Anyone who is a fan of fashion knows that sometimes one single piece defines an outfit, and thrifting certainly gives you the opportunity to experiment with such pieces. That’s the case with this full-length coat, which was scored from the Goodwill Boutique in West Portal. A fairly basic outfit of jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers officially becomes “a look” with the addition of the coat. The length is also perfect for me: long enough to add elegance to even a casual outfit, but not so long that it looks weird on my not-super-model-height frame (we both teeter between petite and regular sizes).
By the way, thrifting is a great way to discover brands you love that you might not have known about. Not just that, it gives you the chance to wear brands that you might have never been willing to spend your hard-earned cash on. I had never heard of Zara’s Trafaluc (a.k.a. TRF) sub-brand before. Turns out it’s Zara’s slightly more irreverent, trend-driven collection. Supposedly it’s the Spanish brand’s way of targeting more adventurous teens and early-twentysomethings, but I find this coat has a thoughtful maturity to it.
While I tend to be drawn to most things Zara that I find while thrifting, this coat called to me for a different reason. In length and color tone, it bears a strong resemblance to this Lanvin embellished coat that I have seen featured several times in fashion magazines this fall…just minus the sequins and with the stripes rotated 90 degrees. Both the Zara and the Lanvin coats are bold despite being entirely neutral in color. The raw, pilly texture of the wool also keeps the coat from being too formal for the Silicon Valley un-chic that dominates much of San Francisco’s style. Your hoodie-clad coworkers would not roll their eyes at this coat.
Devon’s Long Gray Zara Trafaluc Coat: $19.99
Compare to $119 new from Zara.
Previously Purchased:
Ambiguously genuine Gucci bag – gift from a friend.
DIY-distressed vintage Levi’s – $5 from Goodwill.
Janessa Leone felt hat – $35 from Buffalo Exchange in Nashville ($210 new).
Calvin Klein belt – hand-me-down from Mom.
Allbirds sneakers – gift from sister.