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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   3552 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for December 16, 2022

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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If you feel like you know what you’re doing, you can find great winter coats (for category No. 1 above) on eBay. Filter your search for pre-owned and accepts returns (maybe you eat shipping costs but aren’t stuck with something you aren’t fully happy with). If you have an old coat that fits well, take its measurements.

Men’s coats were often made with thicker wool in prior decades, which is a plus for Wisconsin’s climate. I picked up a dead stock, ‘80s, full-canvassed, gray herringbone, wool top coat, as well as a dead stock, ‘60s, brown, half-canvassed, Harris Tweed raglan, both originally from independent men’s stores out East, for between $100-200 each. For that price, you will be hard pressed to find anything of similar quality, new. Just pay attention to the measurements provided in either the photos or item description. Some eras, like parts of the ‘80s and ‘90s, you’ll likely fit into a size down (say a 40R instead of your usual 42R).

You can certainly dress a top coat down, easier if it isn’t solid black unless you’re going for that monochromatic look, and raglans are on their own a step more-casual.

My best find was for my better half. Someone had listed an as-new women’s ankle-length, MiUSA, double breasted, camel hair, Brooks top coat as a trench coat (perhaps because of the color), for just $100, when it surely cost four-figures even before adjusting for a couple decades of inflation.

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