am NOT a minimalist when it comes to wardrobe items. And I can embrace the impractical when it comes to outerwear because I merely have to walk 10 feet from the house to the car. But I do appreciate your mission to find that elusive perfect coat for your needs! For now, this camo one looks like it is working for you! Thanks for linking up.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Author
Thanks! Yes, having a good public transportation system makes life easier. But if you live outside the city, it gets a lot more complicated, and a car quickly becomes a necessity. The only time I think of getting a car is when it’s really cold, and I can’t bear the idea of waiting for the bus or the train… And then I remember I can’t really drive (well, technically I can, but since I haven’t driven a car for 30 years, I’m not too eager to try), and decide to just get grit my teeth and face the elements.
Unless you have a warm carage, which you can access with dry feet, getting the car ready for a ride in winter in these latitudes, is even worse that waiting a bus at worst of the weathers. Imagine doing all that ice scraping and snow shovelling you need to do during winter. And once you get in the car, you realise it is frozen also on the inside and it takes ages before it gets dry enough to see out. Waiting the bus will only be a couple of minutes, doing all de-icing on the car would take longer that the whole trip to work by bus. So as you said, having a good public transportation system makes life easier. -q
Author
That is true 😉