Anonymous wrote:Go to Nordstrom and use their free personal shopper service if you're not confident in what you want to wear. Splurge on coats, shoes, bags, and good jeans; spend way less on the tops.

FWIW, I am a private school Chevy Chase mom nursing a newborn and every damn day in the winter I end up in leggings (Zelle) or jeans (Paige), ballet flats / riding boots (booties if I'm doing something fancy, which is pretty much never), my favorite huge Splendid t-shirts, and a chic long cardigan. This is largely because I have to get my boobs out constantly; otherwise, would definitely be in my big crewneck cable knits with the above. Nice jewelry, most of which wayyy predates my baby-making days, makes me feel better about not washing my hair (see: newborn).

And I don't own a North Face. A chic utility parka for casual wear and some aviators is way more current.

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, it has to be North Face, sorry.

This is true. Otherwise, you'll be made fun of.

No. The North Face is so out, but they don't know it yet. Try Arc'teryx, Bogner-Fire+Ice or Canada Goose

This is pathetic. Really? I just went looking for a winter coat recently and felt like a sell out for buying NF, even though it was the only one I liked. No way I'd jump to the latest trend because you say it's cool. You know what sucks - Uggs. I refuse to buy those yet plenty of adults wear them and I'd consider them a kids brand. So, bottom line, don't look for the brand. Get the coat you like!

Hey I just googled this brand. Their coats are nice! Why are they so expensive?

http://www.peterglenn.com/product/bogner-fire-ice-sale-d-down-ski-jacket-womens-0?utm_source=GooglePLA&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Shopping+Feeds_FIRE+AND+ICE

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Anonymous wrote:What a depressing thread, OP. Can't you just upgrade by deciding to spend some money on what you like, not what all the other moms are wearing? Is this high school?

My thought as well. I say this not to be snarky, but in complete honesty - I did not know adults still thought this way. Even my college kids are past the idea that they must look like all of their friends in order to be accepted.

Buy what looks good on you and what you can afford.

I'm guessing OP doesn't have a good sense of her own style, so she's going for a certain look she's seen on other people?

I don't really see anything wrong with that. As a new private school mom, I bought a few key items that look like other moms. I caved and bought the one thing they all have and now get lots of compliments. I am not a fashion designer

Wow. I am having a hard time believing these posts are real. I mean, if I see a woman with an item I like and it looks really good on her, I might buy it if I see it in the store, and I'll do that with people I see everywhere, but going out and purposefully buying things to look like other moms? ??? Seriously, that is so middle school I can't get over it.

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Anonymous wrote:Can anybody post a link to this black North Face puffer coat? My curiosity is killing me.

http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/womens-jackets-vests-lifestyle/women-8217-s-miss-metro-parka.html?variationId=N2M&variationName=DAPPLE%20GREY#

My kids and I play a game where we count how many of these we see in one day.

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, it has to be North Face, sorry.

I don't understand why everyone feels the need to wear skiing/mountaineering coats on weekends. Your regular wool coats work on Saturday too. Are you going to ascend K2 between the run to safeway and picking up the kids at soccer?

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, it has to be North Face, sorry.

This is true. Otherwise, you'll be made fun of.

I am sure this is a joke. Right? Who would make fun and what would the comments be? I don't understand.

Anonymous wrote:I am one, but since having kids I haven't invested much time/effort/money into my own wardrobe, in part because I put on some weight that I'm still desperately hoping to shed. I also work FT so I tend not to worry about off-work clothes. But I need to buy a few basics - a winter coat, for starters, and some boots and a bag of some sort - and it seems like the easiest thing to do would be to go with the same sorts of things that everyone around me is wearing. I'm neurotic but I do sometimes feel like an outsider here and maybe trading in my junky, 10 year old stuff might make me feel like I'm one of the gang even if I'm not.

So school me please: if I get one of those black 3/4 length puffer coats that EVERYONE has, does it have to be North Face? Any other good brands - I usually shop at discount places and see a lot of similar type coats but not NF? What about a practical brand like LL Bean? What about color - does anyone have a nice jacket like this that is not black?

I'm also trying to figure out the bag and boots thing. I currently use a god-awful cheap small pocketbook from Target. I need something a bit bigger and at least not super ugly. I like the idea of those Longchamp tote bags but wonder if they're comfortable? I usually buy bags with one strap rather than 2 just to keep them slipping off my shoulder. Is there some other bag that is basic, flexible and not outrageously expensive?

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, it has to be North Face, sorry.

This is true. Otherwise, you'll be made fun of.

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, it has to be North Face, sorry.

I don't understand why everyone feels the need to wear skiing/mountaineering coats on weekends. Your regular wool coats work on Saturday too. Are you going to ascend K2 between the run to safeway and picking up the kids at soccer?

Anonymous wrote:I thought OP was posting in jest. UFB there are grown up women who think this way...

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We're talking about the DC area here- fashion trends need to be on a 5 year time lapse from other major cities. Sad but true! North Face is still in here, and I'm guessing it will be for a while. Sad consequence of a city full of policy wonks is you lose all fashion sense...

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