Oct 1, 2019 - Shopping
Alexa Chung has collaborated on a capsule collection with Barbour, and it is so, so damn good, if a little pricier than seems strictly necessary. This jacket is just a perfect swingy shape—meant for ease of layering, apparently—and ideal for cold, wet fall days (I adore this coat too). Do I go for it, people? And if so, do I get to justify the purchase by telling myself it’s a replacement for the Barbour jacket I left in a rental car one unseasonably cool day this summer?
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Kim France
I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
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I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
I’m the dissenting voice here regarding the quilted one––I don’t think it’s flattering or attractive. The swing jacket is ok, but, truthfully I like regular old Barbour as well if not better. There’s alway one grumpy old lady in the group! Barbour is such a high quality product that you’ll have whatever you decide on forever (as you know) which makes that price-per-wear reasonable. (it pained me to hear you’d left your jacket in a rental car––ugh––huge sympathies for that one)
Speaking of lovely quilted jacket/coats, I was really ruminating on this Madewell one for a couple weeks. I finally decided against it, as I’d just gotten a similar colored quilted long jacket last year (the rainy season was cooler than usual in SF) and didn’t need another one. Plus, this Madewell one wasn’t water-resistant like mine. But I love that forest floral side and the shape of it. Nowhere as expensive as Barbour. It has already sold out of the X and XL now, so it’s fairly hot. I don’t mean to always bring up Madewell, but now and then they have a winner.
https://www.madewell.com/reversible-quilted-liner-jacket-in-forest-floral-AA329.html
Thanks, Jax, for this tip. Very cute, especially the floral side. Plus a price that doesn’t make me gasp
scary good. life is short…buy the shoes. or…in this case…the jacket. if i hadn’t just had a retail accident on top of the retail accident that was…(oh yeah, you!) the purple no.6 clogs (talk about don’t need! must have!) COMPOUNDED by a red leopard zadig dress (so perfect for my trip to italy in a few weeks!)…i would be flirting with it too 😉
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Weatherproof-Mens-Winter-Techno-Cotton-Parka-Coat/167835175
I rest my case.
Find one on eBay for a fraction of the price. The one you featured is terrific, but not so different from any of the Barbour classics. That quilted one with the corduroy pockets though… tempting to say the least.
I agree. When did a basic hacking jacket start costing more than my first car? Love the quilted one though.
I found a Barbour waxed coat at a consignment shop for $28. SCORE.
Now THIS is smart!
What a gorgeous coat! The swing is the thing. 🙂
Yes! I thought that losing your Barbour this summer would be a good enough reason to acquire the really great Alexa Chung jacket…..till I saw the price. That made me think about the games I play, waiting and hoping that items I’m lusting after will go on sale, and wonder when and why others are susceptible to discounts. When does one damn the torpedos and buy at full price? Hasn’t the web made it so much easier to hunt for a better deal, to stalk something till it’s reduced? But I digress. Sorry, I can’t muster any love for the quilted coat.
It’s not THAT much money. From the comments, I was expecting something in 5 figures! But, at the same time, I find that when I really want something I see online that is super pricey it’s best to go try it in person first. That removes the fantasy factor and lets me consider the item on its own merits. Ordering it first is too much of a sunk cost/effort. But you should get it if you can afford to.
I’m the opposite. I prefer to buy pricey things online without any salesperson pressuring me in even the slightest way (I’m easily irritated). If I don’t love it, I return it immediately (so the credit hits my AMEX during the same billing cycle) without having to explain in person why. Kim, I love that Barbour swing coat and say go for it.
I know salespeople are just doing their jobs but I’ve been really harassed lately.
I can’t even say “Just browsing” anymore because they almost always say “What are you browsing for?”
So I leave.
I usually say right off, “If I need any help I’ll be SURE to let you know!” and that seems to get the point across.
If you think it’s perfect, a substitute isn’t going to keep you from still wanting this one and possibly buying it later, and then you’ve spent even more money. I say it’s all about price-per-wear. If you will get a ton of use out of this jacket then it is definitely worth it.
Perhaps this is hearkening back to Friday’s awesome post, aka the story of my life. Getting dressed every morning I must first ask, “what fits today?” I have a swing coat in a leopard print that never doesn’t fit, and more importantly, never fails to flatter no matter what size I currently am. To me that looks classic and gorgeous. Like a Barbour coat I imagine Audrey Hepburn wearing.
Yes, I thought of Audrey Hepburn too — Audrey at her most practical chic! GO FOR IT Kim!
What about the sleeve lengths? If one is serious about staying dry…or warm…couldn’t we get the few extra inches back?
And the label “hanging”out of the back of the long coat? I know labels are just the thing…but I have friends who will actually try to tuck that one IN!!!
YIKES! What the hell is that doing on the back and doesn’t it go against the GOACA “No overt branding” code? (Don’t mind me, I’m wearing my “Irritability Cloak” today, according to my husband.)
I thought it was subtle enough branding to pass muster.
GET IT! It is perfect. And $700 is not crazy for a jacket that will last forever or until you leave it in a rental car.
At first I liked it as much as a regular Barbour. But then I kept looking at the pockets- they are weirdly low.
I’d go for it. I don’t think $700 is outlandish for a coat you’ll have for many, many years. All the little purchases really add up, don’t they? You cut those out and you have something you won’t be tossing out any time soon. I was reflecting tonight that I have had a “Pink Tartan” coat for close to 17 years, a black wool coat with a velvet collar. It might have been a little painful way back when but isn’t it nicer to have pieces with longevity? How are you possibly saving money buying replacements every year or two?