Anonymous wrote:Black or camel. LL Bean has some nice ones. I picked one up at a goodwill last year for $18, custom made camel color from the 60s or 70s, hits at the knee, beautiful quality like new, might check some of those places too. I’ve found several wool coats at goodwill and thrift stores over the years. Usually grey and camel color.

Sorry I meant Lands End, not LL bean, but they might have some too.

Black or camel. LL Bean has some nice ones. I picked one up at a goodwill last year for $18, custom made camel color from the 60s or 70s, hits at the knee, beautiful quality like new, might check some of those places too. I’ve found several wool coats at goodwill and thrift stores over the years. Usually grey and camel color.

Anonymous wrote:Not PP but here is a Mango and Stories one, although the relaxed fit might make getting the right size tough. My favorite dress wool coats were single button, but they were harder to layer underneath.
https://www.stories.com/en_usd/clothing/jackets-coats/woolcoats/product.relaxed-alpaca-blend-coat-grey.0298475010.html

Oh man, that is beautiful.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t do black. - and I love black. I did a classic wool winter coat for same purpose but utilizes in D.C as well and the lint was staggering. I could have chosen charcoal grey but did not and regretted it. I later went back and read reviews and everyone who got the black mentioned the lint, etc.

DP. Agree that charcoal grey is a great choice.

Not PP but here is a Mango and Stories one, although the relaxed fit might make getting the right size tough. My favorite dress wool coats were single button, but they were harder to layer underneath.
https://www.stories.com/en_usd/clothing/jackets-coats/woolcoats/product.relaxed-alpaca-blend-coat-grey.0298475010.html

Don’t do black. - and I love black. I did a classic wool winter coat for same purpose but utilizes in D.C as well and the lint was staggering. I could have chosen charcoal grey but did not and regretted it. I later went back and read reviews and everyone who got the black mentioned the lint, etc.

Thanks, all. Travel is to NYC and DC and Chicago. I have a trench already that I like - so I don't think I'd want the lined trench. just a classic wool I think. Thanks for the recs!

Where is “north”?

I like PP’s idea of a trench with a button-out liner. Chances are it will be wet wherever you go, and you will want something a little water resistant.

Most of my suits and dress pants are black, so I try to contrast with the coat. My favorite wool coats in my closet are burgundy and dark purple. I love camel but with travel I would worry about showing dirt after getting splashed on by gross melting snow puddles. YMMV

Anonymous wrote:If you are going with just one coat, another option is a professional looking trench with a removable wool winter lining. Add a cashmere pashmina and you cover all bases.

+1

I have a muted camel/taupe reiss that seems to go with everything - browns or black or navy. I’d consider something like that.

If you are going with just one coat, another option is a professional looking trench with a removable wool winter lining. Add a cashmere pashmina and you cover all bases.

Black, dark gray or camel.

Black is obviously most versatile.

mango and & other stories have reasonably red, good quality wool/cashmere coats. Massimo dutti has nice one but thy get sold out more often.

I am from the NE but now live in the south, and don't need a winter coat for day to day living. I still travel up north for work and this is the year I decided to buy a real winter coat, instead of the ragtag combo of warm clothes I've tried to do in the past.

I am typically in business professional clothes - think suits, or slacks and nice tops or professional dresses, and often in heels. So I think a classic wool midi length coat. It will probably get used 3-4 times a year, so I definitely only need one coat.

What color wool would you recommend to be the most versatile? My professional outfits are a total range of colors. Black or dark grey for the coat?