Buy Once, Wear Forever: 20 Under-$500 Coats That'll Last You Years

Influencer wears camel coat, striped shirt, black jeans, black scarf, and sunglasses.

(Image credit: @_jessicaskye)

As the world's biggest proponent of curating an investment wardrobe, the number one tip I tell most of my friends is to buy a coat first.

By all accounts, coats can be one of the most expensive things in someone's wardrobe. The materials and construction add up—from feather-filled puffers to ethically sourced wool. Not only will a good, expensive coat keep you warm, but it's also a fashion statement in itself. With what feels like an endless number of colors, fabrics, and materials to try, there's outwear for every occasion.

From one native Floridian to another, I always tell my friends who plan to visit during the fall and winter to snatch up a coat ahead of their trip. Thankfully, as I'm the bona fide fashion friend, they listen to my advice. Below are 20 coats I actually sent to a friend who was looking for something she described as "chic and sophisticated—like a rich Upper East Side mom." Consider me obsessed with these finds.

Black Coats

Influencer wearing black coat, white sweater, jeans, black boots, and brown suede tote bag.

(Image credit: @francescasaffari)

How to style: black coat + classic jeans + slouchy sweater of choice + suede tote bag

Camel Coats

Influencer wears camel coat, black scarf, striped shirt, and black jeans.

(Image credit: @_jessicaskye)

How to style: camel coat + black jeans + Breton-stripe top + chunky scarf

Fashion Coats

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman wearing red statement coat, black pants, black boots and black phone handle purse.

(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

How to style: statement coat + black jeans + black heeled booties + whimsical accessories

Puffer Coats

Influencer wearing black puffer coat, camel scarf, and black Chelsea boots.

(Image credit: @aidabadji_)

How to style: puffer coat + chunky scarf + neutral beanie + Chelsea boots

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Assistant Shopping Editor
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor whose work ranges from dissecting size inclusivity at fashion week to discussing how American Girl Doll meme accounts are the the answer to society's collective spiral. She's covered it all: Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, Roe v. Wade frontline protests, and the emergence of jorts (or jean shorts for the uninitated). At Who What Wear, Ana is responsible for delivering smart, insightful, personality-driven shopping guides and trend features for a digital-first generation.Before joining Who What Wear, Ana was Glamour magazine's editorial assistant, where she focused on daily news and special packages, including leading the brand's 2022 Met Gala coverage. For more than half a decade, she has covered style, beauty, and digital culture for publications such as Paper magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Japan, and Allure, among others. Ana has been called a rising star in media by publications such as Nylon and Teen Vogue. (Her mother, meanwhile, calls her "the coolest person" she knows.)