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By Isabella Leatherwood
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| Isabella Leatherwood / Courtesy of Isabella Leatherwood |
However, fashion enthusiasts can now welcome the Korean capital to the top 10 thanks to its designers, who have gained international recognition within just the past few years. The new fashion capital's most recognizable clothing is streetwear, although the variety is bold and gives everybody a great opportunity to choose what best suits them.
And since winter is approaching, many of us might wonder about the newest fashion, especially about warm outerwear. So are Korean winter coats worth a try? Well, here, the temperature can plummet to as low as minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Celsius occasionally, and the average days are freezing cold as well. Therefore, at this time of year, people prefer to invest in a good-quality, warm coat instead of trendy clothing.
People spend much more on outerwear, which has created competition among Korean clothing brands. They truly do their best to provide a huge, amazing variety of options, with great design, material and shape.
Padded coats are the most common ones seen on Koreans. Last year, roughly three out of four people wore padded coats, and it won't be much different this winter either. But they are not the only ones to wear in 2022/23. Balmacaan, duffle coats, herringbone, oversized single-button coats, mustangs, alpaca, llama, cashmere, wool, mink coats, and a lot more are also easy to find in the crowded streets of Seoul.
My quick tips? While some brands use synthetic fiber filling, it is best to find a coat with goose or duck down, as they are warmer and simply a better investment. It is also advised to select a coat based on your body shape: for example, if you have a pear or hourglass figure, an A-line may be a better option, whereas if you have an apple-shape figure, a slightly oversized straight-cut, the Korean standard, may look better on you. Now let's see the most popular Korean coat options, including the style and material, for this season.
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| Padded coats / Courtesy of Isabella Leatherwood |
1. Padded coats
In Korea, padded coats or puffer jackets are by far the most popular choice of winter clothing. They are one of the warmest options for a cold Korean winter day, especially with feather-down filling. Although you might find some with a more formal look, they are undeniably recommended for casual and sporty wear. Therefore, you will mostly see the younger generation wearing them.
Most of the ones you see on the streets of Seoul reach the calf, sometimes even the ankle; they are black, oversized, and straight-cut. If you want to be more unique, though, there are plenty of other choices. For this season, you should find one that is oversized and either over-the-knee or waist-length. Although the straight cut is more popular, if you have a pear-shaped body, you should consider an A-line coat instead. They are designed with a slimmer waist, or they have a belt to tighten that area. You can wear your most comfortable clothes under a puffer jacket, including training sets, jeans, sweatshirts and sport shoes. For a slightly more feminine look, you might want to consider a padded coat with a fur hood or a fur inner layer, and in a softer color, such as beige.
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| Balmacaan coats / Courtesy of Isabella Leatherwood |
2. Balmacaan and duffle style
What is a Balmacaan and how do you wear it? It is a full overcoat made of rough woolen material. It is best described as a loose-fitting, classic, single-breasted coat with raglan sleeves. You can either wear it with sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and sport shoes to achieve a casual look, or you can wear it over a more elegant, classy look such as a suit. In Korea, it is popular to wear it both ways, and it is worn mostly by men.
Duffle coats are made of a thick, woolen fabric that was originally created for protective purposes in a small Belgian town named Duffel. It is easy to recognize this coat thanks to its larger hood, usually medium length, patched pockets, and toggle-rope fastenings. Even though they might seem thin compared to a puffy winter jacket, they are surprisingly heavy and warm. It is popular both among women and men and is preferred for casual outfits. It can shake up and match with an otherwise plain look, such as jeans, boots, turtlenecks, or simple knitted sweaters.
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| Wool coats / Courtesy of Isabella Leatherwood |
3. Wool and herringbone
Wool garments are nothing new as they have been around for thousands of years. Wool coats are slightly water resistant, fit any body shape nicely, are thin yet warm, and hardly wrinkle. Not to mention, they are fashionable and long-lasting as long as you know how to care for them.
Wool production involves shearing, which is a process where they remove the fleece from the body. The most common types of wool in Korea are sheep, llama, alpaca, cashmere, or blended wool, where they use multiple types. For example, a 10-percent cashmere-blend coat will most likely contain sheep's wool, nylon, polyester and other fabrics. Even though a fluffy alpaca looks better with a more feminine chic look, and cashmere is a great choice for men over formal wear, you can wear most wool coats with either casual, sporty, or elegant clothes. Whatever style you choose under your wool coat, make sure to match the colors. In Korea, this season suggests oversized wool coats that are either straight or tightened with a belt at the waistline. They should be knee-length or below the knees.
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| Herringbone coats / Courtesy of Isabella Leatherwood |
Herringbone is easy to recognize thanks to its zigzag pattern. As the name suggests, this pattern resembles the bones of a herring. This wool material is very soft and light, yet warm, making it ideal for colder weather. This British-style coat is not meant for casual looks but for a more formal, classic, elegant look instead.
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| Mustang and reversible mustang coats / Courtesy of Isabella Leatherwood |
4. Mustang coats
Mustangs are probably in the top three most beloved coat types in Korea, right after padded jackets and single-breasted wool coats. Mustang jackets have been seen on so many Korean idols in recent years that they have become an iconic K-pop look.
Unlike wool, which is only made of sheep's fur, mustangs are made of lambskin and its fur together. Therefore, they are more expensive, but warmer as well. On one side, you will see the fur itself, and on the other, you will see the leather, which can be shiny or suede depending on the method of production.
In Korea, they prefer reversible mustang coats, so you can achieve a different vibe as soon as you turn it inside out. With the fur outside, you will look more feminine and chic, and with the fur inside, you will look more cool and trendy.
For this winter, you should choose a slightly oversized, hip- or knee-length mustang coat. Reversible ones are simply better investments, and if you are interested in animal protection, you can also find high-quality fake leather mustang coats. A long, straight cut goes well with simple, feminine clothing and high-heeled boots, whereas a short mustang with a zipper goes well with casual clothing, jeans and flat shoes.
Isabella Leatherwood is a K-beauty YouTuber, a former European fashion model, and a fantasy book writer. She was born in Hungary and currently lives in Seoul as a mother of two. Her motto is: "Every day is a chance given to learn something new."
