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Original poster

Gorgeous new coat - advice needed!

26 replies

ToffeeWhirl · 22/11/2014 11:25

I recently ordered this coat online from Hobbs. I have never paid so much for a coat in my life and still get panicky when I think about it. It's a lovely coat and it looks good on. My problem is that I'm not sure about the fit. It looks as if it fits perfectly, but I can feel the pull in my shoulders when I put my arms in front of me, and the sleeves pull up too short. I haven't tried it yet with a jumper, but I suspect it will be too tight. I would go up a size, but Hobbs have sold out. And, actually, the next size up might be too big on me and I might lose the coat's nice slimming outline.

Now I'm in a quandary about whether to keep the coat or send it back. I'm wondering too if I should get a cheaper smart coat so that I can afford a casual coat too.

Can anyone help me sort my head out? What would you do?

OP posts:
woollytights · 22/11/2014 11:30

If its an investment type piece might it be worth paying to get it altered?

Original poster
ToffeeWhirl · 22/11/2014 11:50

Thanks for replying, woolly. Can shoulders of coats be altered, though? And then I will be paying even more money. I dunno. Am going to try it on again today and see how I feel then.

OP posts:
Original poster
ToffeeWhirl · 22/11/2014 11:51

Am just going out, by the way (wearing my old, frumpy coat Sad) so won't be on the thread for a while.

OP posts:
TheAuthoress · 22/11/2014 12:01

For me, for that much money it would need to be a perfect fit and I would have to be 100% happy with it, so I would send it back and keep looking.

Greengardenpixie · 22/11/2014 12:21

I agree with the post above. Tbh, the fit just may not be right for your shape regardless of size. I would return and then go to the shop if you can and get a bigger size. its not practical to have a coat that pulls and you will always put off wearing it. Also, it wont stretch over time. it could be that the coat fits you but its the lining thats causing it to feel tight. I had a hobbs coat and it did the same thing. In the end, i ended up not wearing it that much..then i had children and it was too small. I sold it!!

Greengardenpixie · 22/11/2014 12:22

...also i kept thinking..i wont wear my 'good coat' and of course it was a waste of money. Fashions also change..you may be better getting something thats nice but cheaper and then you can ring the changes.

LeoandBoosmum · 22/11/2014 12:26

I suspect you won't wear it. I think you only get 14 days to return to Hobbs...

iwantavuvezela · 22/11/2014 12:31

Go for a good fit. It will annoy you otherwise and you may even split a seam if it is too tight. I have made "mistakes" like this by loving something even though it wasn't a good fit (yes, that's you Marc Jacob shoes that were just a twitch too big rendering them un walkable!).

RonaldMcDonald · 22/11/2014 13:24

I wear comedically tight jackets to ensure a good fit in the shoulders
If it isn't 'too tight' I'd be sending it back

Different if it's a parka or duffle

Pusspuss1 · 22/11/2014 13:27

Typical Hobbs - all their stuff is too short in the arms! Send it back I say.

toptrumps1 · 22/11/2014 13:34

Is that the correct link? I can see an ivory damask cropped jacket of the type you would wear to a wedding? If that is the correct jacket, when on earth did you think you would wear it, unless you have a plethora of weddings and smart occasions to go to, and even then, is it really a winter colour? Are you in the UK, as in, or is it summer where you are? Genuine question, as you say this is a lot of money for you, for a jacket like that it would be a lot of money for most people to spend on an occasion jacket.

Regardless of whether that is the jacket in question or not, there is nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable in the wrong size, so if it will bug you, return. Having said that, I regret sizing up in a leather jacket because it felt exactly as you described, when in actual fact the smaller one looked better and I hardly wear the jacket now because I feel it looks too big.

toptrumps1 · 22/11/2014 13:37

Oh my god, now I get a Brown Apperley coat in that link, that makes much more sense!!! (and what is going on with Hobbs links, or my pc?!?)

Its a lovely coat, I suspect it is supposed to be snug and neat fitting, and feel as you described, I don't think you're supposed to wear a chunky jumper under that style for example. But again, if it bugs you, return.

Don't forget, we are a week away from Black Friday and all the mega discount codes, after which the xmas sales will start, I bet you that coat will be 30% or more cheaper soon which may help your decision!!

Twinklestein · 22/11/2014 14:24

I'm getting a cream jacket too...

Twinklestein · 22/11/2014 14:28

Found the Apperly, I really like it. But I agree it's not much use if you can't wear it with a jumper.

If you're in London call a shop and see if they have it stock anywhere.

You could also try House of Fraser and John Lewis as they stock Hobbs and may have it in stock.

Twinklestein · 22/11/2014 14:31

Just checked, HoF have it in all sizes, JL have it in all sizes except 12.

Original poster
ToffeeWhirl · 22/11/2014 17:38

Goodness, didn't expect so many replies. Thank you all, it's really helpful to see what other people think. And Twinkle, that is very kind of you to check other shops. Stupidly, it hadn't even occurred to me to try anywhere other than Hobbs.

I have had a quick go on the HoF 'True Fit' thingy, which assesses my true size for each brand, and it suggested a size 10 in that coat, when it's the size 12 that feels too small Confused. I'm going to recheck my own measurements, then compare them to the size 14 to see if that size will fit better (and maybe the True Fit thing is nonsense).

toptrumps - how weird about the link. But no, I'm not planning to wear an ivory cropped jacket this winter Grin.

GreenGarden - I'm a bit worried about the money aspect of it too. I might be too scared to wear it because I know how much it cost.

I agree with all those who say that for the cost the coat needs to be perfect. But I am also torn because DH and DC all say the coat looks fab and looks as if it fits really well. And I'm so fed up of wearing frumpy coats .

OP posts:
Eliza22 · 22/11/2014 17:56

I bought a Boden coat a month ago. I'm not really a boden fan but liked the cocoon style. Every time I wear it, I get a comment! I love it. Wearing it a lot....no such thing as "saving for best" in my book!

rubybleu · 22/11/2014 19:40

I actually bought this very same coat tonight, despite having exactly the same misgivings. It's a really beautiful coat.

Mine is a bit snug in the shoulders. I suspect a size up will be much too big. However, I've worn a very similar Hobbs coat for 3 winters now and it's worn very well.

everythingsgoingsouth · 22/11/2014 20:52

getting the ivory jacket here too???

Twinklestein · 23/11/2014 11:52

The HoF True Fit thing is no use, I've tried it.

If you order from John Lewis, postage is free on orders over £50 and returns are free. You can also do Click and Collect to your local Waitrose branch which means you can get it in a couple of days.

Why not try the 14 and compare it?

If it helps I have a fitted Donna Karan coat, I bought the size up so I could wear jumpers and tbh it makes no difference as to how it looks, and I'm glad I did because I need the option of extra layers in winter.

Original poster
ToffeeWhirl · 24/11/2014 15:50

Sorry, have only just seen your last post,Twinkle. Thank you. However, I have been persuaded to keep the coat after getting several compliments. I had a long chat with my next-door neighbour (one of the people who complimented me), who said it looked like a perfect fit for me. We thought that, if I went up a size, I'd lose the lovely slim outline.

I think I will get used to the fit, in time. And I'll wear my frumpy winter coat (or buy a cheaper, less frumpy, version) if I need to wear thick jumpers.

OP posts:
Original poster
ToffeeWhirl · 24/11/2014 16:41

ruby - that's encouraging to know.

Eliza - yes, you're right. I just need to get used to wearing such a posh coat every day Smile.

OP posts:
Greengardenpixie · 24/11/2014 18:03

If you are getting really postive messages about the coat thats great...but why not at least try the larger size. Take a friend with you and compare. It will always nag at you.

rubybleu · 24/11/2014 19:06

I actually chased down the next size up in my lunch hour today in the City.

The next size up fit so much better through the shoulders and the lovely sales rep said I needed the bigger size for proportions as I'm tall(ish), but it was slightly loose through the chest and body. It turns out Hobbs can alter coats for £15 so that's what I've opted for, to get it trimmed through the body.

The City stores all had 14s in stock today if you wanted to try them on.

VoyagesOfAStarship · 24/11/2014 19:16

Just fyi toffee I have a beautiful hobbs coat, v similar to yours though a different colour. It was a similar price originally, though I got mine in the sale it was still £££££ for me and I did think "what am I doing?" But I love it. It still looks like new several years on and I get loads of compliments when I wear it. It is so flattering, well cut, beautiful fabric and a better buy than many cheaper things I've bought. A coat that makes you look really smart and feel confident is a great thing to have.

Buy some heattech type tops so you can be warm with just a couple of thin layers. It should also ease up a bit and shape itself to you with wear, as it's all wool.