Review: The Classic Coat from The Curated

Sale PSA: A leopard print shirtdress from DVF, now 65% off, leopard slip on trainers from Saint Laurent, now 30% off, cognac heeled boots from Everlane, now $165 (I really want these), and a button front dress from Reformation, now 50% off.

**For an update on my coat/experience, please scroll to bottom of post**

Today, I’m going to review a new coat! It’s a camel coat that I bought, after seeing it on Instagram (yes I know, but bear with me). Honestly, I’ve definitely tried out a few products after being heavily inundated on Instagram, and most of the time they haven’t worked out the greatest. I had seen a few photos of this camel coat, by The Curated on some people though, and thought it was gorgeous, and so wanted to give it a whirl. And so now I want to share with you all – my review, of the classic camel coat, by The Curated.

So, lets start with the basics. I am 5’1, and took this coat in an XS. On me, it goes well past the knee but on a taller person it’d hit around the knee. XS is the smallest size and for me it’s a great slightly oversized look – I feel like I’m wearing a super luxurious coat without it getting sloppy. And there’s plenty of room to wear a sweater underneath. **Please see below for update on coat sizing**

Because I’m short, my arms are also short, and so you can see in the photo above how I rolled up the sleeves a little. Below, you can also see them full length.

Still not too long! But I usually wear them rolled to keep them clean from when I’m eating, drinking, etc.

And now, a side view:

This coat. There are two patch pockets on each side, as you can see – and it has a nice streamlined look. Because the material is so lovely (more on that later) it falls and moves really well. The silhouette is also enhanced because there is no belt attachment. The company ships material for you to make your own belt loops (and to place where you want) and also a loose belt – but I actually prefer to wear it open, as I live in California. However, a photo of it all belted, below:

Also quite nice, right? Doesn’t it look quite like Max Mara?

And now, some notes on that – the material on this is great. So super soft. It is 70% merino wool and 30% cashmere, and honestly I don’t think I would need it even softer (though the brand does have a 100% cashmere coat). It is definitely as soft and even softer than various Max Mara coats I have.

Another difference between this and some of my Max Mara coats – this one is unlined. Which is honestly my preference, in terms of weight (this coat is SO light!). And some Max Mara coats are unlined too, like this one, which I was eyeing for a super long time. Note that this one is still 3X the cost of the Curated one, and has no cashmere. And plus, for me, as a shorty, a lot of these long coats are just too long.

Some other notes:

Part of how the brand keeps the cost down is shipping directly from the factory to the customer. (This kind of sounds like I’m parroting their copy but I am not and I bought this coat myself/just happy to support a woman owned brand!). Having worked on the product side, this is indeed a cost savings in terms of taxes, customs. However, that means that the coat is shipped in a smaller cardboard box (very secure) and arrives a little wrinkled, though in a lovely satin bag and a garment bag. Thankfully I had just acquired my excellent steamer so it was no issue for me, just a few minutes of steaming.

If you live in a cold climate, I think you will need to layer. One of my favorite tricks (mentioned just on Friday) is layering these Uniqlo pieces underneath.

Overall, I’m a fan of this Curated coat. I recommend it if you are looking for a gorgeous winter piece!

**I wanted to update this post a year later: I liked the style of this coat so much that I ended up buying one in bone as a gift for my mom. It was only when I randomly tried it on that I realized the bone (which I also bought in XS) was sized smaller, and fit much better than the camel coat above. I ended up taking measurements of the camel coat, and realized it was mis-sized. It’s actually a small (but labeled as XS). So for anyone reading this blog looking for how the coat fits someone my size, please note this is more of a small size. I wanted to make this clear as I receive quite a few questions about the coat and brand. So for anyone buying a coat from The Curated, please make sure to measure your coat and ensure the sizing is correct.

It’s my own fault and I should have realized the coat was sized wrong earlier. That being said their customer service handling wasn’t the greatest (in my opinion). The pocket in the camel came loose a few days later and I ended up just fixing it myself instead of going back for help. I’ve received a few emails from readers about their CS experiences and debated whether or not to post but decided to, in the interest of transparency. I still think their coats are great and well priced and I’ve actually ordered another. That said, my advice would be to check your items carefully when you receive them. As they are a smaller brand I do give them a wider “allowance” on product consistency…I think that has to be taken into account with the price.

If you have any questions/comments on sizing, feel free to leave below as well and I’ll try to help! And I’ll update with my experience with the London coat as well.