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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to buy a coat I love that doesn't really fit me properly?!

32 replies

chompychompychompchomp · 14/09/2013 20:51

I have seen a coat, it's the sort of style I've been looking for for ages. It looks great undone, right shoulder and sleeve fit and good length. However I can't do it up due to having an awkwardly large chest - not massive, just bigger than most people my size (all natural may I add). I absolutely love the coat and it's in the sale. No other sizes available in stores nearby nor online. I've got on hold til tomorrow. Question is - will it be obvious that I'm wearing a coat I can't button up? AIBU to spend money on something that doesn't actually fit me properly and probably never will?

OP posts:
FourEyesGood · 14/09/2013 20:53

If it's less than a fiver, go for it. Otherwise it's just as waste of money. You'll be cold and you'll keep wishing you had either a bigger coat or smaller boobs. Grin

FatPenguin · 14/09/2013 20:53

Won't it annoy you every time you put it on and can't do it up?

Doesnotdrinkalcohol · 14/09/2013 20:53

If you won't ever want to button it up then YANBU.

ClaraOswald · 14/09/2013 20:55

How will it keep your front warm and dry if you can't do it up?

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 14/09/2013 20:55

YABU

A coat is supposed to keep you warm. If it won't do that then surely you aren't actually going to wear it much?

pianodoodle · 14/09/2013 20:59

If it's a winter coat to keep you warm YABU but if it's more a fashion coat and less practical (and really cheap) then YANBU

Original poster
chompychompychompchomp · 14/09/2013 21:00

I am happy never to button it up - but will it be obvious to people that it's undone because I can't do it up? I work with someone who has a similar body shape to me who wears cardigans and jackets that she just can't do up and I think it's really noticeable. From the back and sides they look OK; from the front just like a jacket that she clearly can't do up i.e too small. I know I probably notice this more than others due to having a similar body shape but would others think the same? (I am over thinking this - I know!!)

OP posts:
Original poster
chompychompychompchomp · 14/09/2013 21:02

It's £55 and more of a fashion coat - I have a normal warm winter coat which I can do up! I could wear a chunky scarf down my front to keep me warm?

OP posts:
ViviDeBeauvoir · 14/09/2013 21:06

Link!

I feel your pain OP - I was searching high and low for a biker jacket to put over my HH boobs but to no avail. I think it depends how much room there is.

If it's a case of 'I can do it up but I get a mono boob' then I would think it's ok.

If it's more 'the zip is nowhere near meeting' then I would say it's obvious and a definite 'no'.
Maybe we can find a similar one to fit you?

MacaYoniandCheese · 14/09/2013 21:09

Don't do it. It will flap around and annoy you when you walk anywhere. Save up for a coat that fits you properly.

permaquandry · 14/09/2013 21:10

I think the scarf is a perfect solution, I rarely do any coat up unless its my super-warm, dog walking coat on fffffffreezing days.

I have a friend with this problem and tbh, you never notice her jackets, cardis etc can't be done up.

I say buy it, try it, ask opinions at home then return if no good?

mysticminstrel · 14/09/2013 21:10

Oh, I sympathise.

I have a similar body shape and I can't wear blouses/shirts without them gaping at the front and coats are always really snug around the boobs/rib cage if I want them to fit anywhere else.

I would say that if it's a 'going out' coat for special occasions, then it doesn't matter if it doesn't do up. But def not if it's a coat for tramping around in.

I had a similar dilemma recently with a lovely French Connection dress I bought in the sale. It fitted really well everywhere except my chest, which it completely flattened. I bought it anyway as they didn't have it in the bigger size and I did enjoy wearing it.

liquidstate · 14/09/2013 21:11

I had a coat like this. I did fit until I gained a bit of weight and my boobs increased (stayed the same dress size everywhere else though Hmm). I just did up the buttons I could and then wore a scarf over the open bit.

You may be able to rig something up with the button by adding an expander thingy that they sell to increase the fit on skirts etc. Sorry can't recall the name!

Original poster
chompychompychompchomp · 14/09/2013 21:17

There's no link, sorry!. It's from TK Maxx and can't find it on their website. Was just walking passed today (don't normally shop there) and saw it hanging by the door. The store phoned around local stores to see if they had the next size up (10) and they had sold out. There is a bigger size (12), but it's really quite big. The sleeves hang over my hands and it's too long and too wide. Had thought about buying that and getting it made smaller but the expense involved wouldn't be worth it. Maybe I'll buy it, decide at home and return it if people tell me it looks ridiculous gaping open all the time!

OP posts:
roofio87 · 14/09/2013 21:20

my favourite leather jacket does not do up (well I am 37 weeks pg, but even before this it never did!!) but I bought it with no intention of ever wearing it done up. its NU imo!!

Original poster
chompychompychompchomp · 14/09/2013 21:21

mysticminstrel Blouses, shirts are a thing of dreams for me! Not worn any top that buttons up since I was a teenager!

OP posts:
specialsubject · 14/09/2013 21:54

why buy 'fashion coats' anyway?

a coat is to keep you warm. If it doesn't do that (fitting or not) it is a useless object.

NoComet · 14/09/2013 21:59

Don't DD1 will pinch it and it will annoy you every-time you see it neatly fastened round her smaller hips.

BergholtStuttleyJohnson · 14/09/2013 21:59

I have a coat I can't do all the way up. It's quite low at the front though so it's just the top button that doesn't do up over my boobs, the rest of the coat has plenty of room. I wear a scarf with it and it's fine. It's my only winter coat.

CoffeeTea103 · 14/09/2013 22:00

Argh have been there! The thing is I find that if you can't button it up it is noticeable. However if you use a lovely scarf Down the front it may look fine.

LondonNinja · 14/09/2013 22:02

Buy it. Try it on at home and with a few outfits underneath and take it back for a refund if you're not 100% happy. £55 hanging in your wardrobe is a lot of cash if you aren't going to get much wear from it (speaking from soo much experience)!

LustyBusty · 14/09/2013 22:03

chompy I don't own a coat that buttons over my boobs. Not even my £££££ floor length woollen one. Sad I'm a 16ish waist, 18ish bottom and 24-26 top. I use a pashmina as a scarf, which I put on first, then button coat up to just under boobs. The only comments I've ever had are about how stylish I look when dressed like that. Go for it!!

LustyBusty · 14/09/2013 22:05

Oh and, if you slightly puff up the pashmina in such a way that it looks a lot puffed up, it looks like a fashion statement AND disguises huge boobage... Win/win!

sleepyhead · 14/09/2013 22:09

I almost never fasten up "nice" coats (as opposed to boring everyday keep-you-warm coats) because if they're big enough across the front then they're to big everywhere else.

So, if it looks good otherwise and it's the sort of style you can get away with a scarf to ward off some of the chill then I'd probably go for it.

Original poster
chompychompychompchomp · 15/09/2013 15:29

I've bought the coat. Been told it makes me look like a 'bird's nest' by my daughter and not quite sure what she means by that. No chance of her borrowing it as it's not black enough and not leather, though she did try it on and it looks great when done up! I will wear it around the house today and when I pop to the shops in a bit. There is absolutely no way in hell I can do any of the three buttons up. I have a huge selection of scarfs that I will experiment with later tonight. And a minimiser bra! Will see if that makes a difference...

Thank you for all your replies and advice! Been very helpful in me getting my head around my coat dilemma!

OP posts: