Is this coat a bad idea?

[EmbarrassingMama]

I have an 18 month old whose favourite activity is going puddling, followed by being carried whilst wearing dripping wet, muddy, gumboots. Followed closely by wiping his nose on my jeans.

I have a very beautiful DVF coat which I adore. It is wool, but the style is boxy and it looks best worn unbuttoned so it is not warm. I wear this if I'm going out in the evening or to work if it is not too cold.

My 'mum coat' is a Uniqlo puffer parker thing, in black, with muddy welly marks around the bottom.

Embarrassingly, because it is warm, I have taken to wearing this 'mum coat' to work. I've just realised this is unacceptable and I look like a total scruff bucket.

Q: is there any type of coat that can be worn for work and kids? Or does one really need 3? Work, evenings out and park.

I'm looking at this as I adore the colour, but is dry clean only something to run away from?

Hoping to have another baby soon, all being well, in case that changes anything...

www.hobbs.com/product/tilda-wool-coat/0219-3528-1049L00-BURNT-ORANGE.html#q=tilda&sz=60&start=0&pid=0219-3528-1049L00-BURNT-ORANGE&pos=7

Seasalt have a good selection of practical but quite stylish coats. I like the seafolly coat, it works for both work and walks with my 2yo that sounds similar to your dc!

I have more than 3 coats.

If you already have a casual coat why do you need one that can be both suitable for work and wearing to the park?

Good question. I guess this could just be a work coat, then I can keep my scrappy one for park and play time.

Do you like it? Or if I'm only going to have one decent coat, should it be black?

I love the coat and I love the colour. I think you should get it.

I’m a firm believer in looking well put together and part of that is having as many coats as possible. I don’t really believe in trying to find one coat that covers everything.

I wouldn’t worry about the dry clean only, either. Once a year should be fine.

If all goes to plan and you're hoping to be pregnant and then on maternity leave you might not get that much wear out of slim fitting work coat. I'd suggest finding one in Zara for the moment until you know what your needs are.

As it’s prob quite ££, I’d get it but in a more neutral colour as it’ll most likely go with everything and will be more timeless. That way if you do have another dc you can put it away for a bit then get it out again after. Also maybe go for a more generous size so it’s likely to fit post baby especially if you’re planning on bf for any length of time. None of my old coats fit me at the mo due to my boobs, really annoying 🙄

Oh no I must respectfully disagree! - Life is way too short to always go for the sensible option. If you love the colour then get it; you will feel fabulous every time you wear it. And such a strong colour will actually go just fine with pretty much all colours.

Get in the size that fits you now. If you need another in a different size in two years’ time, then you can invest in another one then.

Agree that you should buy it in the colour you live and to fit you now. You can't really predict sizing/fit post pregnancy anyway.

I agree with @Ninkanink , get the colour you love!

I've never posted on this thread before and I love it! Thanks so much for all the helpful comments and general camaraderie!

Think I'm going to go for it.

I have to say that orange is my least favourite colour and for me it already seems passé and would not be easy to accessorise.

I would prefer the coat in Bitter Chocolate or French Navy but I'm far more taken with the Evalina coat in Aubergine that is also on sale.

That said, I don't think you can go wrong with a Hobbs coat. I have several and they are all beautifully made and their classic styling has stood the test of years.

I don't think you can ever have too many coats. If I could only have one smart one, I would probably look long and hard at the navy or bitter chocolate (but definitely not black). However the burnt orange is lovely and I've a hunch it could be surprisingly versatile.

If you wear a lot of skirts and dresses, I would think hardest about the length because it looks a good couple of inches above the knee and hemlines are dropping. But if you wear mostly jeans or trousers then that's probably less of an issue.

OP you could also look at the Ted Baker Ellgenc coats, as the ones on sale come in a bit cheaper than this and they are lovely - bought the pink one in the Christmas sale, and it is fabulous.

Lovely coat. I have one very similar to it in the Vicuna colour, but it was half the price of the Hobbs one, from Uniqlo.

That coat is absolutely stunning. Get it and keep it for work and being a grown up. It's lovely to have some clothes that never do toddler-duty.

The Evalina is also gorgeous! Love that, but they don't have it in my size!

I love the colour but a word of warning - the quality of the Tilda isn't the best, in my experience. I bought it in 'pottery' at the end of last year - the colour was perfect but I was really disappointed with the look and finish, so decided it wasn't for me.

Those who like the orangy colour - out of interest what colour hat/scarf/gloves would you wear with it?

Pretty much anything would look as long as it’s in the same tone (warm or cold). I’d have to see the coat in person to know exactly what shade I would want, but off the top of my head, navy or French navy, dark green(moss, forest or Meghan green), deep red, purple/aubergine, mushroomy taupe, brown/bronze, leopard print (with black and brown or shades of grey rather than super bright), moss and cream polka dot. Plain black, plain grey (on the darker side) would also look nice I think.

*look good. A deep mustard yellow would look good too, actually. I would have one brightly coloured item to play off against the orange, and then I would choose a very dark colour for the two other items.

I have a whole wardrobe full of coats but often don't have the 'right' one for my outfit. I really don't know how anyone can always look stylish with just one or two coats!

I have lots of coats and jackets so it's not a problem for me to vary my look. but I think that if you only have one coat for work it's better to choose a dark/neutral colour that can be 'changed' by the addition of jazzy scarves, bags etc rather than opt for a bright colour that always looks as if you're wearing the same coat - which, of course, you are.

Looking through the Hobbs coats, Thea looks to be a very grown up classy coat that will never date and Jane may accomodate a small bump. However, none of these coats, including the Tilda you've ordered, look particularly warm.

It seems to me that you also need another warm puffer/parka coat
that you can keep solely for work. A friend has this coat
www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_054010530243_-1 It's wonderfully warm, the faux fur can be removed from the hood, and it's totally waterproof - rain just slides off it which is a bonus she wasn't expecting.

Along with Laiste I'm also interested to know what colours other posters would choose to accessorise a burnt orange coat.

Navy, dark green, charcoal, black, animal print....the list is endless but you need to see it in real,life. It's a gorgeous coat, I had the previous incarnation bought 2005 and it's still in my wardrobe ( mine was deep red). Colour is fab