Hello, my name is Karen and I'm addicted to coats! As a self professed coat addict, I recently decided that a faux fur leopard coat is not just a "nice to have" but an essential winter wardrobe "must have"! Clearly everyone else thinks so too, because faster than I can write this article, the faux fur leopard coats and jackets are selling out like hot cakes.
Here is my comparison between two faux fur leopard coat contestants that made it to the keepers finale!
If a day goes by without a single sighting of a leopard print coat on Instagram, the world must be submerged into a torrid inferno! But even then, the chances of someone posting a #throwbackthursday or a #flashbackfriday pic that involves a leopard print coat is more than probable!
I've been in search of a leopard print coat for a couple of years now and never has the selection been so vast. My criteria has always been the same. The coloring must not be orangey, the print not too big or too small, a collar that stands up and adds a cosy glamour around the face, a cut that is flattering not overwhelming, and a reasonable price tag that isn't going to make me feel guilty when I don't get to wear it too much... because I live in the desert!
I've tried on a medley of different ones over the past two winters and never even come close to a purchase. Many were of jacket length and that's not what I really wanted.
One day I stumbled upon a lone leopard print coat in H&M which almost made the cut but it was too large and therefore rather billowy. I felt somewhat tackled by this leopard as opposed to donning it gracefully! The lone leopard must have been an online return, so I photographed the label for the item number and planned on ordering the next size down upon my return home! It was nowhere to be found online! There was one measly, very orangey (ugh) jacket style option available. The plight continued. Online shopping has a creepy way of stalking you. It's those computer cookies watching your every move. I was being greeted daily with some varying option of a leopard coat, most of which were "blah" or way more money than I wanted to spend. Another visit to H&M a few weeks later and "ta dah" a bunch of leopard coats, different to the lone leopard previously sought after but equally as cute, one in each size, perfect coloring, perfect print, and a perfect fit, $129... sold!
I was quite thrilled initially and hung the coat in my bedroom where I could see it night and day! But there were some bothersome aspects that I was beginning to develop an issue with. For one, the collar was very flimsy and ineffective. The lapels were so feeble they just fluttered about and lay haphazardly limp, anything but symmetrical! The coat was altogether light weight, which might seemingly be the perfect outer garment for living in the Arizona desert, but for me, I freeze during the winter months, so I found this coat not to be very warm.
Then, one day on Instagram amongst a myriad of leopard fur coats...
... my friend Sunny (Instagram account @oldfashionguru) popped onto my screen wearing a fabulous leopard print coat by BB Dakota. Everything she wears is fabulous, and this coat had me captured. It looked substantial and cosy and upon further investigation, turns out the coat, initially $155, was discounted to almost $40 less than my fast becoming unpopular H&M equivalent. I ordered it realizing I couldn't make an informed decision without a head to head duel!
It arrived, and the collar was a class act! It stayed up by itself and laid down symmetrically! Cosy, warm and well made. The print is not as cute as the H&M coat in my opinion, it's more of a fun leopard fur mimic rather than a realistic pattern of leopard spots, but we are talking faux, and the coloring is very pretty and everything else about it is off the charts!
So Who Won The Duel?
The final nail in the H&M coffin - I noticed a one inch opening on the seam of one of the arms due to the fabric being sewn so close to the edge it had simply frayed open. This was the final straw... bye bye H&M leopard coat, you were loved but it was short lived! The winner is BB Dakota!
So the moral of this story is, don't settle for anything less than true love... and that should speak for all aspects of life, not just a leopard fur coat. Remember a leopard coat never changes it's spots, but your opinion of it may!
Thank you for stopping by, and I wish you all the blessings of the season.
Merry Christmas Karen xox ![]() You can shop the winning coat by clicking the thumbnail pics above. These are affiliate links which means I may receive a small percentage of sales made. This does not cost you anything. The price is the same whether purchased directly through this website or at the store itself!
4 Comments
Karen
12/22/2017 07:53:40 am
Thank you Julia, so glad you think so!
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12/23/2017 06:35:25 am
Karen,
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Karen
12/23/2017 08:25:07 am
Thank you so much Robin and thank you for stopping by! Have a merry Christmas!
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AuthorKaren Serino is a life and style blogger, sharing fashion, fitness and fun for youthful women in their forties, fifties and beyond. Enter your Email above and receive blog updates directly to your inbox!
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