TIPS FOR THE PERFECT WINTER COAT | Vintage Collectif Review!

Hello dearies! I can’t be the only bygone gal who has had a difficult time finding a fashionable AND warm winter coat? In another winter style post I talked about how I’ve learned to warm & stylish in the winter and how to layer in a vintage style; but what about the outerwear that should be the icing on the cake?

Collectif Clothing is the only brand I now turn to, they have so many fantastic coats that it can be quite hard deciding on just one! Last winter I bought the Mainline Adelita Coat & Cape on a Black Friday sale and got 30% off of the usual £157.50/$210-ish. As much as I love that coat with it’s warm faux fur lined hood and cuffs; I realized it was maybe even a bit too warm for the sorts of winters we get in lower New York and a little more gothic than my style that has evolved into now (plus I lost a lot of weight due to medical issues last and it got too loose for me, sadly).

So, when the annual January 50% off Collectif sale happened this year, I already knew exactly what coat I was going to invest in. BEHOLD, the Claudia Stars Coat & Cape! A recent addition to their collection, and was EXACTLY what I had dreamed of and makes me feel like I’ve stepped out of a Sleepy Hollow fairytale with it’s perfect fusion of vintage and whimsical style. The usual price is £182/$235 USD so I ended up getting it for around $115 which is a fantastic deal for a quality coat like this (if you’re ordering outside of the UK take into consideration the shipping and conversion fees.)

So let’s talk about all the things this coat has that I take into consideration when looking for the perfect coat (because goodness knows this California girl has learned by trial and error after living in Sweden and now NY):

FIT: The cut is slim for a pin-up silhouette and on their website they advice if you want to wear layers under the coat to size up so I went with a size Medium UK 12 for my 37-36″ bust x 28-27″ waist. I also did this to accommodate my bust area which has ALWAYS been the hardest part for me before. I was thrilled to find that both of the Collectif coats have the perfect bust to waist ratio for me and buttons all the way up easily without any pulling at bust.

FUNCTIONAL: If fits both my bust AND waist perfectly and BEST OF ALL I can even lift my arms over my head!!! I don’t even have that broad of shoulders yet it’s always been so hard for me to find a cute coat that doesn’t also constrain my arms. It can be hard to know this when ordering online but if I’m ever in a store I try to “pretend” how it would be outside in the cold trying to manage carrying bags, purse, and a camera. The coat fastens along the front with a 7 sturdy but smooth navy buttons which (when your hands aren’t frozen) are very easy to secure. The front pockets are placed naturally on each hip that have just enough room for your phone or gloves.

WARMTH: I can’t stand a coat being too bulk (and I really abhor those puffy winter jackets as warm as they may be) but I’m also very sensitive to wool. The “Claudia” is made in a soft navy wool blend (70% polyester 30% wool) which isn’t itchy for me. I adore the silky silver satin lining with deep blue velvet cuffs on the collar and cuffs. I look for coats that come to the knees so that they will go with almost any length of dress and of course for added warmth. When you sit down the coat will almost come to your ankles so that’s always an added bonus! I’m 5’7″ and it hits just below my knees and flares out so wonderfully as I walk.

DETAILS: Any great coat has got to have some charming details to make it interesting but also not too many unnecessary things that get in the way. My favorite feature is THE CAPE which is completely detachable and can also be worn separately! It fastening with a hook at the neck and velvet ties that gives some added warmth and LOADS of fairytale princess vibes. Even without the cape, the coat holds its own and I love that it can be dressed up or down depending on the accessories.

The only cons of the coat are that it probably wouldn’t be warm enough for very frigid temperatures and isn’t water resistant but otherwise it is ALL MY DREAMS COME TRUE in a winter coat and I really hope you found something helpful from this! It may take some trial and error and saving up your pennies to find the perfect fit for you but I feel it’s definitely worth it if you live in a colder environment since you’ll feel stylish and warm while you’re out on all your winter adventures!

I’d love to know what you look for in a winter coat or what your dream one would be like? Sending lots of warm winter wishes and hope you’ve enjoyed my winter fashion tips!
Bye For Now dearies,
-Lindsay Dianne

P.S. Also do check out this YouTube video where I show many of the pieces I’ve built up in my vintage minimal wardrobe on my #RoadToRetro:

Here’s a few extra Sleepy Hollow cemetery views where Jonas took the photos, isn’t it a dream with the trees bare of leaves and a dusting of snow?