An Altered Coat

Saturday 1 December 2012


Note to self - not to do this on the school run again.
People look at you weird.
Even George is hiding with the embarrassment!

I think this is a week of scarves. Of men's scarves actually. I've done two lots of check scarves and now we're down to a stripy number. This bluey grey stripy number I picked up is from the mens section in H&M. It's one of their H&M Trend ones which is H&M's slightly higher end collection. Here's the shock factor - it's a silk wool mix! I told you it was higher end. Believe it or not - some natural fibres do actually lurk in the depths of H&M and I've got the proof around my neck. Anyway, no acrylic means there's no flammable poufff* factor to take in to consideration .... or pilling. Oh and it costs £14.99 and there is a grey colourway too. Yes £14.99 is still quite cheap but most H&M scarves cost around £7.99 ... so it's nearly double the price of a normal scarf.

Really nice mens H&M Trend lightweight scarf (no links)

I quite often have a rifle through the mens accessories departments  - I like the mens trilbys as I have a big head (serious). I have a big head and short legs. Life is cruel. When I try on the women's hats, they perch on my head not so much as in a jaunty fashionable way - they perch because they don't go any further. Such is life.

Fen commented on my grey coat on the Plaid, Check or Tartan post and Nomadic D (sorry, I don't know your first name) also mentioned that she would like to see this "altered" coat. Well, here it is ....


M&S Altered Coat
H&M Trend Mens Scarf
Navy Gap Jumper
Black Jack Wills Jeans

Before it looked like the above, it looked a lot like this ....




The altered coat was actually my old work coat bought more than ten years ago and was a godsend for those cold days when the wind whistled around your ankles as you clip clopped your way to work in your little skirt suit. This coat has survived all the culls even though I haven't worn it for the last seven years - it was just too good to let go and I knew there was life in the old coat yet. In the last year or so, I entertained the idea of getting it chopped down to turn it in to a car coat.  This year, I put that plan in to action and it was the best £20 I could have spent on a coat because I am certainly getting my wear out of it now. It goes with everything. Well it is grey!


M&S Altered Coat
Zara Linen Stripe Top
Topshop Berry Scarf
Jack Wills Black Jeans
Whistles Pumps

The above is a picture I took but didn't post from early October when the temperatures were a little kinder - kind enough to wear pumps on your feet. I remember on the day I wore the above, I rode my 6 year old Ben's bike to school with my knees banging on the handlebars. On arrival, a fellow mum who had seen me peddling merrily along declared me a nutter but to be honest, it was easier than putting my back out pushing the bike to school. All I can say is - the things we do for our kids right?

So that's my little altered coat - a worthwhile £20 investment to give me a much bigger return.

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If you're looking for similar, this is a good coat which I've seen on my travels - it's described as 'peat" but it's a good mix between the grey coat above and my Next cocoon coat - now that's what I call a double whammy!

 


I'd buy it if I didn't already have my two!


21 comments

  1. Great scarf - I love a silk and wool mix - warm but soft too. The Hobbs coat looks very versatile and since the temperature has dropped dramatically it's definitely warm coats and cosy scarves here!
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. I was just instantly drawn to it. And the fact that it was a silk/wool mix was an unexpected bonus. I've tried the Hobbs coat on - which is why I know I'd have had it by now if I didn't have my other coats to fall back on. I'm getting to the point where a girl can have too many coats.

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  2. That scarf looks lovely. And nice job with the altered coat!

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    1. I'm really pleased with the coat and it's currently getting an outing every couple of days since it's been for the chop. I think that's what we call a success.

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  3. Thanks for this, so glad you take requests! :) The altered coat looks perfect. And also seems like perfect justification for my pack-rat tendencies. As for the men's scarf, I'm sure you've seen by now that I'm a huge advocate of rifling through the guys' section, and H&M seems like the best place to do it. Sweaters, scarves, hats, pajamas, belts, bags... I've scored all of these there at some point! (By the way, name's Defne, just never sign that way because when I first started the blog I shyly hid behind my anonymity and it's just become habit)

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    1. Hi Defne. I don't mind taking requests at all - it means people are interested and I'm happy to oblige. Yes, I've been slowly trying my way through the mens H&M dept. The changing room assistants always look at me funny when I turn up with an armful of mens stuff. They have a leopard print sweatshirt which is very APC SS12 but unfortunately didn't suit me - drat. The hems are always a bit snug round my bum and the shoulders a little big on me which is a shame or else I could have snagged so much from the menswear dept. I think I will have to stick to the accessories for now :o)

      Sorry for outing you!

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    2. Ha! I don't mind being outed at this point, not one bit. Always happy to make new connections in cyber reality! And yes, men's things always snug on the bum, loose on the shoulders. Still, it's worth trying because occasionally you can snag a few real treasures.

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  4. Brilliant alteration - I live it! I commiserate re the large head - I also have one. Life is indeed cruel. And your description of hats sitting atop the head simply because they won't go any further is spot on - made me chuckle. Been there many times (in hat depts, but that's bad enough - they're still public places)! x

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    1. Oh good - I'm not alone then. I know it's a little embarrassing when they don't fit - been there done that, can commiserate with you.

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  5. Oh - and peddling your son's bike to school - at last I have found a true fellow nutter - exactly the sort of thing I would so!!! :-D

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    1. Aah - soul shopping mates and now soul nutters together.

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  6. Oh it looks fab! I altered a leopard coat a few years back, well my MIL did but I wish I had gone for just a couple of inches longer.

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    1. You still can. I can totally see you in a leopard coat!

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  7. You clever girl! Fellow sufferer of large head, short legs syndrome ... but it would never have dawned on me to check out the men's dept in H&M for hats. And I do love a trilby! Thank you for the great idea ... and really like the scarf.

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    1. So glad I'm not alone in my suffering. The hats in Marks and Spencer are nicer than the H&M ones. About the £25 mark. I saw a couple in there which took my fancy but couldn't decide. You may see a post about hats in the future ... who knows. I have a big beanie which keeps falling over my eyes at the moment - not cool and dangerous!

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  8. Fab idea sue, I love that coat on you, the length is perfect. I am yet to find a good tailor as I am rubbish with a need and thread! I'm short legged, flat chested, who's perfect hey! You dress fab to suit your shape and neither the short legs or big head come across at all! x

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    1. Hi Natalie - I think I'm flattered that the short legs and big head isn't too apparent ;o) hee hee.

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  9. I'm always amazed when I find out that you bought your coats from M&S or Topshop etc. They always look so expensive. Why is it that everyone finds these little treasures at H&M while all I ever get is a shirt that didn't last more than 3 wears??!

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    1. It's because you have such exacting standards and know exactly what you are looking for. But you found a nice little gem in Mango this time round with your cable cotton jumper. Sometimes - you hit a gem. And your little Asos owl jumper is funky too and all with reasonable price points. See!

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  10. i love the new length - makes it so much more wearable! never thought of altering the length of coats but now you got me thinking ;)

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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Susie So So