Check out this High Collar Felt Coat from Forever 21.  It’s a little bit thicker so you can stay warm in the winter and has a great high collar to protect your neck and make you look good.  The double breasted look is fantastic when paired with the cute belt in the middle.  Get it for $27.80.

Forever 21 Trench Coat

Tweed Classic Trench:  This next one, also from Forever 21 is so cute.  It’s the classic tweed trench and the black and white tweed is definitely subtle but still beautiful.  The belt is actually removable, but I like the look with a belt and a cute pencil skirt underneath.  Get it for $37.80.

Forever 21 Tweed Trench Coat

Brushed Twill Trench Coat:  One more from the great store Forever 21.  This one is only $36.90 and it is a brushed twill trench that will go from Fall to Winter into Spring.  This is definitely a more street look and paired with cute jeans or leggings, will look great.  I love the 2 colors it comes in – Olive and Navy – this coat should match almost everything in your closet.  I plan to wear mine with a bright red sweater or a green tank.

Brushed Twill Trench from Forever 21

Puffy trench:  I call this the puffy trench.  Not quite a trench coat, but anything with a belt qualifies as a trench for me.  If you can cinch it in and wear it over your clothes, then I will test it.  This coat, by H&M is pretty great.  It’s puffy and warm, but you don’t feel so puffy after using the belt.  Plus, the winter white color is fantastic over everything.  If you love your trenches, but live in a much colder place, try this coat by H&M.

H&M Coat

Elle Ruffle Trench Coat:  Check out this next trench I found at Kohls.  Yes, you would never know it, but sometimes they have fantastic stuff.  It is now on sale for 50% off, making it $33.99.  This sleek black trench will go over all of your dresses and nice skirts and pants.  The collar has a little ruffle that is so cute and the jacket is made to be tighter with a little stretch in the material to fit well.

Elle Ruffle Trench Coat

IZ Byer California Pleated Sateen Trench Coat:  This next jacket is a great trench dress.  The fuschia color, the flare at the hips, all of it makes for the perfect trench dress for you to wear.  It’s so cute on that I had to buy it.  For me, it was almost like an outfit on its own.  I’m planning to throw it on whenever I want to look cute walking around outside.  Buy it now at Kohl’s for $34 – what a steal!

Fuschia Trench Dress

Old Navy Women’s Belted Trench Coats:  This final one is one of my favorites.  It’s the perfect classic coat from Old Navy for $49.50.  It comes in light tan or black and is perfect for anyone looking for the classic trench.  It is made of smooth brushed twill, and the tie belt in the middle is trendy without being too over the top.  Perfect for the office or out on the town.

Old Navy Trench Coats

Gap Red Pea Coat
This first one is from Gap and like all things made there, it is fashionable, but timeless.  It is a double breasted wool coat with angled pockets on the sides.  It falls right below the waist and is a bit more fitted so it gives you a slimming look.  For $128, it is a pretty good deal, although I might wait until it goes on sale since many things there do.

Gap Red Pea Coat

Calvin Klein Red Peacoat
This next one is from Calvin Klein.  Simple and sleek like most Calvin Klein clothes, it is made of a wool, nylon and cashmere blend.  The fit is good although  it won’t be as tight,  but rather fit slightly more loosely around your body.  There are subtle pockets that don’t really stand out but just give the red jacket a simple effect.  You can buy it for $129.98 at Macy’s.

Calvin Klein Pea Coat

Ralph Lauren Christopher Pea Coat
This next one is more expensive because it’s made by Ralph Lauren.  It’s simply gorgeous though.  It’s made of a wool cashmere blend making it very soft and luxurious and warm.  It buttons all the way up and comes with a notch collar giving it a hard and soft look at the same time.  The buttons are logo-and-crown embossed and the look is divine.  It was originally $598, but is on sale for $449.

Ralph Lauren Peacoat

Burberry Peacoat

Finally, I’m showing you the Burberry peacoat.  You can’t seem to round out a set of great coats without showing one from Burberry.  This one is fantastic.  It’s traditional, classic, and the fit is great.  It’s an Italian  wool/cashmere blend with a full lining, clean simple pockets, and beautiful buttons.  It’s a bit pricier at $695, but for a designer pea coat, you can’t beat this one if you have the money to spend.

Burberry Peacoat

If you’ve seen any other red peacoat that you love, please share it with me!

This first one is from Collection 59 and is sold at Bloomindale’s for $236.  They call it an asymmetrical pea coat.  I love that it looks different than a traditional coat.  The flap that buttons further to the right is really slimming and flattering and gives you an empire waist.  For women who are flat chested, the empire waist accentuates your figure.   Plus, the single row of buttons makes you look slimmer.  If you have bigger boobs, you may want to stay away from this coat since the empire waist could make you look bigger than you are.

Bloomingdales Pea Coat

Check out this next one.  It’s from Juicy Couture and it is called their “Holiday” Wool Tweed Pea Coat.  It’s a little more expensive, approximately $398, but worth it for its comfort and durability.  I found this one at Bloomingdales as well.  What I love about this one is first off, the gorgeous color.  The off-white color is so cute to wear, especially during the winter when things are dull.  The tweed material is very comfortable.  It is double breasted, but like all of Juicy’s clothes, it is made to be fitted so you will look more slim.  It fits wonderfully and is so comfortable.  If I could buy 2 coats, this would be one of them.

Juicy Couture Pea Coat

This next one is a wool pea coat from Bebe.  It is short and falls at the top part of the waist.  I love the furry collar which feels comfortable and is very warm.  The collar can be removed when you’re going for a more casual look, although I would just keep it on all the time.  The buttons are super cute and are marbleized, giving them a shiny look and making them a good focal point on the jacket.  If you want something that is more trendy, check out this one.  It’s about $198.

Bebe Pea Coat

This next one is on sale for those looking for a cheap pea coat.  It’s originally $110, but now on sale for $80.  It caught my eye because it was fuschia, but they’ve also got it in a bunch of other great colors so you can buy your navy pea coat or your red pea coat.  This is one of the cheapest coats you will find and it is still pretty warm since it is a wool blend.  Check this out if you’re looking for something to throw on this winter.  I may just buy a green one for fun!

NY & Co. Wool Pea Coat

Finally, I am considering just buying the classic pea coat.  I found this one below at Banana Republic.  It’s $180 and comes in a beautiful heather grey.  It’s a classic cut with 2 pockets on the side for extra warmth for your hands.  It falls a little below your hips and buttons in the middle.  All in all, it is a very traditional look and I feel like I can wear it to the office or on weekends and it will look good everywhere.

Banana Republic Pea Coat

So, these are the ones I’m currently considering.  I’d love to buy all of them just to have different pea coats to choose from, but if I can only choose one, let me know which one you think I should choose.

First, the pea coat is almost always double breasted. For women, that is not a good thing, but for men, this is fantastic. Having a double breasted coat means that your chest will look broader. A broad chest with a small waist is the ideal silhouette so the more your clothes can improve on that look, the better.

Second, the pea coat is a very classic choice. It is usually not so long that it falls past your knees, but instead falls in the mid-thigh or upper thigh area. This makes the top half of your body look broader, while the bottom half is uncovered and can look thinner. The shape of the pea coat, the classic cut, and the classic color, all combine to make you look very well polished and put together. If you are trying to impress a woman or any women on the street, it is important to look like you have it together. You can do just that with a mens pea coat.

Third, the pea coat is actually very warm. It comes in wool or a wool blend and will keep you warm during the winter. Unlike the trench coat that usually doesn’t have lining nor is made out of wool, the pea coat is a great option to switch to during the really cold winter days.

Finally, the pea coat is a very easy item to accessorize. Throw on a red scarf or a brown knit hat and your winter outfit will be complete. It looks excellent over trousers, wool pants, jeans, and even just plain khakis. You won’t have to worry about matching it to your clothes since it naturally matches most clothes.

If you are a man looking for a winter coat, consider a mens pea coat as a great option to look classy and impress the ladies.

Men's Pea Coat

Juicy Couture “Goth Couture” Wool Flannel Pea Coat:  This coat has a high neck that will make you look long and sleek.  It has a retro vibe with zippered details on the sides.  The light gray color is a perfect accent for any winter clothes.  Buttons sit a bit higher which allow the coat to look more tailored and fitted when worn.  Buy this at Bloomingdale’s for $448.

Juicy Couture Coat

J. Crew Wool Harbor Peacoat:  Beautiful stitching and very well-made, J. Crew has once again made a fantastic coat for the season.  It comes in 8 beautiful colors including a fantastic rusty orange color, beautiful lavender, and solid navy pea coat color.  Buy it online or in stores for $220.

J. Crew Rust Pea Coat

Forever 21 Cropped Pea Coat:  For $40, you can’t get a better deal than this cropped pea coat from Forever 21.  The rounded collar and slightly shorter sleeves give it a very trendy and feminine look.  The mustard yellow color is fantastic to accent against any leggings or denim.

Forever 21 Coat

Banana Republic Duffle Coat:  For a slight alternative to the pea coat, check out this coat from Banana Republic.  There are only one set of buttons, and the buttons are actually toggles, which make the coat look relaxed and cute.  The coat comes in  beautiful gray color and falls around the hips.  You can get this coat for $198.

Banana Republic Coat

Guess Drop Waist Pea Coat:  A very trendy pea coat, this coat from Guess has a beautiful drop waist and very feminine pleats making it look like a coat dress.  For those women that want to hide their tummies or just give themselves a very flattering silhouette, this is a great coat for them.  The coat comes in a beautiful fuschia color or black and is just $138.

Guess Drop Waist Pea Coat

Andrew Marc Double Breasted Pea Coat:  This next coat comes in a gorgeous snow white color.  For those looking for a white coat, this one is fantastic.  It has a wide dramatic collar and an adjustable belt that will create a more empire shape if brought higher or a more hour glass shape if pulled down.  You can buy it now at Nordstrom for 33% off, which makes this coat a steal at $364.90.

Andrew Marc Pea Coat

Theory “Besson” Regency Peacoat:  This next coat by Theory is fantastic.  It is short and falls at the waist and allows every woman to show off her legs.  The details and construction on this coat create a great silhouette for any person who wears it.  For someone looking for a shorter coat, this is the one.  Buy it at Bloomingdale’s for $415.

Theory Pea Coat

James Perse Vintage Fleece Sherpa Peacoat:  If you’re looking for a peacoat that is soft, but still sophisticated, check out this one by James Perse.  All of this designer’s items are easy to wear and comfortable, but the best thing about them is that they look fantastic.  This coat has a Sherpa fleece lining which will keep you warm all winter long.  It comes in black making you look very sleek.  Find it at Bloomingdale’s for  $275.

James Perse Coat

One of the first places I got to look for a great pea coat is J. Crew. J. Crew’s selection of winter coats is very vast. Here, you will find great coats of all lengths and colors. The coats will be updated for the season, but they will also last you for a very long time since they are never too trendy. Check out these fantastic pea coats that I found at J. Crew.

J. Crew Lavender Pea Coat

J. Crew White Pea Coat

That lavender color is fantastic, and you will see more and more purple items as that is the color of the season. The white one is just so clean. You can’t go wrong with white when matching them to your pants or skirts. The only thing to be aware of is that it can get dirty a lot faster. However, if you want to look cute, clean and stay warm, a white pea coat may be a great answer. You can get these pea coats for $220. Not a bad price for a coat you can wear for the next 5 years.

I also like to check out Nordstrom for some fantastic coats. They always have a large selection by many designers. Last I looked, I found all of these. That first coat by Miss Sixty in the green is fantastic and so cute!

Miss Sixty Pea Coat

If you want something a little more trendy, go with this fantastic blue coat by Guess. The royal blue color is so amazing and rich and the rounded collars make the coat a bit more feminine. The yellow one, also by Guess is pretty cool too. With the big collar and sleek lines, it stands out and is also fun to wear, especially on a cold, gray day.

Guess Pea Coat

Guess Yellow Pea Coat

I also like this next one by DKNY. In a bright red color with only one set of buttons, it is definitely more trendy. The shorter sleeves, the side collar and the rounded edges at the bottom all make for a very different look. If you want a nice wool coat, but don’t want to look the same as everyone else, consider this one.

DKNY Pea Coat

There are a lot more pea coats that I will be showcasing in the next few weeks so stay tuned and send me your favorites!

This first one is Childhood Flames.  It is full of fantastic pictures of clothes.  Everything she finds is stylish and unique.  I love, love, love looking at the photos that are posted.  Sometimes, you get a glimpse of her and you can tell that everything looks good on her as well!  Maybe that’s why she has such great fashion sense?

Childhood Flames Blog

Check out this one, Already Pretty.  There are so many fun and wonderful clothes featured on this blog.  Beyond that, I love the tips on how to stay stylish, especially for you budget fashionistas out there.

This next blog,Couture Carrie is so fantastic.  I love how she picks one thing and shows a ton of different ones in different colors, styles and from different designers.  She also shows different looks so you can see how you would wear it.

Couture Carrie Blog

This next blog, Simply Lovely, is exactly that. It is so lovely. I find so many fantastic things to add to my wardrobe. They are all classic and beautiful and I am inspired by her sense of style.

What are your favorite fashion blogs? What blogs do you follow? What do you read daily and get excited about seeing? What blogs show you things you are so obsessed with that you look at the items again and again until you decide to buy them? Share them here!

Short trench

Nordstrom short trench

The short trench coat is very easy to wear around.  You can wear it into the summer since it serves as a great lightweight jacket.  It matches with almost everything, dresses and pants, boots and heels.  Designers usually make them in a variety of colors every season since they are more trendy and fun to wear.  Also, short trenches are usually cheaper.  One caveat – the short trench won’t cover as much as the long trench.  So, for those of you who like to wear longer shorts, you might want to avoid the short trench since the shirt will peek out of the bottom and look quite funny under the trench.

Knee length trench

Knee length trench from Spiegel

Knee length trench coats are the most common kind sold, if you’re looking for something long.  This coat will usually hit around the knee, although if you are a bit taller or shorter, that length will change.  The knee length coat is very flattering for a woman as it lets you show a bit of leg, but not too much.  It also has a great silhouette since the belt at the waist cinches in and then flows out from there, similar to a dress, but sleeker.  The coat is very slimming and you can match it with many different things, from dresses to pants to leggings to boots.  For men, the knee length coat is also very useful since it is long enough to cover a jacket underneath, but also doesn’t overwhelm.  

Jessica London calf length trench

Calf length

– Calf length trench coats are very rare, although they are sold by some designers.  These basically fall below the knee but above the ankle.  They are good if you want the full coverage of a full length coat, but don’t want the trouble of the coat dragging around or hitting your shoes.

Long trench coat from Spiegel

Full length to the floor

– Full length trench coats that hit the floor are oftentimes hard to find.  Designers tend not to make as many and not as many women look for these.  On top of that, unless you are the standard 5’6’’ height that designers tend to make clothes for, the coat will be way too long on you.  If you are taller than 5’6’’, the coat may tend to hit your calves and you will end up with more of a calf length coat.  If you are looking for a full length coat, make sure you are prepared to be patient and are ready to shop around for awhile.

For men, the full length coat is fantastic for covering and protecting your entire suit from head to toe.  Shorter men should try to avoid the full length coat since it could drown you.  The same is true for shorter women.

Trench coat dress

Nordstrom trench dress

Trench coat dresses are the perfect new trench coat style for women.  Most recently seen on stars like Katie Holmes when she is out walking around the city, these trench dresses are fitted like a regular trench coat above your waist, but then flare out from the belt on.  The flare makes the jacket look just like a dress, and the woman ends up looking very chic and feminine.  This style can be more forgiving for women with larger bottom halves since the flare disguises the butt and hips.  This coat is also really fun to wear since it is a whole outfit in and of itself.  You might not want to take off your coat if you find a great trench coat dress that fits you well.

Double breasted or single breasted

Double breasted trench

Most trench coats come in the double breasted style although recently, many designers are making more single breasted coats in response to high demand.  The double breasted trench coat is the classic kind seen in most traditional trench coats designed by Burberry, Coach and other famous brands.  It wraps fully across the chest and provides extra protection for clothes underneath.  The single breasted trench coat usually buttons in the middle so there is less overlap.  This style is often-times more slimming since you don’t have the double buttons running across the chest.  The style does not look as distinct as a traditional trench coat, but is flattering in its own way.  Try on both to see which suits your style best.  Some say that the single breasted trench is recommended for women with fuller busts, however, this is not always true.  Many times, designers have made the double breasted coat just as slimming.  Therefore, it really depends on the style you prefer.

Trench coat style

First, will you button the coat or leave it unbuttoned? A buttoned up coat covers what you are wearing inside and gives you the sleek silhouette that the designer was trying to create. A buttoned look brings everything together. The open, unbuttoned look is more casual and is also more masculine when a man does it. Think of all of the gun fighters in movies that you see. When they come out fighting, their trench coats are unbuttoned and make them look like an even bigger force. On the other hand, an unbuttoned trench can also look very messy and careless. Consider where you are going with your coat and the type of statement you want to make before buttoning or unbuttoning the coat. Also, you can hardly ever go wrong with buttoning it up.

Styling a trench coat

Second, think about how you want to wear the belt. Will you belt it at all? For most women, that belt will make you look better since it will give you a waist. However, do you belt it in the traditional way or will you tie it in a more stylish way? The traditional way is just looping it through the belt buckle, however, the more fashionable way is tying it like Burberry does with their trenches – a double knot with the 2 ends of the belt so the belt dangles a little.

Third, think about the collar. If you are trying to be a bit more stylish, turn it up slightly. If you want to be more conservative, make sure it is down.

Fourth, think about the sleeves. Again, the more stylish way is to scrunch them up a bit. This makes the relaxed sleeve more fitted on your body. Remember, this only works if you are wearing short sleeves underneath. Do not do this if you are wearing a long sleeve or shirt.

Finally, what outfit will you pair it with underneath? What type of shoes will you be wearing? Many famous stars have been shown wearing knee high boots or pointed toe heels. Pants usually look great under short and long trenches since they elongate they balance out the broader feeling of the coat. Also, consider the colors you are wearing. If you have a more conservative color trench, consider pairing it with brighter color shoes or even a bright scarf, purse or hat. The trench coat can be dressed up or down depending on how you feel. Most of all, put your own style twist on it and have fun wearing it.

Below are five more ways to wear the trench coat:

Like Audrey Hepburn: Trench coat + Full length skirt + ballet flats + silk scarf + soft t-shirt

Out to dinner: Trench coat + designer jeans + stilettos + chunky jewelry

To the office: Trench + tailored pants + button down shirt + classic pumps

Night on the town: Trench + tights + ankle boots + chunky gold heels + metallic bangles

Out around town: Trench + chunky boots + sunglasses + warm scarf