A woman's travel wardrobe needs to include coats. Choosing the right coat is not easy. When packing, should a gal bring a trench, a long coat, a raincoat, a leather coat, or more than one style?
Fashion Coats
Coats can be a lot of fun. They cover up flaws. They come in cute colors. And, unlike dresses and jeans, there’s almost always a style that fits.
Take a gray day. Put on a red coat. Everything looks brighter and a Boomer Chick will feel younger.
So what is the right coat to take on a trip? Well, it depends on where a gal is heading, what she has to do, what the weather is supposed to be, and what her modes of transportation include.
Coats for Women
Paula Reed, the style director at Grazia magazine in London, says that a gal needs to know if the weather will be, “Arctic Chill? Wet? Or is it unpredictable, making layering under a lighter coat more practical?” [The Costco Connection, September 2009]
According to the well-traveled Reed, a woman should have the right coat for the conditions:
- Sheepskin – Good insulation for cold and wind, but terrible for rain.
- Lined leather – Great for wind, but not great for rain
- Synthetic – Best for Rain
Travel Transportation
How much travel time will be spent sitting in a car, train, or other vehicle? How much walking will there be?
Someone who needs to walk a lot may need a knee length coat, but Reed continues, “…you don’t want a big coat dragging up the steps of the bus or tangled around you in the car.”
Other factors to consider:
- A lot of time crushed on a crowded subway or train? Don’t get a bulky coat.
- How much of the time will a gal actually be outside exposed to the elements? She may not need a heavy coat for a mad dash.
- How often will a coat be crushed into a plane’s overhead bin – Will it fit? Will it wrinkle?
Fall Trends for Coats
What are the fall trends that will work for traveling women? This season there is an emphasis on the waist with belted coats. This includes the French-chic trench coat and longer belted wool coats. And, this is good for Boomer Chicks with curves because belted styles are so very flattering.
Stand-up and unusual collars are in, but for a long-term investment, big sharp shoulders should be avoided.
Trendy colors include camel or any shade of gray, from dove to charcoal. Some designers are including brights, which are great for women who wear mostly neutrals. Bright reds or oranges won’t clash with browns, grays, or a little black dress, and will hype up any classic look, while tying everything together.
Raincoats
For actual rain, a lightweight Mycra Pac coat over warm layers will work well for temperate seasons or for shorter distances in colder regions. Look for a style with a hood, shove a travel hat into a pocket, or stash a tiny umbrella in a carry-on.
Lightweight styles similar to Mycra Pac will fit into a purse or bag and won’t need to be placed in an airline bin.
Another style to consider - Cole Haan Packable Iridescent Coat
Trench Coats
Follow the lead of the Brits with a trench, but tie the belt like the French and don’t buckle it. Camel is one of the on-trend colors, but it may not stay clean in an overhead bin or while running for a train with a Starbucks latte.
Practical travel looks include:
- Leopard print or other animal prints - Some reversibles only have print on the cuff and collar when turned inside out.
- Black, navy, or charcoal
- Deep red or aubergine
For investment-grade travel trenches, see the blue Burberry Check or the amazing Joan Vass red Techno Trench with the hip collar detail, at NeimanMarcus.com.
For cheap but cute, try the bright red DKNY Twill Trench, Patagonia Negril Trench (temperate zones), or Orvis’ Herringbone Trench (and remove the ugly hood when practical).
Leather Coat
Inexpensive leather coats and jackets are often too heavy (in weight) to be practical. Any woman longing for leather should save up for something good. Some suggestions:
- Cole Haan Long Leather Coat in carberbet (it’s stunning)
- Forzieri Women’s Brown Italian Leather Coat (a classic)
Long Coats
Long coats are usually best for women who will be outside and walking long distances. Anyone going on a trip to London, Paris, Rome in winter, Vancouver BC, NYC, and cities with similar weather and parking challenges, should consider bringing a long coat.
Good coats are spendy, but here are reasonable options:
- MICHAEL Michael Kors All Weather Sateen Coat
- Long London Fog Raincoat
- Overstock.com is worth a look for coats from Michael Kors and another place to investigate would be a local consignment shop.
It’s just not possible to have one all-purpose coat that will work for Seattle in December, Vienna in January, and Los Angeles in February. A gal who’s determined to do a lot of traveling should always be on the lookout for a coat that will work in more than one destination, and still keep her looking young and absolutely fabulous.
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Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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