Destination topcoat in water-resistant Italian wool

The good: Fabric is gorgeous and repels water like no other (water beads right off under a running faucet). It’s not designed for warmth but rather water resistance and ease of wear over layers or a suit, which it does very well since it’s thin and drapes beautifully. The bad: Terrible shoulder design, excessively long in length (at or below knee), and lack of back vent which makes sitting down or getting in/out of car a hassle. The shoulder looks like a relaxed raglan sleeve but it’s not. There’s a seam that runs along the shoulders and ends at an awkward spot, which along with a lack of padding appear sloppy and poor fitting. Everyone complains about the fit this year but I’m actually ok with the slightly boxier look. Note that this coat is slimmer than the Ludlow all around. If JCrew can bring this fabric back in a better design then this will be a great purchase.

I wanted to like this coat, but in the end, I couldn't. I'll list the positives before going into the negatives. Positives: Looks good at a glance. The pattern and color make it highly versatile. Good for casual and dressy occasions alike. Slant pockets was a good call. Negatives: It's pretty flimsy. It will not stand up to the rigors of winter. And the fit... woo boy. As with all of J. Crew topcoats this year, this is chasing the oversized trend. I'm generally okay with oversize IF they can get the length right, but this coat for some reason is super long. I got a 36S to account for the fit, and this is longer than my 38R coats from other brands. It's even longer than the 38S I got from J. Crew just last year. So add oversize proportions with ridiculous length, and it just looks really odd. And the lack of a back vent is a real head scratcher. Why was such a thing omitted? In the end, despite having potential, it fell flat. Too much going against it for me to keep.

boxy. others weren't kidding. it's just a box. shoulders are drooping, arms are gigantic... which makes you look even more sloppier and duller. shoulder pads would have helped a ton... but this is just not that kind of piece. if the fabric was a bit more... stiff (creating a bit of a sharper look), that would have helped. but again, this is just not that kind of piece. tried one size smaller and its too big and too small at the wrong places. i am returning mine... i loved the subtlety of the fabric so much......... what a shame.

This coat fits the way I want it to - not super tailored but relaxed and modern!! This is a fashion piece and it speaks volumes to your taste level. The fabric is superb and the lining is novel without being loud. I don't know what makes it water resistant but I can speak from experience that it works. If you're looking for a not-run-of-the-mill outerwear piece that is subtle, beautiful, and modern pick this up.

Fabric is soft, but thin. What makes it water-resistant? Arms are baggy. Cut is straight and boxy. Needs more shape, more form-fit. Why no vent in the back? Too bad, because I love the dark, subtle plaid.