Tuesday, November 27, 2001

Winter Gear
A variety of coat styles are available to keep consumers warm
By Antoinette Vega
Skiff Staff

One day it feels like a blizzard outside, and the next it feels like a desert.

Texas weather is known for going from one extreme to the next. The temperature is often unpredictable and it is hard enough deciding what to wear while getting dressed in the morning, let alone deciding on the kind of winter jacket to buy. This is especially true for students from states other than Texas.

“Compared to Minnesota, the weather in Texas is very frustrating,” said Katy Belot, a sophomore political science major. “Here, it is cold and dreary in the morning, and then in the afternoon it gets sunny.”

When shopping for a winter coat, the consumer is faced with a variety of choices. Each store has its own variation of a certain style and its own idea of its proper price. Shanelle Reyes,a sophomore pre-major, needs a new winter coat, and there are four elements a consumer looks for while shopping for outerwear: style, comfort, durability and price.

Style

During a trip to any mall, it is visible that leather, suede and wool are the top fabrics for this winter season. Black, chocolate brown and camel are the hottest colors this winter with some coats featuring extras such as fur and fringe on collars and sleeve cuffs. The most popular garment this year is the sweater jacket available in a long or short length with buttons or zippers in every color imaginable. The piece is casual yet trendy making it easy to match with a pair of jeans or black pants. Each store has its own variation of what to call the item with names such as sweater coat, sweater duster, sweater wrap or the boyfriend cardigan. Despite what it is called, its comfort and style quality ensures that the sweater jacket will be around for a long time.

Other new additions for male and female consumers are pea coats and suede jackets with funky collars. The pea coat is a double breasted coat with a large collar with a classy look that is popular with the business person and the college student. Suede has always been a popular fabric for a jacket, but it had a different look this year. This season has introduced a new breed of suede coat decked out with collars and sleeve cuffs made with plushed cotton or fur.

Ski jackets are also back this year exhibiting warmth and comfort. Leather jackets are a popular classic available ever year because of their stylish and versatile appeal. For many people, style is number one on their list, but Reyes considers that aspect as a second priority.

“Finding a jacket that is warm is my first priority,” said Reyes. “But style is important because if it is not something I find appealing or doesn’t go with my clothing, then I am not going to wear it.”

Comfort

Comfort is marked by a feeling of content in the mind and body, and this feeling should be found in the perfect coat.

The most important factor that determines comfort is fabric. Among a few of the fabrics to choose from are cotton, suede, polyester, leather, wool and corduroy. Each type has different positives and works differently with each person’s body. Cotton is absorbent, retains a soft feeling and is comfortable for most people. Polyester is ultra fine, soft and luxurious and insulates well against the wind, rain and cold. Wool, made from animal hair, is light-weight and a good insulator, but can feel irritating and scratchy to the skin.

“I am open to different fabrics and linings.” said Reyes. “I’ll usually try on different coats to determine what is the most comfortable to me.”

Choosing a coat that is comfortable for the fluctuating Texas weather is more complicated. When the temperature is 30-degrees or below a wool or ski jacket would be effective in keeping warm. But for the days when the temperature is warmer, a lighter jacket would be more suitable.

“I have two coats because the weather in Texas is different daily,” said Scott Hamilton, a junior e-business major. “I have a leather jacket that is stylish and a ski jacket for colder weather and outdoor activities.”

Durability

Most consumers do not want to purchase a new winter coat every year, so when they do make a coat purchase, the garment needs to last.

“I don’t want to have to buy a coat every year,” said Lance Bachim, a junior political science major. “If I am going to buy a coat, I want it to be made out of good material so that it will last for a while.”

Among the materials available it is debatable on which is the better buy. Cotton is durable, machine washable and can also be dry-cleaned. Wool is washable and wrinkle resistant. Acrylic, nylon and polyester are washable with outstanding durability and resistant to wear, abrasion and soil. Leather is easy to clean and its durability depends upon the nature of the leather. The leather to look for is the Full Top Grain Leather.

“It is important that the coat I choose will be able to endure the weather and be easy to clean,” said Reyes. “I don’t want it to give out on me or be hard to maintain.”

Price

With winter coats, the phrase, “you get what you pay for” is a proper one. Coats range on an average of $40 to $400 depending on the fabric and the brand name. A person who does not want to spend a lot of money may find themselves out in the cold if their purchase proves to be less comfortable or less durable than others available. Those who pay more may see the coat as a good investment. Because the item is more expensive, it may last longer and feel more comfortable.

However, there are exceptions. For example, a name brand ski jacket at a department store costs twice the amount of one found at the clothing store, The Gap. Also, a pea coat at Express is almost twice as much as one from Old Navy.

For many consumers, comparison shopping proves effective in saving money and getting a better deal on a coat.

“I will pay a higher price if the coat is worth it,” said freshman business major Natalie Schulter. “I try to comparison shop so I will have options on what to buy.”

But many consumers will pay for the coat that they want no matter what the cost is.
“I won’t go overboard on spending.” said Reyes. “But if I find something that I like and have to have, I will buy it.”

Antoinette Vega
a.c.vega@student.tcu.edu