Plus Size Coats and Plus Size Jackets

Plus Size Coats and Jackets – Material Guide

Trendy Plus Size winter coats come in many different fabrics and materials. Here is an overview of what to look for in your new winter coat or jacket and how to care for it.

Leather comes in different qualities including suede, raw hide or nappa. Look for fully dyed leather for ease of wear and cleaning. Some trendy plus size leather jackets and coats are made of washable leather. This can save you a lot of money, as having a leather jacket professionally cleaned can cost $50 or more. Before you wear your new leather jacket you should use a special leather spray giving your coat a bit of water and stain resistance.

Wool can be either “new wool” or “recycled wool. The label will tell you which your plus size wool coat is, it will either say 100% wool or 100% new wool. Wool comes in many different weights and can be knit or woven or heavy or light. There is sheep's wool, alpaca, llama and many other types of wool, and all require their own special care. Carefully check the labels to see the care instructions. When buying your new coat keep an eye out for machine washable fabrics, as this can save you expensive trips to the dry cleaner, especially if you choose a light colored coat or jacket.

Wool can also be blended with other materials giving it different characteristics. Polyester is a typical way to make wool coats lighter and easier to care for, and may help keep the cost of the plus size coat down.

Feathers come in a few different qualities. While the bigger, less expenisve feathers will keep you just as warm as down, the bigger feathers may poke through the upper fabric and cause holes in your coat, down tends to stay in the jacket better. Both will keep you cozy and snuggly warm on those cold days. Depending on the upper fabric, even down or feather plus size coats can be washed in the washing machine. As always, check those tags and when buying your new trendy plus size down coatfigure in the cost of having your coat dry-cleaned twice a season (about $25 each time) and how long you will plan to wear this piece. Often, the higher price of a machine washable coat will be offset by drycleaning costs.

Polyester has become fashionable. It used to have a reputation for being cheap or of low quality, but many polyester fabrics today are expensive and have amazing capabilities: light to wear, waterproof and wind resistant, stain resistant, washable. Polyester can mimic almost every other fabric and has become a favorite with designers for plus size coats. Often polyester coats and jackets can be thrown in the washer, but look at your tags first.

You can find more advice on dressing your best for your body type on the plussizediva.com, where trendy plus size fashion and how to wear it is what we talk about.