FINDING THE PERFECT FALL COAT

Coat – Zara (also in love with this one from Nordstrom & this one from Shopbop) // Coated pants – Dynamite (similar here, [here] & here)// T-shirt: Dynamite (similar striped top at Shopbop, & here )// Scarf – Zara (similar here) // Bag – Michael Kors (same Michael Kors bag at Shopbop & here at Nordstrom) // Shades – Raybans (same sunglasses at Shopbop) // Pumps – Lulu’s (also loving these, these and these)

I feel this Fall is all about COATS & lately that’s all I’ve been shopping for. I think a coat is a great investment. I mean, in Montreal we spend 80% of our lives in coats. They might be pricey, but they are durable & practical. I got this grey Zara coat last year & wore it religiously all throughout fall and into winter. I fell in love with it right away – it’s stunning, comfortable & warm! The perfect description would be relaxed chix – the cut is classy, yet the hood makes it a little sporty. So it can easily be dressed up or down. This year, I want to get  a black wool wrap coat, so I am on the hunt! Here are the criteria I seek in a Fall coat:

1- Warmth: Montreal is famous for its infamous winters. Truth be told, fall can be just as cold here! When looking for a coat, make sure you chose the one that works for the weather in your city. I would like mine to be warm enough to translate easily into winter.

2- Quality: Material counts! I don’t know about you, but when I love something, I wear it over and over again. When a garments gets a lot of wear, it will inevitably deteriorate. However, if the material is good, it can last you for a long time. Needless to say that material will also dictate the warmth of a coat. Wool is warm but polyester is not.

3-Style: I love being fashionable and on trend, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible to pick a coat that will stay in style for years to come. You can have the best of both words, so go ahead, have your cake & eat it too! Pick something classic, yet with a little flare. Right now, robe coats are very in, I’m thinking of getting one in black – given that black is a classic and the cut is simple, I will be able to wear it for a long time.

4- Price:If you’re anything like me, you have a budget & you rather stay under it as much as possible! In that case, you need to work! Here is where to look for the prefect coat at the perfect price:

-Warehouse sales: Find them in your city by simply typing the name of the sale in your browser: eg. Rusdak Warehouse Sale Montreal. Currently there are tons of warehouse sales happening in Montreal. This weekend we had the Rusdak warehouse sale & the Beyond the Rack warehouse sale. If you missed those, don’t worry! The Braderie de Mode is happening this week at Marche Bonsecours and there will be tons of great deals!

-Online: Granted you may not be adventurous enough to purchase a coat online, however you should use it to find the coats you like at physical stores so that you can spend less time shopping & simply head to the stores that actually carry the coat. If however you dare to purchase online (like me), you will surely find tons of discounts & find yourself with a real steal! P.S. Here is a great website to find deals online: http://www.retailmenot.ca/

-Malls, outlets & stand-alone shops: If you like to browse and have the time to do it, check out your favourite stores, but don’t be a strangers to new ones. You never know where you can find a real gem. If you are near an outlet location, check it out. Even though outlets usually carry last season’s coats, if you go for a classic piece, it will still very fashionable.

Happy shopping!

Kisses,

WCX