Reader Request: Help Me Find a Winter Work Coat!

I love a reader request! Recently Amy reached out and asked for help in finding a work-appropriate winter coat, possibly wool, definitely "chic and Boden-esque." I thought this sounded like a fun challenge and I realize now I probably should've asked for more details - budget, climate, etc. But, I didn't, so I can pretty much do what I want. Heh.

NOW. I have Opinions About Coats. A winter coat is one of those things where I think you should buy the best one you can afford because a quality, well-fitting coat will last you a long time. I also think that if you buy a wool coat, you shouldn't buy it in black, especially if you have pets, because you will ALWAYS be covered in fur and lint and you will NEVER GET IT ALL OFF. Ever. Ever ever ever. Trust me, buy any color but black.

Also, black wool coats are boring and funereal and you don't need a coat that "goes with everything" because when you put it on, it's your entire outfit. Sure, a neutral color is more business-appropriate but if you don't work in a super conservative field, have some fun with your coat! This is what I mean:

Since Amy mentioned Boden, I am starting with Boden. This coat is BEAUTIFUL and has a colorblock surprise in the back that makes me like it even more. If that pale pink color worries you, it also comes in navy, with a very British surprise in the back:

So fun! So cheeky! It's pretty expensive but code G9F3 takes off almost $100, bringing it down to a slightly more reasonable price. Now, since we're still in the fun zone I went looking to see what I could find from Diane Von Furstenberg and found this one on TJ Maxx:

I sincerely love the cheer of a red coat and DVF makes really, really nice coats. Just trust me on this. Oh, and I also found this wonderful blue double breasted number:

This one is Sam Edelman and it's quite reasonably priced. Now, let's get a bit more classic and head over to J.Crew, maker of very tailored, classic coats:

The Lady Day coat is a best-seller for a reason. It comes in a bunch of good colors, it's super flattering and it's got thinsulate so you won't freeze to death. It's not currently part of a promotion but I'll bet you anything it will be on sale next week. (Black Friday is coming!)

There's also this really excellent "new" Lady Day coat: 

This pink color will boost your complexion and it'll cheer you up in the middle of January when winter declares itself the actual worst. Okay, one more of a more practical nature: 

This is Cole Haan and it's pretty conservative but it has that chic shawl collar that you can mess with to make it more fashion. I also love the swing shape which can be really flattering! Cole Haan is a reliable brand for coats (I've got several) and this one looks like a solid choice. Also, grey is an excellent neutral for a wool coat. 

Okay, let's move on from the solid colors and explore some of the really good plaids I'm seeing:

I found this lovely coat on TJ Maxx (sorry about the limited sizing) because I didn't want to torture you with this stupidly expensive Vince coat that I think is really beautiful. Plaid is timeless but the recent onslaught of plaid coats feels a bit trendy to me so I am not going to suggest you spend $800 on one. I am not a monster. I mean, check this out: 

This is so current and chic and it's from the Gap! It's also on sale! It won't keep you warm, but it'll look really nice for a winter or two. Same for this one: 

This is from H&M which is why it looks so cool, though it's potentially made out of dryer lint. I don't love the idea of a fast fashion coat but I also get that not everyone has a Serious Coat budget. This one also comes in a bunch of solid colors, including a very nice burgundy. 

Okay, a final note. If you live somewhere that gets super cold and you value warmth over business-appropriateness, this is what I suggest:

Just give in to the puffer and get one that's well-designed and sleek (and maybe has a faux-fur collar because why not.) This is another Cole Haan and I just love how streamlined it looks. And yes, I know it's black but cat hair won't stick to you, so you're good. 

If you have any good suggestions for Amy, feel free to leave a comment and help a girl out. 

Reader Suggestion: Summer Bags!

I recently got a message from blog reader Ellen related to the cutest summer straw bag she'd bought at Madewell. (I know this because she posted it on her IG account, which you should probably follow.)

She suggested that a round-up of summer bags would be very cool and I always welcome ideas for posts because I AM RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS, YOU GUYS. Anyway, there are TONS of cute woven bags going on right now, so I stuck with that as my theme. Seriously, though, Madewell has two (wait, three), Target has a ton, Ann Taylor has several, it just goes on from there. You are not short on options is what I'm saying. Here are my picks:

         

        

We Solve All Your Problems.

A: One of our awesome readers (thanks Katie!) emailed the following:

I feel you need to investigate the existence of a huge number of outrageously expensive dickies (Yes, DICKIES) being sold at Nordstrom, which are apparently meant to be worn under a blazer made by the same brand: Veronica Beard. E.g.: this gorgeous "quilted funnel neck dickey" specimen being sold for 250 American Dollars:

A: Heh. Dickey.

M: Ahahahahaha.

A: It would solve a lot of problems, actually.

M: ...you have problems that can be solved with a dickey?

A: Yes, absolutely. Like, I could just wear the same gin sack every day and switch out my dickey. Voila! Totally different outfit.

A: "Switch out my dickey" is the dirtiest thing I've ever written.

M: I don't really want to write or read the word dickey any more.

A: Also! Haven't you ever been like, "I sure wish I could fit this hoodie of mine under a blazer but it's too bulky." Because that problem HAS BEEN SOLVED:

A: I wonder if you get the rest of the hoodie if you pay another $150?

M: Well. I mean. Okay I actually am coming around on the ridiculous dickey. SUPER overpriced but kind of not a terrible idea? Help.

A: And here! All of the appearance of a cashmere sweater under a blazer without any of the actual warmth:

M: I LIKE IT OKAY.

A: For that kind of money I want a whole sweater.

M: Indeed. $800 if you want the blazer with it. Lordt.

A: I KNOW RIGHT. It makes the striped dickey alone seem like a bargain:

M: What I want to see is someone accidentally wearing a dickey alone.

M: But I don't think I can search for that.

A: Pinterest has you covered.

M: Okay, you win.

A: A dickey victory!

Where It's At: Reader Recs for Asian Sunscreen

Last week I posted a shout-out to a commenter living in Japan (we'll call her Ampersand) who'd previously recommended some Asian brands of sunscreen because the sunscreen over there is a totally different game than what we have in the U.S. 

Asian ladies take their sunscreen very seriously and the formulations are so much more elegant and sophisticated than most of what's available here. And lets face it - a good sunscreen is pretty key in staving off aging. I wear SPF 30 every single day but since I'll be adding retinol into my skin care I thought I should get something more serious.  I couldn't find her original comment so I asked for recs again and the help I got back was so freaking amazing that I didn't want it to get lost. So, with Ampersand's permission, I'm reposting it: 

Here you go young lady- I looked up stuff that you could order right off Amazon: (FYI totally not affiliated, just very enthusiastic about Japanese and Korean products.)

I was already into them before I moved here, but now that I have access to so many different brands, I can confirm; there is a definite standard of excellence, and you don't have to pay a lot to get it. (Although you can if you want to- some stuff is very expensive, especially Korean.)

(I've used the Shiseido Urban one- I actually didn't love it- (I'd go with the blue and yellow line if you really want) and/but these are just as good or better and waaay cheaper. (Plus half of them are Shiseido anyway, Shi's other lines.)

Don't let the small sizes fool you- a drop goes a long way, and a little bottle lasts forever. I live by the beach and slather the stuff on every time I get wet, shower or ocean, and only went through 1.5 bottles of Biore pink from May to October, so...(I use something different on my body though.)

non-tinted:

Biore Sarasara Uv Aqua Rich Waterly Essence 

Hada Labo UV Creamy Gel SPF50

Shiseido Senka Aging Care UV Sunscreen SPF50

or regular:

Shiseido SENKA | Sunscreen | Mineral Water UV Gel SPF50

Korean:

Its skin Smart Solution 365 Silky Sun Block

Innisfree Eco Safety Perfect Sunblock 

Tinted:

I've seen this in the local drugstore, but I've never tried it-( I wouldn't worry about the "beige" color if you are: generally the BBs and tinted sunscreens only come in 1 or 2 shades- even if they look a bit too dark in the tube, they adjust to your skin. And sunscreens even more so because it balances out/you don't get a white cast.)

KissMe Sunkiller BB Perfect Strong SPF50+

And like I said- look into all the Korean BBs and CCs and powders to put over your sunscreen. IMO they behave exactly like foundations, but also have (pretty amazing) skin care properties as a bonus, and they almost all have SPF, broad spectrum, and high numbers.

Not done yet ;)

....and because this is the way to properly get off Japanese sunscreen- a really good, and inexpensive oil cleanser (have you ever used an oil cleanser? Totally brilliant. - 1 or 2 pumps whisks every trace of ss and makeup- even wp mascara etc- off in less than 2 minutes. You don't even need a washcloth or cotton- just wash your face with it and rinse it off.) [ed. note: I do! I currently use DHC Deep Cleansing Oil.] I use the Softymo White- it smells like oranges, I love it.

If you're interested, get this while you're at it:

Hada Labo Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist 

(to be used after cleansing, before serums, creams etc) The Japanese call this "lotion" but US would probably call it a tonic...but it's not a useless-if-pleasant type tonic- it actually does something. Once you start using it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. There are all different kinds within the Hada Labo line (and most brands carry lotion) - this is the standard one.

Great information, right? Thanks, Ampersand! I ordered the Hada Labo Hyaluronic lotion and the Shiseido Senka Aging Care UV Sunscreen pretty much immediately. I'm testing them out now and will post a full review next week! 

Not An Endorsement.

A: Reader submission*!

Chain Bra Harness

A: !!!!!

M: This is a joke, right?

A: What? I was thinking about ordering one. It's a little pricy, but so unusual!

M: It's certainly attention-getting. Very Lady Guinevere's Braw.

A: Work appropriate, do you think?

M: That really depends on the job.

A: Haha, but seriously. This bra thing is $545. FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE DOLLARS.

M: I just checked to see if it was made of silver or something, but no. Brass. $545 for a brass and crystal bra necklace. The world just don't make sense.

A: Not even real brass, PLATED BRASS. The one review totally rings true. Not a shill at allllll.

M: The men just love it!

A: Totally supportive!

M: SUPPORTIVE. Do not even ACT like that...thing...has a purpose. This is making me mad. Like the whole ridiculous bondage harness trend is not stupid enough?

A: HATE HATE HATE THE BONDAGE HARNESS CRAP.

M: ME TOO. HOW CAN WE STOP THIS?

A: I think if we just close our eyes and think really hard THIS IS NOT A THING it will go away.

M: THIS IS NOT A THING
     THIS IS NOT A THING
     THIS IS NOT A THING IT'S STILL A FUCKING THING ADRIEN.

Chain Harness

A: THIS IS NOT A THING THAT IS MY FAULT MARIANNE.

M: I'm starting to doubt your commitment.

A: I...don't know what to say.

M: Just kidding. I'd never accuse you of being a Harness Supporter.

A: How did it even happen? Who in the what?

M: Blame the chain bra.

A: This is not an endorsement but if you want to do the leather harness thing, there's this:

ASOS Ring Detail Harness

A: The price is right.

M: DAMN IT GIRL.

A: I'M JUST SAYING.

M: BYE.

A: Oh, you're leaving? Do you want the product number?

M: *marianne is offline*


(*With our thanks to reader Christy for her most awesome submission!)