It's always tragic to find a fantastic clothing item only to discover the price is astronomical. I've had my eye on Burberry for a few years, and I thought there was a glimmer of hope when I spotted this sale rack! There were quite a few coats I would not choose as an already young-looking petite (trench with heart pattern, long coat with furry collar), but I did spot two absolute stunners:
What initially drew me to this Risebrooke rain jacket was the colour. The "eucalyptus green" is mild enough to be versatile yet still unique and fun. The jacket went up a notch when I noticed the belt! Petite bodies can easily get swallowed up by outerwear, so I'm a big fan of a belt to help accent your waist or at least be able to tighten up the garment if it's a little too wide. I was also intrigued by the shorter-than-usual length, the slim and shaped cut, and lovely details like the double-breasted button up front, neck clasp, and handy detachable hood.
You can see from the wrinkling on the sleeves that they are a tad long. The jacket also doesn't give me as much shape as I'd expected, but I tied the belt quite loosely and underneath it I'm wearing a long sleeve shirt, sweater, and TNA's League jacket (reviewed previously here). I'd be wearing less layers for typical fall or spring rainy days, which this jacket would be well suited for. The overall length, shoulder fit, and waist positioning felt great, which is a huge win for someone my height! I would definitely love to invest in a quality rain jacket, but the sale just wasn't as much off as I'd hoped.
The second jacket that caught my eye is this black wool and cashmere trench. (yup, Burberry classifies this one as a trench, not a pea coat). It has similar features to the Risebrooke with the double breasted buttons, belt, and very short, shaped, and slim cut. It's a bit more classic as a black wool coat, and if I had to pick one of the two jackets, it would be this one.
When I slipped it on, it really felt like magic! The Risebrooke was great but this one was something extra special. Before I even looked in a mirror, the cut just felt right. Shoulders, waist, length, weight and feel of the fabric. If I owned it I would definitely get the sleeves shortened just a tad, but other than that I loved it. I also know I would get a lot use out of it, and the classic style could be worn for many years.
I did a little research and discovered what made this jacket fit so well; the Sandringham cut is specifically categorized by Burberry online as their slim fit (more options in this cut here). Combining that with a belt, quality fabrics, short length, and classic styling makes this trench jacket a winner for me. I think my heart may have broken a little when I saw the sale price was still about five times as much as a similar (though less magical) black coat I own from Aritzia.
Is Burberry worth the price? I would definitely encourage trying on this brand in person to get a feel for what the price range (typically $1000+) will get you. That said, nothing is worth the price if it isn't in your budget, and you can find coats at stores such as H&M, Aritzia, and J.Crew that may not hold the same magic but will certainly do the trick just fine for a fraction of the cost.