Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Let’s talk outerwear today! That should be stimulating, no? You know how some ladies look chic and elegant in their coats? Yeah, that’s not me!
I used to just consider it an afterthought, but now I think it can be part of your outfit. In fact, I used to hate coats hiding my cute (IMO) outfit.
I feel like we need a rain jacket, a light jacket, a warm short coat or jacket, a long warm coat, and a dressier coat at a minimum.
This jacket below is one I got for free! The boutique Tunie’s has a thing every year where if you spend $30 you get a free poncho, vest, jacket, or something that they pick up at market – a pretty nice freebie. This was last year’s gift with purchase. I have been wearing this to the gym because it’s so cozy and it helps me open the door to the cold at 6 a.m.
This is my Walmart trench from a couple of years ago. I love the look of a trench. I don’t wear it like the cool kids, but it’s alright.
A little better? My Adidas were a little too small so I gave them to my niece. Seeing them here makes me miss them.
I love my rain jacket. Some say to get a rain jacket in a bright color because a rainy day is dreary, but I love black.
I feel like the olive utility jacket looks a bit dated now? I haven’t worn this yet this season so it might go bye-bye.
I also think this coatigan is looking dated, but if it had lapels, I would be more excited so I am going to look for that!
A la Pioneer Woman’s mom and sister:
This is a dressy Chico’s jacket and it’s quite a sweet story, I think. It looks weird with the long sleeve black tee, but it looks better with naked forearms. I wasn’t happy with my selection of clothing for my mom’s visitation and funeral so I went to one of my consignment stores. There was a short sleeve black Umgee (one of my fave brands) dress in my size and this coat. My mom would have been so thrilled with my finds and maybe, just maybe she helped me out?
Oh, and I also found black suede pumps but the heel did fall off of one at the end of the day – lol.
Here is me trying them on last February:
This is a Walmart jacket that I love from a couple of years ago.
Sometimes I simply wear this vest that I got from an online boutique several years ago. It’s hooded and has pockets and it’s really cozy.
I have lots of wraps and ponchos and those can work for a dressy event or for when you don’t need a lot of jacket.
This one is consignment from years ago and is one I wear a lot.
I have a few vests, too, but this post would go on all day!
I ordered this to try out; I thought it was so fun!
I have this North Face jacket that everyone and their brother and sister and mom and cousin has. Let me tell you – when you zip this sucker up, it is very warm. This is about as warm as you need in Louisville, KY most of the winter.
I bought this packable 32 Degrees brand evergreen color coat for my UK trip in December of 2023. I don’t think I wore it once. It wasn’t very cold there. And I needed my rain jacket every day, so I just layered thick sweaters underneath the black rain jacket you see at the beginning of the post.
And, wait for it…
I only need this old guy a few times a winter. Some winters I don’t even take out…
DARTH VADER:
Darth Vader is my Costco coat. I got it several years ago on Costco.com. Dogs fear me. Kids fear me. People fear me. It is usually snowing when I have to pull this bad boy out.
And, there you have my coat collection.
Let me know if you have any coat retailer recs!
What outerwear are you wearing or buying this season?
Amy
P.S. – Do not overlook your consignment stores for outerwear! I have seen Barbour jackets, people! I have seen new with tag items. Outerwear is something that might be donated/sold after only a few wears.
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I have an insane amount of outwear– I have a spring raincoat and a fall raincoat with a fuzzy/furry lining, I have winter coats in all lengths and colors and materials, I have several capes and wraps but only 2 vests. I did weed out quite a few when I lost all my weight and found a few of them were swimming on me but I haven’t felt the need to replace them since I rarely wear a coat unless we’re going to be outside for a substantial amount of time.
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And, you don’t get rid of it so it accumulates, right? So true. In the US we just don’t need them for all the car driving we do. I cannot drive in a coat! No way!
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Same here! Though I do make sure I have a coat in the car with me just in case.
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I swear I drive around with multiple coats in my car during winter! Right now I have a vest and my rain jacket in the back!
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I feel like that, I don’t like coats hiding my outfit, I don’t actually have that much outerwear. A denim jacket, raincoat, a thick winter coat and a thinner jacket.
I do like your trench coat and I have a black rain coat. I did think about getting a yellow one but it just didn’t look right on me.
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Right? That sounds about right, though. Most don’t realize the England is not really that cold, would you say?
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That Chico’s coat is so chic! I love the sleeve length. Do you love the leopard vest? It’s really cute! I do think our outerwear can be a part of our outfit and shopping consignment is so smart!
xo,
Kellyann
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I thought so! I bet it originally cost over $100 easily. I do! I was wondering if it was a size too big but I think one size down would be too small. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily flattering but it’s super chic for a vest? Maybe?
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Since we downsized I don’t have as many coats and jackets as I used to. You have such a great collection. I do need a new winter coat so I will be checking the consignment shops for sure. I love how you’ve styled everything!
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Have you found that less is more? For sure – always check consignment first!
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Yes, for sure! It has bee so nice to have less to manage!!
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Yes! I find that to be true in my life.
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I need to up my coat game. I have approximately two coats (a slim packable, and a rain jacket) that I wear. I have a red one with a fur hood that I’ve held onto because I love it so much, but I sometimes wear it in December. I have a new vest that I bought, but I love yours! Maybe you’re inspiring me to make some updates with what I already have! I enjoyed reading this, but the Darth Vader coat name cracks me up!
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Fear Darth Vader! I have not forgotten that you asked me for advice! Maybe look on Google images or Pinterest and see what you like and what seems missing from your coatwarrobe? coatrobe?
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A lot of your jackets and outerwear are really cute. I like that nod from your mom- that coat is really pretty. I have an odd jacket story. I have a lightweight wool jacket that I often times wear at school over my outfit if I am cold. It’s gray so it’s very neutral and I love it. I got it on sale from Garnet Hill so still not super cheap but it was worth it. Anyway, one day at school a six grade boy asked me if I was RICH on account of the jacket. I thought that was an odd thing for a boy to think. I mean, it had no overt name brand attached to it.
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Thank you! I guess I do have a lot now that I look at my own post – hangs head. Garnet Hill would definitely be nice quality for a jacket!
That is so funny – maybe he thought you looked chic and elegant! Love that!
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Oh girl you are really styling! The beige trench is my fave 🙂
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Thank you!
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You have a good selection of jackets/coats. I am jacket obsessed and I live in South Texas 🤣 They don’t get as much wear as I would like. I bought a Barbour jacket on Poshmark but haven’t worn it yet. The heel fell off your shoe?!! 😆 I think I mentioned this before but my mom gave a friend a pair of hand me down shoes. The friend wore them to the grocery store and a few minutes later realized she was leaving pieces of her sole throughout the store! 🤣 Watch out for old shoes!
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Thank you! I hope you get to wear your jackets and coats at least in the mornings!
That is so funny!
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check out Quince! I have the cutest down coat from there that i keep at the coast and i have a puffer vest on my wish list and im looking at getting a long wool coat like PW’s mom and sister from there. I just can’t decide which one i want and by the time i figure it out- it’ll be 70 degrees here in California again! Go look!!👀
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Great idea! Will do!
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I don’t have much of a coat collection, as you can imagine. Let’s see rain coat, puffy vest, puffy jacket, and winter coat. Oh and denim jacket! I literally only need a real coat here for a few days each year. Quite different from our years in England when I needed some kind of outerwear 10 months out of the year.
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I bet you miss your English coat collection to some degree. It’s good that you didn’t go crazy with outerwear in your area now because I see some bloggers that live in Texas with all kinds of coats! Lol!
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Oh that made me laugh. But they actually do get colder in north Texas, so maybe they need more there. Houston is considered a subtropical climate and I can verify that!
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That is true. Houston and San Antonio seem way hotter, no?
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I am one of those weird people who doesn’t like vests. When I’m cold, I want all of me covered. Vests don’t do it for me. I can see, though, how they would work for your climate. I have three 32 Degrees coats, and love them all. I took one to Scotland last summer. They really do wad up into the smallest little bit.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Oh vests keep me so warm! It’s funny that I am only 3 hours south of you (I think) and we have such a different climate.
They are a great value. Costco usually has that brand and they have vetted all of their products.
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Your trench coat is so chic! I have a black rain jacket from target that I’ve had for years. I prefer black on a rainy day too. I love your consignment finds and the leopard vest. You have some great outerwear options.
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Thank you! I thought the leopard looked like your beloved SSYS!
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I agree!
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I love all of my jackets and warm layers even if right now I only wear them for about 3 hours in the morning. I probably have way more than I need but I love them and rotate them all in. I did a little close clean out yesterday getting rid of 3 pairs of denim that just didn’t do anything for me anymore. Same with several tops that I had kept but struggled to wear. Making space for what I have (and what I might add, lol!). You have some fun pieces here, that ruffled vest is so cute!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
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Then you have the right amount! I did a big clean out this week. I just need less in my line of vision!
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I love the green jacket so much. I have been looking around but haven’t found a utility jacket this year. Just from stitchfix and I don’t feel like paying $80.
Most of my outwear doesn’t fit how I’d prefer because it’s from pre-baby. And I’ve gotten rid of a lot through our moves, but this is a good idea for a post!
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It’s a pretty light linen and I got it for a steal from a store that went out of business, I think. Coldwater Creek maybe? Have you looked at a consignment? I bet you could find one!
I would love to see your outerwear collection if you do a post.
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