Went Shopping for Overcoats Today in SF

[tiecollector]

I went shopping for overcoats today in San Francisco. I only had time to shop around the Westfield San Francisco Centre where the new Bloomingdales is located. I went wearing a sweater and a blazer to be sure that I had enough layers on for when it might get really cold so I could get a better idea for the sizing.

I went to H&M, Bloomingdales and Zara.

At Bloomingdales I found a beautiful brown cashmere (maybe it was a blend) from Z Zegna.

Zara had many cool topcoats, but I was surprisingly a size XL, which was even a little bit small.

At H&M the price was right at $99, but the jackets were kind of plain and the wool gave me a rash just looking at it.

Out of all the topcoats, they were very very form fitting. More like a long, warmer blazer is how they all fit. H&M had the most room I'd say.

Is this the new style of how things are going? Seems like the style is to just wear one of these over a shirt and tie. This would be fine but what do I wear over my clothes when I am wearing a blazer? Do you just get two separate coats?

In the end I decided to save my money for now and use my INC polyester jacket from last year layered with sweaters underneath. Should be enough to get me through a California winter.

I currently have nothing to wear over a blazer.

 

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

I currently have nothing to wear over a blazer.
You should at least have a raincoat.

 

[Ivan Kipling]

Out of all the topcoats, they were very very form fitting. More like a long, warmer blazer is how they all fit. H&M had the most room I'd say.

One of the reasons why I keep all of my old, topcoats. Too much of what's currently available is geared to very young people, with very stylish bodies.

 

[kitonbrioni]

Go to Wilkes Bashfrod, Saks, NM, etc and find out what you like. Then wait until January and get our overcoat at 2/3 off.

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by kitonbrioni

Go to Wilkes Bashfrod, Saks, NM, etc and find out what you like. Then wait until January and get our overcoat at 2/3 off.

Yes I'm not going to buy one this season I've decided. I'll just see if sweaters and my heavy windbreaker with gloves and scarf will be enough.

I have a mens wearhouse overcoat that is full length that actually works quite well over suits. It is basic plain black, looks fine. Since it is full length though I can't really wear it with anything else other than a suit. It protects against rain well but looks much too formal with anything but a suit. Wish I had gotten the 3/4 length.

I'm very slim, but there is no way anyone with any muscle tone could wear a suit under any of these topcoats that I tried on. I couldn't even hardly move with them on when I had the blazer. I will use this winter to better determine what my needs are.

Maybe I'll just have to end up wearing my winter blazers on warmer days it isn't raining and wear the topcoat over a sweater.

 

[drizzt3117]

I'm not sure what kind of sweater you were wearing, but wouldn't a suit/dress shirt be a bit less bulky than sweater/blazer? Sizing up is also an option.

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

I'm not sure what kind of sweater you were wearing, but wouldn't a suit/dress shirt be a bit less bulky than sweater/blazer? Sizing up is also an option.

I was wearing a thin cotton sweater and a thin quarter lined cotton blazer as well. The winter blazer I have is being tailored at the moment. It is a much heavier wool/cashmere blend.

Thing with sizing up is that the shoulders tend to get a bit wide. The Z Zegna has been "flying off the racks" and there wasn't another size available. I already wear the biggest size there is at Zara. And H&M was a little too drab I think.

I'll reassess things if I start freezing ****** off.

 

[LabelKing]

A topcoat ideally should be rather formed in shape.

I have noticed, however, that there are numerous sales-help of the homosexual persuasion in high end stores in San Francisco; I fear their emotive restraint.

 

[itsstillmatt]

I fear that they might be ********** on to of the tie table.

 

[tiecollector]

I'll save you the agony of the stories I've heard in regards to the dressing rooms

 

[josepidal]

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

I'm not sure what kind of sweater you were wearing, but wouldn't a suit/dress shirt be a bit less bulky than sweater/blazer? Sizing up is also an option.
To clarify, do you usually get one size larger for your overcoat, or are overcoat sizes already one size larger?

I think I have broad shoulders so, looking around for OTR overcoats, I was wary of getting something too wide and shapeless.

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by josepidal

To clarify, do you usually get one size larger for your overcoat, or are overcoat sizes already one size larger?

I think I have broad shoulders so, looking around for OTR overcoats, I was wary of getting something too wide and shapeless.


I don't think my shoulders are so broad. I have a big chest with naturally large pec muscles so I always have a hard time in the chest. Upsizing usually works in the chest, but then the shoulders are too wide for my liking.

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by josepidal

To clarify, do you usually get one size larger for your overcoat, or are overcoat sizes already one size larger?

I think I have broad shoulders so, looking around for OTR overcoats, I was wary of getting something too wide and shapeless.
If anything I get one size smaller in an overcoat.

 

[lawyerdad]

Originally Posted by tiecollector

I'll save you the agony of the stories I've heard in regards to the dressing rooms

No more than three items at a time?