help me pick an overcoat

[celeste_pista]

I need a boring, conservative, traditional dark navy overcoat for work...I'm not stoked on the purchase since it will lack any personal expression of style by definition, but I still want to find something nice since I'll be wearing it a lot and for a long time to come (i'm only 29).

I need help choosing between the cheap and expensive routes and then deciding between a few options I've narrowed it down to...

The cheapos (~$400)

1. charles tyrwhitt has two that look ok...neat gimmicks like colored linings and surgeons cuffs, but probably pretty crappy quality in terms of construction, not sure on fit
http://www.ctshirts.com/men's-ou...V|||||||||||||
http://www.ctshirts.com/men's-ou...V|||||||||||||

2. brooks brothers - although considerably more than $400, I'm figuring I can get this for 35-40% off (just had 40% off outerwear one day last week, prolly do that again post xmas). i'm always happy with my bb purchases so leaning this way, but not sure i like the concealed buttons.

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatP...=&sectionsize=

3. saks/ehaberdasher - 100% cashmere, looks well constructed and ben has confirmed it is, somewhat chunky cut but that might be ok being an overcoat and all
http://www.ehaberdasher.com/servlet/...SALE%21/Detail

4. hickey/gilt ...pretty much ruled this out b/c I hate gilt, their return policy stinks, and who know what the quality may actually be like. still this coat looks pretty nice
http://www.gilt.com/sale/men/peacoat...oduct/37737703


The big $$$$ (for me, at least, I'm not a big tymer):

5. borrelli - this coat looks sick (and so does the brown houndstooth cashmere windowpane they have but that is not a boring navy overcoat), but it is not cheap
http://www.shopthefinest.com/p-19351...-us-48-eu.aspx

6. Brooks brothers gf (would need to find a 38r somewhere, since they are sold out here in Boston and online)

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatP...Y_S?$swatches$

What i'd really appreciate input from other members on:

Are there any other coats out there I should be looking at? any other stores that people want to point me to, any deals people care to pass on in a 38r? i'm not opposed to a db coat, just didn't see any i liked when i shopped around online...

cashmere vs. wool for overcoats. How durable are 100% cashmere overcoats? my 100% cashmere sportcoats are worn so's only since they seem less durable...this coat needs to be a workhorse and still look nice after a couple years.

exposed vs concealed front buttons. I think I prefer exposed buttons, just seems cleaner and more traditional, but wondering if there is an official sf stance on this.

If anyone has any experience with the exact models I'm considering please share your comments (this can be either seeing them in a store or owning the same coat). Particularly interested in info on the saks & ct coats...how they are constructed and how they fit people similar to me (6', 155#, slim 38r). Also if anyone has been to the shop the finest store and looked at the borrelli 38r coat I'd love to learn more about it since it is hard to gather hand & drape info from pictures.

Would I be nuts and/or rude if I ordered them all, and simply returned the ones I didn't want? I feel like a jerk ordering things from people knowing there is only a 20-25% chance I end up keeping it. Maybe not a jerk to do that to brooks bros since I spend a lot of $$$ there and they are a big operation, but definitely at least a bit rude to the smaller operations...

 

[SpooPoker]

I looked at the Borrelli coat too... its gorgeous.

 

[landshark]

I really like the coat on gilt if they still have your size available.

 

[comrade]

Check out O'Connells for classical overcoats, some of which are under $1000.
These are probably longer and heavier than the ones to which you referred, and the
double-breasted ones look close to the bespoke one Manton showed recently.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=212052

http://shop.oconnellsclothing.com/ou...t=40&nLimit=20

 

[BrianVarick]

I think Bastian just made an overcoat for Gant that was interesting and around $600? You might want to look into that one.

 

[Grayland]

Check out the navy overcoat in this thread. It's officially a 40, but fits slim and might work for you. It's a nice coat and he's a trusted seller.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=211693

 

[SpooPoker]

^ Good call.

 

[celeste_pista]

thanks for the input...keep it coming!

Originally Posted by comrade

Check out O'Connells for classical overcoats, some of which are under $1000.
These are probably longer and heavier than the ones to which you referred, and the
double-breasted ones look close to the bespoke one Manton showed recently.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=212052

http://shop.oconnellsclothing.com/ou...t=40&nLimit=20

^^thanks for pointing this out...i've never heard of them...are they worth the $$? same price point as the borrelli and bb golden fleece coats so not cheap...

Originally Posted by Grayland

Check out the navy overcoat in this thread. It's officially a 40, but fits slim and might work for you. It's a nice coat and he's a trusted seller.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=211693

^^the lapels on that coat are hideous, good deal tho

 

[Exalt]

Is the Golden Fleece overcoat made with the Storm System Loro Piana cashmere fabric or "regular" cashmere? The website does not specify.

 

[comrade]

Originally Posted by celeste_pista

thanks for the input...keep it coming!




^^thanks for pointing this out...i've never heard of them...are they worth the $$? same price point as the borrelli and bb golden fleece coats so not cheap...



^^the lapels on that coat are hideous, good deal tho


I've never actually bought anything from them, but in general I'd say that they have an excellent
reputation. As you can see from their website, they're ultra trad. When I lived in a cold climate,
Chicago, I appreciated the type of heavier, longer dress coats that they offer.