I'm in the market for a new spring/fall jacket (probably trench style) and I'm really taking quality into consideration this time.
When you buy outerwear, how long do you expect it to last before you have to replace it, either due to wear or due to style changes? Can you recommend a brand that has stood the test of time?
kiwi / 739 posts
A long time! I have two trench coats, one from Macy's and Michael kors from Nordstrom rack that are five and three years old and both are in good shape/still in style. Depending on color and material some trench coats will always be in style! My Macy's one is green and I see it lasting a few springs more but honestly I'll probably still wear it long after that. 
Check Nordstrom rack if you have one near you!
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
I have a banana republic trench coat for like 3 years now, still in great shape! Outwear I expect to last like 4-5 years!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
Years. It doesn't get much use in TX. I have two jackets in my rotation that I've had since 2008, one is north face and one is from gap.
persimmon / 1322 posts
I'd say around 5 years, if the quality is there to begin with. I like to have a few different weight and style options, and am not very concerned with staying in style, so I wear mine for longer. I still have a couple of jackets I bought when I was around 20, and I'm 27 now.
honeydew / 7444 posts
I had a Banana Republic trench coat from 2007 and finally tossed it last year. I had a really nice Holt Renfrew winter coat that lasted 10 years and the only reason i gave it away was because it was looking a little dated - the quality was great, no pilling!
I usually expect it to last 5-10 years, 5 if the quality is somewhat cheap, 10 for good quality.
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
I love love my Uniqlo puffy jacket! They have all different styles (long, short, with hood, without...). It folds up really small in a little bag too so it's great for travel.
I feel like a good trench should last forever or like 10 years at least?! I have a black belted trench from VS that's actually in great condition and over 10 years old.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Classic trench, lifetime. This is where I would splurge for Burberry.
persimmon / 1379 posts
I think it partially depends on how often it is worn. I have a great winter coat that I only wear for 'adult' events when I know that I won't have a kid along for the ride, and it is 2 years old, but looks brand new (because...I never actually get to go to 'adult events'!), but even the best quality would wear through for me in a few years if it was my go-to every day coat.
persimmon / 1364 posts
Forever? Then again, I'm in southern California so our outerwear doesn't get much use and doesn't have to stand up to tough conditions. I have pea coats, trench coats, and leather jackets that I've had over 10 year and they still look great.
nectarine / 2951 posts
Years! Some of my winter wool jackets look old and tattered after @8 years, but I try to take good care so they last a long time. I've even relined the inside of some of my favorite jackets.
coconut / 8430 posts
I have a wool coat and a Marmot rain jacket that have both lasted longer than 10+ years.
I would expect a quality trench to last you 10+ years!
apricot / 399 posts
I wear a trench my mom bought in her 20s. So I agree that this is placed to splurge to get high quality!
pear / 1737 posts
Forever? Haha. I am kind of cheap and hate shopping. My winter coat is from winners and I bought it 9 years ago. I should upgrade (I would like a nice wool coat) but there is nothing wrong with it. It gets a lot of use. I have a cheap fleece-lined rain coat from Costco that does the job for rainy/ and cooler fall weather that I bought a few years ago.
cherry / 148 posts
@lamariniere: I have a winter jacket my mom bought me from J.Crew in eighth grade. It's not my only outerwear but it's been one of my primary winter jackets for the majority of those 20 years and I still wear it! J.Crew quality has steadily declined and I doubt anything they sell now would last that long. The other is a Nautica jacket I also got in middle school. Super outdated but I don't care, it's in perfect shape and warm! These days I'd expect to get 5-10 years wear from an outerwear. I live in the NE.
The past few years I've really wanted a Northface and/or a Marmot, but I have a hard time justifying the cost when those other two are still in such great shape.
I'd strongly recommend Barbour too, bit on the pricey side but love their higher end cut (fit) and more importantly they still have that old school quality!
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
At least 5 years. I've had my winter dress coat for probably 7 years (Anne Klein), and my tench for 5 (Ann Taylor). My down puffy coat that was cheap (Calvin Klein) only lasted 5 seasons and I was really annoyed.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
@Meow: yes it totally has declined. The buttons on my pea coat have all fallen off and it's only 2 years old.
pomelo / 5258 posts
I was just confessing to some coworkers that my snowboarding jacket is my rain coat from 7th grade... and it's been on several business trips with me. It is time to say goodbye but it had one hell of a run. 20 years.
pineapple / 12566 posts
@LibbyLou: yes, this is why I'm leaning towards a trench since it is such a timeless classic!
@Freckles: I have a BR trench too, circa 2008. I haven't worn it that much and kind of forgot about it since it wasn't aging well. I pulled it out this morning and I noticed a huge rip in the arm seam. 
@looch: Burberry would be the dream, but I think my DH would kill me. 
We actually have a Burberry outlet just outside of town and I'm contemplating a trip there, but it's a PITA to get to and there are no guarantees that they will have any of the more classic styles.
@hitchhiker: that's amazing!
@Meow: agree about J.Crew quality taking a downturn. The jacket I want to replace is from J.Crew and I feel like it is in poor health after 4 years. And we must have the same closet because I also have a Nautica coat from when I was maybe 12-13 and it's still hanging in the closet at my dad's house. The last time I saw it, it was still in perfect shape.
@Corduroy: nice! 20 years seems to be unheard of these days!
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @winniebee: I'm thinking 7-8 years should be a minimum for something reputed to be "quality".
cherry / 204 posts
I have two Geiger wool jackets that are 40+ years old. A friend of mine bought them, used them regularly and then passed them onto me. They see frequent use, I live in Alaska. My friend had new linings sewn in right before she gave them to me, and the coats look brand new.
I have a Coach leather trench coat that my mom wore when I was growing up and that I wear during fall/spring. It's held up pretty well too. Every few years it sits a season out, but for style reasons rather than wear.
I don't expect technical fabric to hold up as well. It's usually thinner so it might be more prone to snags and pulls, plus it usually has to contend with more stress on the seams.
I really like LOLE and Mountain Mama for more casual winter coats that will last for several years and be practical and cute.
My next winter coat will probably be from Ibex or Icebreaker. I haven't owned a coat by them yet, but my long underwear and wool sweaters have held up for 5+ years with heavy use.
honeydew / 7463 posts
I have a gorgeous black trench with leather sleeves I got from Nordstrom Rack. The brand is Mackage. I'm a Mackage junkie and always find a good deal on it at NR (except for the down coats). I expect it to last at least 5 years style wise but quality would be forever.
I also have a Mackage leather Moto jacket from NR and I wear the crap out of it in fall and spring. Tons and tons of compliments from strangers. I expect it to last forever and hopefully hand it down as "vintage" to a daughter or my niece
So I would consider a leather Moto jacket or a trench, depending on the style you wear more.
I also got a more traditional taupe trench coat from Express when I was like 23. I'm now 34. I personally don't still shop at Express but I'm surprised at how well it's held up and how Classic it looks. I get compliments on it a lot (though I haven't actually worn it in maybe 2 years).
@looch: I do think that if the time comes and I want another traditional trench I'll go for Burberry. It will last forever and I can hand it down to a future daughter or my niece.
As for winter coats, I just retired my last down one after 7 years. DKNY, so nothing fancy but nothing cheap. The down really started to thin out and one pocket ripped so I finally splurged and got a Mackage down coat and do expect that to last nearly forever. It's almost too puffy now so I hope after a few years it will be perfect.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@lamariniere: Mine would too, at first. The problem I have is I really want to get one in black, not the stone/khaki color but I have to see it in person first. Plus my size isn't constant, so I have a difficult time spending a lot on a coat right now.
@SweetiePie: I was thinking it would probably be the last trench I ever purchased. A friend of mine is wearing his grandfather's Burberry, he's in is 50s now, so imagine the age of that coat. Looks impeccable.
persimmon / 1129 posts
@lamariniere: I have a classic khaki London Fog trench coat from Macy's that's 10 years old. The only wear on it is that one of the pockets has a rip on the inside. I still remember with a Macy's sale I got it for $50 which felt like a splurge to my grad school self at the time!
pomegranate / 3314 posts
Forever. I'm with you in that the older I get the more I want to invest in longterm pieces. That said, I have an H&M coat that I have been wearing for 8 years and I honestly think I will have it pretty much forever. I think it was $30.
honeydew / 7444 posts
@lamariniere: Yes, that's where i had my tear as well! I also think the quality of BR has been going down (same with J Crew). Do you have Aritzia in Europe? I was really tempted to buy a Burberry trench but the exchange rate made it too ridiculous of a price. I got a Babaton trench instead and i love the material!
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