So, what I said last week about not needing new spring coats?  That’s still true.  I don’t need anything in that line.  Not really.  I am nonetheless confident that none of you are going to be surprised to hear that this did not stop me from continuing to scour the stores, online and physical, to find all the best of this season’s offerings.  Last week I was jacket-focused.  Now that New York’s real spring weather (see e.g., rain) has started to show up, however, I’m starting to hear the call of the ultimate spring classic: the trench coat.  A great trench coat is the ultimate way to pull together a spring look while remaining prepared for the vicissitudes of the weather, which can change from minute to minute in the cruel months of March and April.  Had I mentioned it’s snowing as I write this?

Lily and I went to the Soho Bloomingdale’s, where I tried on every trench in sight and Lily styled me, and, well, afterward I continued my addictive web surfing for online fashion to find all the most difficult to resist coats to torment myself with.  My haul follows after the jump.

Now, Bloomingdales had some great coats, including a bright pink Marc Jacobs charmer that was a tragically awkward sleeve length on someone my height, but there were two standouts. I know, I’ve said it before, I am loath to take fashion direction from the Olsen twins, but again I have to admit that Elizabeth and James make some pretty damn cute coats:

Casual, slightly military, and one of my favorite colors.  Hard to argue!

My other Bloomie’s fave?  This coat from Laundry By Design:

You may notice the button holes going all down the lapel?  In addition to being able to button it closed or wear it open, the lapels on both sides can button down for yet a third look, and being nylon, it’s definitely rain-worthy. In addition to being available in stores at Bloomingdale’s, it turns out to be on sale at Bluefly for barely over $100.  Is it fate?

Never one to limit myself to the stores I can actually physically get to, I found several plums online also.  One of my favorites on Revolve (Revolve, how I do love you!) was a Hanii Y. short-sleeved charmer:

I often feel a little self-conscious about wearing short-sleeved coats (it’s that Midwestern upbringing — your coat has no sleeves?  That makes no sense!), but this could hardly be any cuter for a bright spring day.

Also winning the internet stakes are the spring offerings from Mackage.  While you may think of Mackage for their stylish and shockingly warm wool coats (Monique and I both rock the Effie all winter, and she really is in the Frozen North), they also make some great trenches. I’m personally obsessed with the corset-belted Jules at the top (also available from Revolve as well as in stores), but I’m also loving the sophisticated shorter Izzy, so perfect for the city:

It being Mackage, you can also count on them being weather-appropriate and not just cute, which frankly is pretty key at this time of year if you’re north of the Mason-Dixon line.  (Again, had I mentioned the snow?)

I’m going to knock off now, because I feel my willpower crumbling the longer I look at these pics.  These are some great coats, folks.  Let me know if you get any of them so I can drool!  If, on the other hand, I find myself acquiring two or three of these lovelies (*cough* Jules *cough*), I have every intention of not admitting it.

Tags: Elizabeth and James, Fashion, Laundry By Design, Mackage, spring fashion, trench coats

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 21st, 2009 at 7:59 am and is filed under Pint of Lagerfeld. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.