The Reasonably Prudent Law Student

Today, your favorite Bargain Babe is teaming up with your favorite Expert Paralegal (Lynne) and her fashion series, “Working Girl Wednesday,” found on her blog, Practical Paralegalism. Lynne is one of my favorite Twitter friends, and I really enjoy reading her blog. She’s funny and awesome and just a super dedicated paralegal. And she also has her own podcast with one of her fellow paralegals! She’s just a great person all around, and I highly recommend following her Twitter account and her blog.

Anyway, for this week’s Working Girl Wednesday, she picked a BEAUTIFUL Rick Owens Belted Jersey coat, and it’s one of those items that, if you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.

Spoiler alert: It costs more than $1300.

:-O

It sure is a pretty more-than-$1300, though.

I picked some coats that compare quite well to this one, but not perfectly, because this one’s pretty awesome.

Jersey used to be just a wool blend, but now it’s a wool/cotton/poly blend. Basically, it’s closer to knit, but it just falls a little better on the body.

The pickings were slim for jersey coats, so I went with these knit blend alternatives, all for under $100.

1. Wool Trench Coat (Charlotte Russe $34.99)

It’s got the large, fold-over spread collar look that we love from the first one, and it’s got a cute belt, along with those interesting buttons on the front and the pockets. It’s a polyester/wool blend, basically the kind of fabric we’d expect from Charlotte Russe at that price.

2. Pleated Wool Blend Coat (Spiegel, $99)

This one comes in a color similar to the Rick Owens, and it’s a touch longer. It’s a double-breasted wool/poly coat with a rolled collar and slashed pockets, and the belt makes for an hourglass shape. Honestly, look at how sharp that collar is. I hate the length (it would NOT work for a petite kid like me) but that’s sharp.

3. Ruffle Lapel Wool Coat (Forever21, $42.80)

This coat is long but not as long as the one before. It’s in a nice, versatile black, and we’ve not only got the foldover collar, but it’s ruffled! I like ruffles, you guys. Also, the belt buckle is square and chunkier, and the belt is wider than on the others, so it’s got a little more edge.

4. Double Breasted Trench (Nordstrom, $89.90)

Now here’s one I’m sure we can all get behind. It comes in a color similar to the one we’ve got our eye on. It’s a cotton blend and looks pretty comfy. We’ve got the spread, foldover collar, cute buttons, and a neat little belt. Plus, it’s long, but not too long. You don’t want to look sloppy, or like you’re a little kid playing dress-up.

5. Ponte-knit Trench Coat (Newport News, $27.99)

Here’s a color you don’t see everyday – periwinkle! I love using that word when I’m talking to guys, because it’s one of those colors that they have NO PRAYER of comprehending, and the fact that I said that instead of ‘blue’ just makes them so inexplicably angry, and it’s comical.

Anyway, the fabric isn’t the best. It’s pretty much straight poly/rayon. But the look is quite similar, so if you’re looking for a cheapie, this one is probably it.

6. Gallery Satin Twill Trench Coat (Nordstrom, $98)

I’m going to be honest – I just kind of liked this. Crazy spread collar, cute buttons, utility belt, mid-thigh length. And that deep pumpkin color – cuteness. It’s twill, not even close to wool, but whatever. It’s another option if you’re more into trenches.

7. Melodie Knit Jacket (Forever21, $32.80)

This is my last one, and it looks to be a very close knock off of the coat, but in jacket form!

Forever21 is actually pretty good about designer knock offs; I remember seeing Angelina’s pockety leather tube dress online less than a week after she wore it on the red carpet. I doubt they were trying to recreate that actual Rick Owens coat (although, who knows?) but it’s pretty darn similar.

They’re playing with the same collar shape and the same knotty twisty belt, and it’s a knit which is similar to the jersey used in our original designer piece. It looks as if they knocked it off, chopped it off to make it shorter, and changed the color before putting it up for sale.

And there we have Bargain Babe’s attempt to find alternatives to the sweet coat Lynne found as part of her Working Girl Wednesday series!