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New Adventures in a Red Leather Trench Coat

New Adventures in Red Leather Trench Coat

Be sure to read through to the end of this post. Not only is it a collaboration with the fabulous Diane from Fashion on the Fourth Floor, but we’re both running different give-away contests this week! Keep reading for more details!

Let the Adventures Begin

According to Vogue Paris, leather trench coats are back in style.

Trench coats are back in style!
Photos from Vogue Paris article.

If that’s the case, then it’s a good thing I bought a leather trench coat from Suzanne Carillo’s Etsy store last fall.

I’m ready for the next installment of The Matrix with these moves.

New Adventures in Red Leather Trench Coat

Or maybe I should keep my day job.

New Adventures in Red Leather Trench Coat

But, how can you not have new adventures when you drape yourself from shoulder to mid-calf in 1970s vintage leather?

The next logical step is to color my hair pink and become a superhero, right?

Or maybe I should channel Will Ferrell in Anchorman?

No. No. And no.
Superhero is better. Or maybe rock star.

Being a superhero or a rockstar is a lot of work, though. I am up for that level of adventure, but let’s be real. Nobody’s going to pay me to rock it out on stage and, as of yet, I have not discovered my innate ability to climb buildings with my bare hands or shoot laser beams out of my eyes or look really really hot in a latex cat suit. (Yikes.)

So let’s stick to what I can do. I can wear this awesome coat. And I can push myself to add colors and patterns I would never have tried before. And I can see how that feels on my skin wearing it out in public.

It turns out, I really like the way it feels.

And if I can’t be a rockstar, I can always wear one on my sleeve.
(I thought this was David Bowie when I bought it, but it’s not.
I still pretend it is, though.)

You won’t believe me when I tell you it took me months to wear this coat in public. I was intimidated by it. I couldn’t think of what to wear it with. It seemed like it needed its own wardrobe. A wardrobe I didn’t have. It is a coat meant to be worn by someone Totally Fabulous.

But those were all just excuses. I was not ready to own my fabulosity.

Until now.

Presto-change-oh!

To prove to myself I always had the wardrobe for this coat, I added something you may recognize from a previous post: My Keep-It-or-Delete It Skirt. I promised readers I would wear it five more times between then and summer. Here it is now paired up with my awesome red leather coat and a fake David Bowie tee.

I think this skirt is going to be a keeper. The shirt too.

And if I can’t be a superhero or a rockstar, how about a Charlie’s Angel?

I may need to work on my form.

How are you going to embrace your fabulosity
and chase new adventures in 2017?

Is a Red Leather Trench Coat Part of Your Adventure?

Leather Trench Coats from department stores can be pricey but you can consider them investments that will last for years to come — even going out of style and then returning years later! Below are some from modern retailers and designers.

For a cheaper route, try vintage. Etsy has several shopkeepers offering 1970s-era trench coats similar to mine. Enter to win the $100 gift card I’m giving away (see details below!) and you could buy yourself a coat, plus something else!

This one with a fur collar is $63.
This one is $32.
This one is $98.

The Rest of the Outfit

The pants and the top are from Thredup.com and I’ve had the skirt for years. Below are similar styles available in retail stores. I bought the Calvin Klein knee-high boots on Amazon.

New Adventures Are Best Experienced with Friends

With a new year come new adventures and I plan on diving into adventure with gusto in 2017. My experience has been that new adventures are best experienced with friends. To kickstart this journey, Diane from Fashion on the Fourth Floor has joined me for a collaboration and a giveaway contest. 

Diane is the warm, generous, and stunning lady who invited me in November to join the Fab 40s for a grunge-themed collaboration. You can see for yourself how beautiful she is and how amazing her style combinations are. But she’s beautiful on the inside too. She is a rallying force for our Over-40 fashion community, making everyone she encounters feel welcomed and appreciated. If that weren’t enough, she also fosters rescue dogs. ❤️ 

For our collaboration, she has pushed herself to the edge of her comfort zone and beyond–quite literally! Not only was she freezing when the photos below were taken, she pushed herself to try a skirt that was shorter than she’s used to. I think she pulls it off to a tee! She looks amazing! Be sure to visit her blog to see what New Adventures she’s cooking up for 2017 and to enter her giveaway.

Yes, I did say “Give-Away!”

All this week, Diane and I are sponsoring separate contests. That means you have two opportunities to win! Starting today, you have a week to enter each contest and on Monday, January 30th, we will name the winners!

Diane is giving away a $100 gift card for Zara. To enter, click here to go to her site and follow the entry directions.

I’m giving away a $100 email gift card to Etsy. To enter, scroll down and tell me what new adventures you’re chasing in 2017. Be sure to include the email address to which you’d like the card mailed, in case you’re the winner!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Affiliate link disclaimer: Please note, some of the items linked may be affiliated with companies I am associated with. By clicking the affiliated links and purchasing from those stores, I might receive a small commission. By purchasing from these stores, you support the work I do here and I greatly appreciate your support!

About Author

Freelance writer about food and fashion. Obsessed genealogist and history nerd. New to sewing. Love all dogs and one hubby. Seattle

(30) Comments

  1. […] I styled this coat a different way last year when I had pink hair! Check it out here. […]

  2. […] Here’s a more complete version of this photo. It includes some of the other things a fashion blogger needs: books and magazines about fashion, photos of inspiring others, lighting equipment, shoes, and of course, clothes. (That coat is a favorite from Suzanne Carillo’s Etsy shop. It was featured last year in another post about adventures in fashion.) […]

  3. […] of in the past 7 years! I remember when Sherry, from Petite Over 40, wore her red, leather coat, here. Her coat reminded me of this one, so I thought I’d show mine on the […]

  4. […] you may recall from our previous collaboration, Diane from Fashion on the 4th Floor and I are milking 2017 for every adventure we can get out of […]

  5. I do like a leather coat! The Red is a nice change instead of Black too. The fur-collared leather coat is calling me and it’s still available! I’m off to flutter my eyelashes at the other half! Could be my valentines pressie! x
    http://www.vanityandmestyle.com

  6. […] is another one of my old holdbacks from Zenobia of Canada. Like the houndstooth skirt I wrote about last week and a few weeks back, this coat is about 16 years old. I’ve had similar doubts about it as I […]

  7. Shamin says:

    I would love to travel more and have worldly experiences!

  8. Lan says:

    I’ll be chasing new home living and exploring newlywed married life with my husband! We will be living with another couple, so that should be interesting!

  9. Karrie says:

    Traveling this year

  10. Book Lover says:

    I think that my adventure will be to travel and to know new cultures

  11. Rachel says:

    I’m chasing…having a first child!!! March 2017 .. it’ll be our greatest adventure <3

  12. Nina Rao says:

    I want to to travel more and be fearless going alone! I usually put it off because I like traveling with my husband, but he travels so much for work we end up being homebodies when he’s home!

  13. This coat is amazing! I need to start shopping more online and look at the vintage options that are out there. I need to push myself to try new looks and pieces in my wardrobe and you have definitely inspired me! I love the Charlie’s Angels pose-you nailed it👍

  14. Nicole Vosburgh says:

    I’m getting married in 2017 and already have a few trips planned! Can’t wait for the memories that 2017 will bring.

  15. BECKY MCDOWELL says:

    My new adventure this year will be buying myself a new raincoat – I haven’t had one in several years and I really miss having one.

  16. Abigail says:

    Lovely coat!

  17. Charlotte Miller says:

    Rain and snow should not affect the newer leathers. This is a great investment piece.Wear it in good health.

  18. Oh, I love everything about this post, Sherry! The jacket, the skirt, the Shirt, your pink hair and those super fun poses! I truly smiled the entire time I was reading. 🙂 You definitely have rock n roll chic down. I enjoyed seeing you and Diane doing a collaboration together, as well.

  19. Sarah says:

    We just had a baby, bought a car, and bought our first house, so 2017 will be spent settling into one giant new adventure 😊

  20. Cammi Allen says:

    You are TOO cute and funny! I love this red leather, WOW!! Thanks for this awesome giveaway, I’m very excited to enter both blogs!! One of my resolutions is to get 8 hours of sleep a night, so I can be my best during the day, but after reading your blog and Diane’s, I’m feeling totally inspired to jump out of my fashion comfort along with you two!!! Loving the energy of this collaboration!

  21. Mary Cloud says:

    Starting my own business and going on a few fun trips to explore new places

  22. Jennie (layennie) says:

    I’m chasing the adventure of letting myself be more authentic and really facing and accepting my own imperfection. I’m also possibly starting a business and trying to be brave, ‘not afraid

  23. I absolutely love this! That coat is so cool. The color, the length…it’s perfect! And YOU look fabulous in it! No super hero powers needed! Ha, ha. I love the fun writing and I think my fave outfit is the one with the skirt. You look so chic and edgy. Thanks for being willing to put it out there! – Amy
    http://stylingrannymama.com/

  24. New adventures? Well I’m traveling a thousand miles to meet a terrific friend that I’ve never even met in person before. But I already know how fabulous she is from her caring words and wonderful thoughts!! Maybe you’ll join me? Ha ha!!
    But enough about that—let’s examine this coat in detail. It is the most amazing piece ever! You have to wear it for your next outings—all of them—-no matter what else you’re wearing under it! You’re going to get a ton of compliments, and then you’ll realize that it was meant to be!
    And would you laugh if I told you I have a brown, suede one kinda like this? It was my mother’s back in the 70’s. I can’t believe I haven’t worn in on the blog yet, because I do wear it quite a bit in real life. I’ll get to wearing it here soon and give you credit for the inspiration!!
    And you’re print mixing?? Fabulous as well!! In fact, that skirt is quite the perfect piece with that sweater!!
    jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
    Thanks for the giveaway—how fun!

  25. So awesome to see you finally wearing this incredible piece! And I LOVE the hair! I’d walk across the street just to say hi to you when you’re wearing this.

    I can’t believe how well it fits you. I agree with Marilee, just wear this with whatever you normally wear. You’d be surprised how quickly you can get used to it. I thought wearing my orange leather trench would be hard. Wrong. I wear it all the time and love it.

    I think often with people we project certain ideas onto clothing. The reality is that you can wear anything. This is proof.

    Awesome giveaway too!

    bisous
    Suzanne

  26. What new adventures am I chasing? Not sure yet, but being more mindful and in the moment is one thing I’m working on.

  27. You look fabulous in the leather coat! It looks great with both outfits. In fact, I can see it work with so many things… I also really like your fun rockstar shirt! And I’m glad that you’ve decided to keep that skirt!

  28. Mother Deer says:

    I think that my 2017 adventure will include taking out my red leather coat…and then see what happens next 🙂

    Thank you for the opportunity to win a gift card.

  29. Marilee Gramith says:

    You look really terrific in this totally HOT coat!!! There really is something extra fabulous about red leather. I think it takes some guts and fashion savvy to wear it! However, I also think that you don’t need a special wardrobe to wear it. I believe it will be equally wonderful with denim, cashmere, tweed, wool , silk and whatever!!
    I love you in the Charlie’s Angels pose; it actually looks like a chair pose! ( are you a Yogi?). I’m looking forward to seeing you styling this coat in all sorts of cool iterations! Only a rainy Seattle day should stop you from wearing this new treasure!!

  30. What a fabulous coat! Very feminine!

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