There are two things at this moment that I can't believe. 1) That I got this Upper East Side Coat 5 years ago, and 2) that people are still asking me about it.
Straight outta the bag, complete with wrinkles. The coat I mean.
The Upper East Side Coat
I was browsing around on Instagram years ago when I came across an Instastory by a friend of a friend. Actually I have no idea if they're friends because this is the age where people who have never met and would almost certainly gouge each other's eyes out in real life are "friends".
As a matter of fact I've never met my "friend" in this story. We have however spoken on the phone and have a strong connection due to our shared love of the laughing with tears emoji.
So. Friend of a friend shared this coat in a post. It was being referred to as "The Upper East Side Coat". Friend of friend is a fashion designer who happens to actually live on New York's Upper East Side.
I really liked the coat but I liked the idea of wearing a mythical "Upper East Side Coat" into my small town Dollar Store even more. So I immediately began my investigation in the place almost all investigations begin. The refrigerator.
Standing there with the door open, I looked inside the fridge waiting for a package of bologna, a Kentucky Fried Chicken breast or some other delicious thing I didn't actually buy to magically appear. As I slid out a jar of olives I imagined my Upper East Side life.
In it, I live in the corner unit of a very old apartment building with marble floors, a centre hall table and I always eat apples. And of course, I have "the coat".
I'm not an idiot, I know this kind of an apartment could only come with a lot of hard work. I'd have to write at least one newspaper column a month to afford that kind of luxury. I've seen my share of Sex & the City. I know how it works.
I closed the refrigerator door and made my way upstairs to the second most popular place to start an investigation; Google. It didn't take long to track down the coat. According to Google, the coat dated back to a travel blog called The Blonde Abroad. And sure enough, in a post she wrote about packing for winter travel in 2015, there the blonde stands in The Coat. She had packed it to wear on a trip to Canada. CANADA.
The Coat and I were meant to be together.
This was all starting to get a bit mind blowing. I ate an olive. Back on Google I read more about The Upper East Side Coat.
Apparently, after an Upper East Side kindergarten teacher spotted the coat on the travel blog she bought it. Then someone else on the Upper East Side spotted it on the kindergarten teacher and bought it. From there it was a free-for-all with every Upper East Sider sashaying up and down their sidewalks wearing the coat in one of its four colours. Green seems to be the most popular among the crowd.
Looking back on it now, I think the reason this became such a huge deal was partly due to the fact that this was a really cheap coat. It was ... an Amazon coat. On the backs of glamazon people.
Not convinced this coat phenomenon was a real thing I texted my emoji friend who happens to live downtown Manhattan, in Tribeca. She not only verified the popularity of this coat on The Upper East Side but also confirmed it was indeed contained to The Upper East Side. They do not wear it downtown. Downtown everyone carries a certain quilted bag, but they don't wear The Coat.
5 years ago at least, I'm sure everything has changed now with people on the Upper East Side wearing quilted coats and the downtowners wearing 4 or 5 performance artists as coats.
It was all too exciting. The opportunity to walk around in a genuine Upper East Side coat without ever once having to worry about finding a rent controlled apartment or eat apples. The first Google article I read about the coat, from New York Magazine, attributed the design to a Chinese company Orolay that makes folding chairs. Um. O.K. Those New Yorkers are eccentric aren't they. But if they think that a chair company makes the best coats who am I to argue?
I ordered the coat. It was here in 4 days. I loved the coat immediately. It's weirdly comfortable for sitting.
Why am I talking about this coat again?
To tell you 5 years later I still love it. I have washed and dried it countless times. It is warm, there are lots of pockets for keys, wallets, snacks, Kleenex ...
Plus it looks great. Or it used to look great.
The coat is still getting compliments even in its current ripped, mangled, stained, 5 year old, embarrasing to wear in public state.
I wore it to train & walk Philip while he was a shark-toothed puppy. That was really the beginning of the end of the coat.
I decided this week that I was still so in love with the coat that I was going to order the exact same one again.
When I first bought the coat it was $80US. 5 years later it is now $150 US. The coat is worth that, but ... it makes it less fun.
BUT ... I found a copy of it for just over $100 so if you'd like to partake in the Upper East Side fun, 5 years after everyone else I still recommend it.
They seem to be the same coat but the prices range depending on who is selling it.
By the WAY
If you're in Canada and you ever have something shipped to you from the US, before you pay anything for customs or duty read my post about how to self clear the item. You CAN refuse to pay UPS broker fees and self clear the item yourself.
And that is the story of The Upper East Side Coat. Now I just have to decide whether or not I'm moving on up again or not.
Have a good weekend! Christmas House Tour on Monday. And if I happen to take a fun photo between now and Sunday morning, there will be a puzzle post too.
Char
Correction: Not on your blog but on your Instagram post. (I’m not going to be one of the ones who survives the ice age even with THE coat).
Char
I don’t live on the Eastside but my spirit animal does. I ordered THE coat exactly 5 seconds after I saw you wearing yours on your blog. Since I live in the Deep South I may never have a chance to wear it but I got it just in case the scientists are right and we get another ice age. Meanwhile it hangs on the coat rack looking outside hopefully while manifesting its unique charm without being overt. It is 85 degrees today. I added the snow on the window to make all you Canadians feel better.
Karen
LOL. So how do you like the coat. Does it fit as you expected? ~ karen!
Char
I actually love it! Got an XS since you suggested the sizing ran true and it fits perfectly. Might be tight in the arms if I were to wear a fleece underneath, but that's not going to happen (that 85 degree deep south thing - I'll be wearing a tank top)
whitequeen96
I forgot to say, you do look extremely elegant, especially with your fabulous boots! The perfect look for the Dollar Store!
whitequeen96
Thank God I live in southern California! Sometimes, at night, it gets down to a brisk 50 degrees Farenheit, and I almost never need a coat. My naval orange tree just finished giving us a bountiful crop (they grow in the winter). Of course, we have earthquakes!
Heather
I love the internet, too! If I buy this coat, and I am going to check it out, I will tell my real life friends that a friend in a small town in Southern Ontario recommended it. Fun post! Thanks!
Karen
Then it'll be come The Southern Ontario coat. That's fun. ~ karen!
Jen
Here is my most favorite description of the coat--or any garment I've ever read about. I'm pretty sure the writer's not a native English speaker:
"The hem of the eiderdown garment adopts unique crumples. This was coupled with perfect stitches and manifested a unique charm of magnificence but at the same time not too overt."
Thera
Pretty coat! But also not an XS, pretty sure I would look like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man.
Alex
Gulp. Karen! It's reduced to $48.00 on Artter, but they won't ship to Canada! Get on it if you are South of the Border!!!!
Karen
The prices on Amazon (on everything) constantly fluctuate. Like from day to day. And they fluctuate WILDLY. So yes, buy it if it's $48 because tomorrow it could be $148. Amazon is extremely unpredictable that way. Also if they don't have your size check back, they constantly update sizing for this coat I've noticed. ~ karen!
Vikki
Is it the tab hanging from the back that distinguishes this coat from other quilted parkas?
Does the tab serve a purpose?
More importantly, are you evidence that there are real human beings who wear a size XS?
I did not know this!
I believed size XS to be a myth perpetuated to let all women everywhere know that perfection is unattainable.
Huh. Color me dumbfounded.
Teddee Grace
I wonder who writes the Orolay copy? This is for the Orolay Women's Thickened Down Jacket (Most Wished &Gift Ideas): "The hem of the eiderdown garment adopts unique crumples. This was coupled with perfect stitches and manifested a unique charm of magnificence but at the same time not too overt." This is so poetic. It is probably one reason they are selling so many coats and further exacerbating the trade balance between the U.S. and China. Or is it Korea? Which Korea? If you weren't already convinced to purchase by the Most Wished bit, we might cause additional mayhem in the White House if we all ordered one. I even explored the Women's Puffer Down Coat Cloak-Type Jacket, which, apparently, must be worn with shorts. Perfect for summer. The person who dubbed this item even correctly hyphenated the compound adjective. Thoroughly amazing. So Upper East Side. North Side? I see an international movement underway #MostWished and detente in the making.
Jen
SO funny
Martina
Yup, pretty sure it only loooks good on XS people...checked it out on Amazon and the final sentence in the description “Casual wear in winter, windproof parka, best gift for pregnant women” hmmm...wonder what they’re trying to say? lol
Nicole
I wonder if they know what they're trying to say?
Karen
I know everyone keeps saying it would only look good on an XS person but that just isn't true! This coat would look good on most people big or small. ~ karen!
Robin
Betty was right! Glad you posted it. And you are hilarious!!! I think we can be friends even though I do not live on the upper east side! Ps. I ordered the beige
Karen
You'll be really happy with it. ~ karen!
Georgia Girl
Bless your heart I am so sorry to hear you are still having to wear a parka. Well at least it’s a spiffy one and ya got a good deal.
It’s been a long winter and a cold spring but we are finally fixin’ to have some shorts and flipflop weather down here. Yeehaw! Praise the lawd and pass the lemonade!
Karen
Shorts and flip flops??! Uch. There's still snow out my window (which is VERY unusual for this time of year). But this weekend there's supposed to finally be a crack in the weather and I might get away with not wearing a coat and mittens! ~ karen
Missnicoleo
I wore shorts and flip flops on the west coast of Canada today! Eh
Gayle
Oh. Want it. But, I have too many coats already. You got me thinking tho...how to order without hubby suspecting.
Great post, BTW. As always!
Karen
I have too many coats too. That didn't stop me, lol. I have a "thing" for coats. Being in Canada that's generally allowed. ~ karen!
ecoteri
The hem of the eiderdown garment adopts unique crumples. This was coupled with perfect stitches and manifested a unique charm of magnificence but at the same time not too overt.
ecoteri
The Eiderdown Coats Come with Convenient Functional Big Pockets, Perfect For Storing Your Phones, Keys or Wallets.
With a Fleece Lined Big Hood That Helps Provide Warm For Your Head. The UNIQUE Side Zippers, Can Unzip the Sides For More Hip Room When Sitting Down.
Elegant Relaxed Fit Feminine Silhouette; The Mid Length Down Jacket Flatters Every Figure. Keep Chic and Modern with This Fashion Hooded Parkas.
Karen
I know right? How could you not buy something like that! ~ karen
Robert
I would assume that you have at some point worn your Hérmes boots at the dollar store, haven't you? If not you should, along with the coat for that extra-ness of it, of course for the 'gram 😂
Robert
And I just realized you are indeed doing it on the photo
Karen
I am indeed, lol. ~ karen!
Jane S
I can't buy this coat because it doesn't come in red but the description is hilarious! I especially like the phrases "unique charm of magnificence" and "adopted polyester material". I'm sure you look charmingly magnificent in your coat.
Kristina
I enjoyed the description too. "The hem of the eiderdown garment adopts unique crumples." It says from the USA or Imported. I vote for imported.
Mama Toto
It's OK on you, a size XS, but I would look like an overstuffed duffle bag!
Mark
Did you choose that colour because it is similar to your hair??
Paula
I am absolutely going to check out this coat because just the other day, I thought "I need a new coat". :)
Seriously.
Paula
Verdict: I do not wear and XS; therefore; I think this coat would make me look XXL. It looks like a great coat, though and it has feathers and down! Can't go wrong at that price.