Alllllright folks, the review that many of you have been patiently waiting for is finally here! That is, the review of The Curateds Classic Camel Coat. Since acquiring this highly sought after piece last August (2019) Ive been testing it out in order to share a truly thorough review of its performance and wearability, especially during Canadian winter temperatures.
Long story short, this coat has been a pivotal addition to both my style and closet. It was a personal purchase (not gifted or sponsored in any way) and a piece Im sincerely happy I decided to invest in. Shout out to Jamie-Lee whos review and styling convinced me to order.
Now, as per my usual approach, this review will cover:
- Quick facts (about the coat & brand)
- Fit info (in depth look at how it fits on my frame for reference)
- Warmth (how low can it really go)
- Notable design details (elements that make it special)
- How Ive styled it so far.
Lets get to it!
Side note: Of course, if youre not in the market for a camel coat, taking some time off from shopping or maybe you dont even like them, thats cool! There are still lots of notes in this post that might be useful for the next time you decide to invest in a piece of outerwear
The coat under review in this post was not gifted and I do not earn affiliate commission on it. This post was not produced in partnership with any brands mentionedbut does contain affiliate links and some gifted items (from previous partnerships). If you see something you like and decide to shop through the links included, I may earn commission on a sale at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always my own and I only share items I love. Thanks for supporting Style Bee!
OUTFIT SOURCES: CLASSIC CAMEL COAT by THE CURATED (size S) // TURTLENECK SWEATER (size S) | JEANS gifted (size 27) on sale for $38 USD! | BOSS BOOTS gifted (TTS) by EVERLANE // BOX BAG gifted MINOR HISTORY // PEARL EARRINGS by CADETTE (made in Toronto) // CIGAR RING by ATTIC (made in Toronto) // LIP COLOUR (Undone) by KOSS
QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE CLASSIC COAT
PRICE: $350 USD / $460 CAD I personally believe that this coat is excellent value for the quality, versatility and truly timeless nature of a classic camel coat. I spent years hunting for the perfect option and for my personal style, this is the one. That said, I understand this is not in everyones budget and Ive included a few options that might be at the end of this post.
CARE: Spot clean as needed. Fibres like wool and cashmere are naturally anti-bacterial so a bit of airing out is usually all thats needed. These fibres also wick away moisture so most spots are easy to clean. Dry cleaning is recommended only when absolutely necessary as this can break down the natural fibres if done too frequently. Creases from sitting or initial shipping will fall out on their own if you hang the piece up. DO NOT IRON as this can burn the fibres but careful steaming is ok.
MADE: By a family owned factory in Inner Mongolia, China. All products are shipped directly and the factory is a vertical mill. Vertical mills are factories that produce both the raw material and finished product. This helps to reduce environmental wastage and overproduction while increasing efficiency in production and cost.
COLOUR: This coat is a true camel brown thats neither too warm nor too cool so it works against any skin tone. Even pale, pinkish folks like yours truly! Of course all screens display colour differently but these photos are true to life on my own screen and seem to match what is shown online. If anything, they may skew slightly warm.
COLOUR OPTIONS: CAMEL, BONE, BLACK & LIGHT GREY
MATERIALS: Royal Cashmere and Merino Wool* (30%/70%)
*My coat was purchased prior to the Merino Wool update and the new blend is an improvement on the version I have.
ITCHINESS: I have relatively sensitive skin and at first I found the coat a bit itchy on bare skin. With time it has softened up a lot and I wouldnt hesitate to wear it over a t-shirt or a style that would put the coat in direct contact with my skin. Some folks are more sensitive to natural fibres than others but this is definitely only getting smoother and softer with use as wool and cashmere typically does.
SIZES: XS-XL (US 4-12) I have a size Small. More details below.
CLOSURE: This coat has no fastenings aside from an optional belt. It does however, come with extra material in case you would like to add belt loops to keep the belt connected. Personally, I prefer the clean look of a loop free side and just throw the belt in my bag when Im out.
SHIPPING/RETURNS: Shipping is $25 USD / No returns but you can exchange your coat for another size/colour if its not a good fit.
SHOP THE CLASSIC CAMEL COAT HERE
ABOUT THE CURATED
The Curated is a carefully sourced collection of timeless, high quality staples that come together under one roof.Scandinavian based and focused on sustainable luxury and minimal elegance.The Curated works in tandem with vertical mills to create luxury staples at attainable prices (compared to traditional retail) by cutting out the middle men and reducing mark-up.
Having followed the brand and its founder Nicola for a long time now, its clear to me that she is extremely thoughtful and intentional about every single product The Curated offers and the utmost care is taken to ensure the highest quality is offered. You can read more about the brand here and learn about their honest pricing model here. Im so happy to have discovered The Curated and their success is well earned. This wont be my last purchase!
FIT INFO
MY MEASUREMENTS FOR REFERENCE: Height = 57.5 / Weight = 125-130 lbs / Bust = 32C / Waist = 26 in / Hip = 37.5 in / I usually wear a size Small, US 4 and 27 in denim.
SIZE I WEAR: SMALL
I was unsure about sizing and waffled between a Small and Medium. I contacted the brand with my measurements to see what they would recommend and they advised me to go with a Small. When it arrived I wasnt sure if it was too slim in the hip on me but I kept wearing it around the house with different outfits and ultimately decided it was going to be right.
I believe that the Medium would have been too large through the shoulders and sleeves. Plus, I intended for the fit to read tailored more than oversized. At the time of this post, about 6 months later, Im still very happy with the fit and even with weight fluctuations (hello holidays!) its been perfect.
If I were to compare the Classic Coat to another well-known style, Wilfreds Cocoon Coat, Id say the size small runs roomier throughout but the fit is straight through the body and hip, whereas the Cocoon Coat has a bit of contour. You can see how that coat fits me in this post (I wear a small in that style too).
Here is a closer look at the coat from the front and back showing how much the front panels overlap and how it fits throughout when belted or worn loose.
HERE IS HOW IT LOOKS WHEN LOOSELY BELTED
(tap any image to enlarge)
HERE IS HOW IT LOOKS WORN OPEN
(tap any image to enlarge)
SLEEVE LENGTH
I love the sleeve length on this coat because it can be worn straight or rolled depending on how much of your base sleeves youd like to show. I generally roll my sleeves to show more and to keep the cuffs out of the way.
Measuring the seam from the armpit to the edge the sleeves are 18 inches.
WARMTH
HOW LOW CAN THIS COAT REALLY GO?
The question Ive been asked the most about this coat is, Can it handle Canadian winters? The short answer isno. This is not going to cut it as your only winter coat. The long answer, however, is that it is warmer than Id expected and depending on how you layer it, it can definitely handle some low temps.
Id say it can work for anywhere between a breezy 15C over say, a t-shirt, down to -5 over a very cozy sweater (with the addition of a hat, scarf, gloves etc.). It all depends on your tolerance to heat and cold. Of course, if youre driving and in and out of a car, its less critical, but if youre walking or waiting for public transit outdoors this wont cut it in the deeper winter months.
Im personally willing to sacrifice a bit of coziness for style but if you cant bear any chill whatsoever, then this coat is going to be a Fall and Spring piece for you.
If were talking exact temperatures Id say this outfit would be great down to about 2C. If I wear a heavier sweater and warmer boots, add on some winter accessories, well, were looking at -5C or even lower (depending on the windchill).
In terms of how thick/heavy the coat is, see the images below for a better idea. It is unlined but quite thick and dense so it keeps heat in.
NOTABLE DESIGN DETAILS
I was initially drawn to the simplicity of this design and just how truly minimal it is. Of course, as is true with so many things, when something looks perfectly simple, chances are, a TON of careful consideration has gone into it. As Ive worn and made notes on this piece over the last several months, Ive noticed some key details that set this coat apart from your average wrap coat. Heres a look at those:
RELAXED DROP SHOULDER
Great for layering over thick sweaters. This design element helps the shoulders drape elegantly over a range of different frames while the top dart and angled seam help to give it a bit of structure so its not overly slouchy.
WIDE NOTCH COLLAR
The substantial collar on this coat gives it a stately prominence and helps to balance the proportions of the wide sleeves. It feels purposeful and can be flipped up to shelter your neck from a cold breeze.
A-LINE SLEEVES
The shape of the sleeves is both elegant and practical as they make it easy to wear wider base tops. The shape is a subtle repetition of how the body of the coat falls on the frame. And you may now I love a bit of repitition!
CENTRE BACK SEAM
The centre seam down the back breaks up the expanse of fabric and offers a visual line that elongates the coat. There is no back vent at the bottom so this helps to draw the eye up vertically.
TONAL SEAMS & STITCHING
A raised seam adds a touch of interest and visually elongates the arm and side body. The small touch of playful stitching on the pocket helps to offset the otherwise streamlined seriousness.
RESISTANT TO PILLING
I wanted to show how this high friction area (where my bags brush against the coat) has held up to pilling. You can see just a few small bits of fuzz after lots of use. These brush off easily with a sweater comb.
HOW IVE STYLED IT
These are just a few of the ways Ive styled this coat but be sure to check out The Curateds IG highlight showing lots of customers in their classic coats for more ideas.
BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTION
It doesnt take much searching to see that a camel coat of this caliber (thoughtfully made, high cashmere component, all natural fibres, restrained design etc.) is going to run much higher than $350 USD, often well beyond the $500 USD range. That said, Ive done lots of digging and found this thoughtfully made option that is under $300 CAD ($230 USD). The length can be customized, insulation can be added and it ships free.
Ive also had good experiences with Aritzias winter coats, and though the brand is not as transparent as Id like to see, the quality is very good (from my experience) and there are lots of options on sale right now.
A few other options would be to check out DEPOP, ThredUp, eBay and your local thrift or consignment shops since camel coats are a forever classic.
THANKS FOR READING, I HOPE THIS HONEST REVIEW IS HELPFUL FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN THIS COAT!
Anything I missed that youd like to know? Ask away in the comments.
Audrey Coyne also has a lovely video review if youd like another persons opinion on it too.
As noted at the top, this post was not sponsored, I purchased the coat myself and do not earn any affiliate commission on sales generated from this post. If you feel that this review was helpful in your decision to purchase a coat from The Curated, Id so appreciate if you shared that with the brand or on IG. Thanks for supporting Style Bee!
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