Heavy, warm, formal overcoat for New York winters

Submitted by SRSchiavone t3_1198owo in BuyItForLife

Hello there! I am having immense difficulty finding a new, warm, winter overcoat in a 38 regular. I am looking for one under $600, but really trying to stay under $375. I have bought FIVE, and despite being called overcoats, their thin profiles fit topcoat nomenclature far better. I like wool, no bibs, and longer overcoats. I have attached below the three different model overcoats I have purchased so you get a sense of style overcoat that I am attempting to find. This is really throwing me through a loop and I can not describe how thankful I am for help.

https://mcys.co/36f5NxF

https://www.hugoboss.com/us/slim-fit-coat-in-a-virgin-wool-blend/hbna50484479_401.html?gbraid=0AAAAADnmKsY1kixtgMtE_q8dwKeh3WrAK&gbraid=0AAAAADnmKsY1kixtgMtE_q8dwKeh3WrAK&gclid=CjwKCAiA2L-dBhACEiwAu8Q9YHva5KrjUZygvFjH3AucLtjKB-2r3_AwzwGTcepw2W3PFi_xeDf3oRoCUJIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Edit:

Went to SchottNYC and bought an overcoat from them. It is absolutely perfect. Plenty heavy, plenty navy, and fits amazing. Cannot recommend them enough. Thank you for the suggestions!

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jwpete27 t1_j9lkp3c wrote

Go to a thrift store. There's loads of wool overcoats there that have outlived their original owners and just need a dry clean. $40 tops.

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ladz t1_j9n3q9p wrote

This. There are SO MANY. Any normal wool coat is just as effective as a modern down coat, and they last a lot longer. And they don't have plastic. I've been wearing mine for like 15 years and it still looks and works fine, and near as I can tell fits exactly with NYC fashion.

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GamecockGaucho t1_j9ljwle wrote

Right off the bat, I'm going to point out a red flag about the coat you've attached: the shell has some undisclosed amount of polyamide. This doesn't make it bad per se, but I wouldn't want to spend $400 on it either. I have a winter overcoat that is 60% wool, 40% poly, but I also got it for $95 on sale.

As a general note, I would look at fabric weight. Anything in the mid to high 20s is going to be a true winter coat, ideally made of Melton wool. Pure wool is going to run you into the 400s and above, but is absolutely worth it as an investment.

For your needs, I would recommend taking a look at Schott--they have a bridge coat that is within the higher end of your budget. Not sure if you mean NYC for New York (although its been aggressively mild here this year), but they do have a store in Soho.

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SRSchiavone OP t1_ja5b9q7 wrote

Went to SchottNYC and bought an overcoat from them. It is absolutely perfect. Plenty heavy, plenty navy, and fits amazing. Cannot recommend them enough. Thank you for the suggestions!

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GamecockGaucho t1_ja5v6b5 wrote

I'm so happy I (and credit to the others who suggested it too) could help! Enjoy the coat!

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KittyLikesTuna t1_j9lxpb2 wrote

Once you find a couple of coats you like, consider getting it used somewhere like Poshmark, Mercari, or eBay. You're going to have to look closely at the photos if you go that route, but you can save a good chunk of change.

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aggressive_seal t1_j9nh5on wrote

My favorite overcoat was made in Yugoslavia. I found it in a thrift store in NYS. Paid $20 for it. It was warm and very well made and fit me perfectly. I had it about 10 years then lost it in a house fire. I really miss that coat. Yugoslavia dissolved in 1992 so it had to be made prior to that. I got it around 2005 and lost it in the fire in 2015 but it was still in amazing condition for a coat that was at least 23yo.

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SRSchiavone OP t1_j9nhcmr wrote

I’ve thought a lot about traveling to Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, or Siberia for a coat that fits my specs. It’s crazy, but if I have to return one more coat……

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bad-monkey t1_j9lk9aj wrote

Have you looked at SchottNYC? One of their BIFL staples is their Melton Pea Coat, which they also sell in a knee-length for $550.

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SRSchiavone OP t1_ja5bang wrote

Went to SchottNYC and bought an overcoat from them. It is absolutely perfect. Plenty heavy, plenty navy, and fits amazing. Cannot recommend them enough. Thank you for the suggestions!

2

Muncie4 t1_j9ocghv wrote

This is the way

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SRSchiavone OP t1_ja5bb2d wrote

Went to SchottNYC and bought an overcoat from them. It is absolutely perfect. Plenty heavy, plenty navy, and fits amazing. Cannot recommend them enough. Thank you for the suggestions!

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trangten t1_j9lt510 wrote

House of Bruar. They typically have much better quality than US department stores

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SnooGuavas1985 t1_j9m5wcf wrote

I have a Thompson topcoat from J crew. Pretty sure its outer layer is fully wool, inner layer is some quilted material. I’ve worn it on some very cold and windy NYC days and its served me well. Going on 3 years now with now signs of wear. I got mine on sale at a factory outlet for like 200, i think new ones retail 300-400. For sizing im 6 ft 200 and the L fits very well, probably a bit more room in the shoulders than i need.

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remyrem t1_j9yfdtw wrote

Calvin Klein makes an few that are top notch quality and super inexpensive. Personally, I own ‘the prosper’ in almost every color available.

Edit: I own it in every color currently avail, and two they don’t make anymore.

The Prosper

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waggletons t1_ja59msr wrote

You're better off going to a thrift store and browsing through their selection. Older wool coats are (on the whole) substantially better than anything being produced nowadays.

My general rule of thumb: US-made wool is pretty good. You'll be hard pressed finding anything better that one made in the UK.

New production wool (on the whole) is substantially lighter than wool from 50+ years ago. 32-36oz was standard then. Now, 24oz is considered "heavy" and most will be around 12-18oz. Most tend to be more open-weave and will let more wind through.

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