As much as I loved the look of this coat online, it was unfortunately way too big, even in the XS size that I ordered. The other aspects of the coat were obviously top-notch and great L.L. Bean quality, but I simply cannot get over how huge the coat was. It was almost as if it had been mismarked on the tag. I am about 5'10" and 120 pounds, and I usually wear a small in most brands. My friend encouraged me to order a size down, so I got an XS, and I was still swimming in it! Although I love L.L. Bean and their high-quality items, I could never recommend this coat to anyone knowing how huge it runs.
Backstory: Me + 30yr old down-lined non-LL Bean coat (from my college years!). My beloved coat finally went to coat heaven because of extensive zipper malfunction & break. (Although college coat wasn't LLBean, I did have an LLBean backpack, which I STILL have...and still fully function-able! Just to set the tone - I'm a loyal customer.)
Oct 2014: Me (5-4, 105lbs) + LLBean website. I'm desperately looking for the equivalent coat to said college coat. I'm a little annoyed because despite being the go-to place for all things outerwear, all LLBean equivalent coats are backordered with estimated restock dates of Jan or Feb. What the heck, man? That's the peak of winter...my need for a coat is practically over by then. I realize I sound like a whiner to those of you in the mid-west and northeast, as your temps are over-the-top frigid. But in my defense, I moved here from AZ - where the lows are in the 30s if I'm unlucky. So cold even at 25-degrees is not good to me. It stings my skin, aches my bones and penetrates me to my core. I stay cold from Nov-April (even in the house.) I thaw in May. ...hence the need for a heavier coat. Admittedly I'm a winter wimp.
Anyway, all other heavy duty coats in my size and desired color are either sold out, not a true equivalent (fake down), or also backordered. Some have restock dates as "Sept".
Nevertheless, I've no alternative. So, I place the order for a fake down-filled December-arriving coat, in a size small to accommodate for chunky sweaters. I suck it up until mid-December without a coat. Shiver Shiver Shiver...until coat arrives. High hopes & expectations.
Coat arrives. Looks great! Hood covers better than my college coat - yippee! Size = perfect!!! Color = perfect! Texture = not scratchy! Sleeves = Great little lining and baby soft elastic around wrists to ensure no cold sneaks up your arm. YES!!!! And, the zipper is sewn 2-3" in from the hem so a row of buttons add additional security. Smart!
I take it for a test run immediately in 30-degree temp - walk my dog for 30min. Oddly, I'm not as warm as I'm expecting, but I suspect I'm just being picky...missing the old coat and a tad sentimental. So, I continue to test drive twice more in the next days. C'mon LLBean, don't fail me now! - I think. You've always been good to me before! - I think.
And still I feel a slight chill when it's just in the 30s. Is it me? I think to myself that I'll just wear woolen sweaters or fleece. But doesn't that defeat the purpose? Even still...I have no alternatives...all LLBean warm coats sized XS or S are sold out. Zero options. "Suck it up, girl!" I say to myself.
And then, it happens. I'm forced to be uber-annoyed....peeved, even. I go to walk the dog one morning and the zipper breaks. Expletives were uttered. C'mon!
I get home, take the coat off, pull the zipper up to my face and diligently set out to fix it. I succeed. After all, I have experience in fixing cantankerous winter coat zippers. And I have sewing background. Remember, no exchange options, so ya gotta suck it up, girl! Make it work!!! But, from then on, the coat is at code yellow status.
The plot thickens: Within the next two weeks a button pops off. (expletives again) CODE RED! I shouldn't have to re-do sewing finishes on a coat that was JUST delivered.
All I want is a coat that keeps me warm and has garment finishers that function properly. Why is this so hard to ask??? I can't return it, as there are no additional coats to be exchanged for. And, no alternative coats that are as warm as this one is supposed to be.
Then, I find myself Christmas shopping at a high-end dept store - find an authentic down-lined, knee length puffer coat ON SALE! for $100. I think back on code red status and feel bile at the back of my throat. I buy the puffer. Just maybe..., I think. I alternate between the two to test and feel which is the warmest - just to confirm. The puffer IS just as warm as the LLBean, if not more.
You had your shot, LLBean, and you failed me on this mission. When I return the coat and you receive it, imagine me with an angry face, spitefully saying "TAKE IT!"
It'll probably take me a year or two before I trust you again to order anything else. Sorry in advance for the temporary break-up, but you earned it.
After months of searching I thought this coat was "the one". Unfortunately, the sizing didn't work for me. I am 5' 7" and 140 lbs, and I ordered a SMALL. I loved the appearance and feel of the coat, but it was much too large on me. It looked boxy and sloppy. I think I would have been happy with an X-SMALL, but they were backordered until the summer.
My advice: be careful with the sizing if you're not already familiar with it.
Ordered this in November for Xmas, backordered to Dec8th. When we got it iarounf Dec8th the size was enormous for a small, really a medium. Tried to order the XS immediately and was backordered till JUNE 2015!! What is going on? Sizing on many items is too large or variable from same item to same item. Seems as though quality control is missing. Another pet peeve is do we have to order in Oct for Xmas? A very nice coat.
