Help Needed: White Jacket: Talk me out of it or ... don't.

[elemmac]

I've been browsing for a long, insulated parka for a few years now...always backing out and deciding I don't "need" one. I'm going to pull the trigger this year. I think I've narrowed it down to the Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka. I'm deciding between the black and the white ("oyster").

Black is boring, but doesn't get dirty easily, and goes with everything. I like the white, but...it's white. I plan on using this jacket for walking the dog, trips to the store -- everyday use. Maybe where it's more off-white than bright white, it might not look as filthy?

Anyone have white jackets that they regret, needing to wash it too often? Or do you just avoid white jackets?

 

[Christy]

It probably will start looking dirty at some point, and you might decide not to get another white jacket after this, but if you really like it I still say go for it. You can wash it, and I think you are right that the creaminess of it won't show dirt as badly as a white coat.

I love the way white coats look, I had one once, I probably wouldn't do it again. But I don't regret having one. Also mine was white white.

 

[Nicole3232]

I've been browsing for a long, insulated parka for a few years now...always backing out and deciding I don't "need" one. I'm going to pull the trigger this year. I think I've narrowed it down to the Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka. I'm deciding between the black and the white ("oyster").

Black is boring, but doesn't get dirty easily, and goes with everything. I like the white, but...it's white. I plan on using this jacket for walking the dog, trips to the store -- everyday use. Maybe where it's more off-white than bright white, it might not look as filthy?

Anyone have white jackets that they regret, needing to wash it too often? Or do you just avoid white jackets?

I love white it always looks cute and classy and definitely less boring than black

 

[elemmac]

I love white it always looks cute and classy and definitely less boring than black

Agreed! I've always loved white jackets (and white ski pants...which is a whole different challenge to keep clean). But I've been pretty selective on when I buy them...this might just be one of those times.

 

[Christy]

I personally would wait for a sale though. That's not a cheap coat! I don't think I could ever pay full price for an OR item since they have a terrific outlet here. It's attached to their SeaTac distribution facility and all returns and closeouts end up there. If you ever have a long SEA layover on the way to AK...

 

[Ms Mia]

If you love white, buy white! I think that jacket looks super stylish in white. My favourite ski jacket is white white (top half and sleeves, the rest is blue with a red stripe. Very 80s inspired. And the white is what makes it). There is a black mark on one of the shoulders but I haven't done anything about it. I just love the jacket so much that I get joy out of wearing it! You can just give it a clean at the end of each season if it needs it.

 

[elemmac]

I personally would wait for a sale though. That's not a cheap coat! I don't think I could ever pay full price for an OR item since they have a terrific outlet here. It's attached to their SeaTac distribution facility and all returns and closeouts end up there. If you ever have a long SEA layover on the way to AK...

I have a discount available...so will not be paying full MSRP. As my husband would say, "I have guy for that". lol

Oh my, an OR outlet would be dangerous for me to live nearby. And good to know...long layover is SEA are easy to come by when going to AK from the East Coast.

 

[MM Smith]

I've been browsing for a long, insulated parka for a few years now...always backing out and deciding I don't "need" one. I'm going to pull the trigger this year. I think I've narrowed it down to the Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka. I'm deciding between the black and the white ("oyster").

Black is boring, but doesn't get dirty easily, and goes with everything. I like the white, but...it's white. I plan on using this jacket for walking the dog, trips to the store -- everyday use. Maybe where it's more off-white than bright white, it might not look as filthy?

Anyone have white jackets that they regret, needing to wash it too often? Or do you just avoid white jackets?

Go for it. Life is too short not to feel delight and happiness whenever you can. But just know you’ll be washing your jacket frequently.

 

[elemmac]

But just know you’ll be washing your jacket frequently.

I think this is what I need to come to terms with…and I think I will.

This might be the last white jacket I purchase, but I don’t think I’ll regret it.

As a bonus, I have a mostly white dog that sheds like crazy, so white is a great color in that regard

 

[SnowHot]

I've been browsing for a long, insulated parka for a few years now...always backing out and deciding I don't "need" one. I'm going to pull the trigger this year. I think I've narrowed it down to the Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka. I'm deciding between the black and the white ("oyster").

Black is boring, but doesn't get dirty easily, and goes with everything. I like the white, but...it's white. I plan on using this jacket for walking the dog, trips to the store -- everyday use. Maybe where it's more off-white than bright white, it might not look as filthy?

Anyone have white jackets that they regret, needing to wash it too often? Or do you just avoid white jackets?

I love my white jacket go for it!

 

[elemmac]

Thanks all for the encouragement! I knew I could count on the divas to enable a jacket purchase...regardless of the practicality of the color. Just what I needed. I'm pulling the trigger on white.

 

[TrixieRuby]

I've been browsing for a long, insulated parka for a few years now...always backing out and deciding I don't "need" one. I'm going to pull the trigger this year. I think I've narrowed it down to the Outdoor Research Coze Down Parka. I'm deciding between the black and the white ("oyster").

Black is boring, but doesn't get dirty easily, and goes with everything. I like the white, but...it's white. I plan on using this jacket for walking the dog, trips to the store -- everyday use. Maybe where it's more off-white than bright white, it might not look as filthy?

Anyone have white jackets that they regret, needing to wash it too often? Or do you just avoid white jackets?

I have owned several white jackets! I love white, it is my version of black which does not look great on me. You do have to get good at washing them, and use shout for stains and the cuffs, wash them more often, etc., but it is not that big a deal to me. Go for it!

 

[santacruz skier]

Thanks all for the encouragement! I knew I could count on the divas to enable a jacket purchase...regardless of the practicality of the color. Just what I needed. I'm pulling the trigger on white.

It's really kind of cream, isn't it? Super cute.

 

[GladeDuchess]

That really is a fab coat!
I've two white wool ones I wear on more formal occasions, but lots of places just spread dirt around all winter where I live and everything gets a right bit filthy and I'm afraid to brush up against cars and such with them for daily wear, lol.
If you can pull it off though, go with it! White and cream always look so chic and polished.

 

[Susan L]

I don’t have white jackets but I do have pure white seats in both my cars. I worry about them getting dirty but I know I will keep thinking about them if I don’t get them! No regrets at all and I don’t even think about them getting dirty at all! Just get the white jacket!!

 

[badger]

White is lovely. You can wash and even stain treat. The biggest and most often overlooked consideration is how you dry it. If you let it drip dry for a bit and then you can toss into the dryer with balls ( tennis or those from Walmart made for the dryer, or even stuffed animals) then the jacket will maintain it's loft. And not on high heat either! I have a few white jackets and they look new after several years. It all comes down to knowing how to handle them. But that goes for any clothing!

 

[elemmac]

If you let it drip dry for a bit and then you can toss into the dryer with balls ( tennis or those from Walmart made for the dryer, or even stuffed animals) then the jacket will maintain it's loft. And not on high heat either!

This is how I generally wash my down jackets, sleeping bags, etc. I use balled up socks, inside another sock, twisted into a ball. Normally extra low heat, then switching to no heat to keep fluffing. Takes awhile to dry, but definitely has the best outcome.

 

[badger]

The biggest issue wearing a white jacket ( or any lighter solid color) is the dirt that comes of your skis when you carry them. It can be awkward to hold them away from your body for a trek to or from the car. A few years ago I created a pair of outer sleeves to slide over the jacket sleeves just for this purpose. Kind of depends on how puffy is puffy. But the coat you are looking at is not one you'd be skiing in anyway!!

 

[liquidfeet]

I can't keep anything clean. I love white jackets - so beautiful - but not with dirty looking cuffs and zippers, along with random drip spots. I had a white ski jacket once. I wore it one day. I haven't had success getting dirt out of white nylon, or whatever the outer shell is on these jackets.

However, at least one designer (Michael Kors) has made white puffy coats with people like me in mind. Mine is a white down puffy. But it has black in all the spots I normally get dirty: cuffs, zippers, a wide black border along the bottom edge all the way around where I pull it down if it rides up, and a big wide black stripe up the underside of the arm where the cuffs and elbows collect dirt. It reads white despite all those black accents!

I just looked online for Michael Kors white down jackets. There are quite a few versions of what I've got.

I'm still wearing mine and loving it.

 

[elemmac]

However, at least one designer (Michael Kors) has made white puffy coats with people like me in mind. Mine is a white down puffy. But it has black in all the spots I normally get dirty: cuffs, zippers, a wide black border along the bottom edge all the way around where I pull it down if it rides up, and a big wide black stripe up the underside of the arm where the cuffs and elbows collect dirt. It reads white despite all those black accents!

I had a ski jacket like this. It had navy blue on the arms, and shoulders...it never really looked that dirty due to those accents. I actually bought the matching pants...which were all white haha. They were on some killer deal; cheap enough that if I only wore them for a season I wouldn't have been heartbroken. However, they were made out of some magic fabric that never stained...EVERYTHING washed out and they looked brand new each time I washed them. I ended up having them for years. My profile photo is actually that outfit.