Universal Standard Winter Coats Guide: What You Should Know

Alyssa wears a black wool coat from Universal Standard with a white top and brown shoes

Alyssa buttons a wool jacket from Universal Standard

As I write this, Charlotte is in the middle of a warm spell, with temps inching above 70°F. These sunny late winter days are absolutely glorious, considering my home city is one that begs you to wander or lounge on patios.

But for the sake of my fragile spirit, I’m tempering my excitement because I know in my heart that it will get cold again.

This post is not sponsored but contains gifted product and commissionable links. As always, I'm dedicated to bringing you honest reviews, free and without ads.

While I’ve enjoyed giving my sleeves a little time off, I’m confident they’ll be back at work in just a few days.

When that happens, I’ll head back to the coat closet and grab some of my favorites this season, including three from a size-inclusive brand that’s frequently discussed here on the blog, Universal Standard.

ABOUT UNIVERSAL STANDARD

The size chart from Universal Standard — Universal Standard’s size chart is graded from a size 18 [source: Universal Standard]

In an era where many fashion brands are once again narrowing their size ranges, Universal Standard stands out with its commitment to inclusivity and high-quality, stylish clothing for all body types. Rather than adhering to outdated industry standards, the brand has reimagined sizing by designing its garments based on the true average woman’s size.

New to Universal Standard? You can save an extra 10% on your first order with code INFS-WAYBLOG10

With a unique approach to fashion comes a unique size chart. By placing a Medium at size 18 rather than the traditional smaller measurements, the brand challenges conventional norms while ensuring a more representative fit. If you’re new to Universal Standard, their sizing can take a little getting used to and it may take a little trial and error to pin down your size. But at the end of the day, I appreciate how the brand is making fashion a space for everyone.

A REVIEW OF JACKETS AND COATS FROM UNIVERSAL STANDARD

Kidjo Tailored Wool Jacket

Chocolate brown has been having a major moment, but I still surprised myself by ordering the Kidjo Tailored Wool Jacket in Grizzly rather than Black. I’ll be the first to say that I don’t think the brand always nails the colors on their website, but this one is just as delicious in person as it is on the screen.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the 80% wool content on the fabric tag because it’s getting harder and harder to find jackets and coats with a high percentage of natural fibers at this price point. Strolling through the average department store and flipping over the tags of similar jackets to this one, I suspect you’d see a lot of 100% polyester written on the label.

The boiled wool fabric means that this jacket is quite dense, but what is lost in drape is made up for in warmth. This is definitely a heavier, warmer jacket than I expected, but it’s perfect for early spring or late fall days (the color makes it an even better match for the latter!).

But how does it fit? I’m always torn between a size 3XS or 2XS in Universal Standard tops, but a hunch led me to size down in this jacket. It ended up being the right call, as I wouldn’t be able to size up (my shoulders would be swimming) or down (it would pull uncomfortably on my hips).

I think it still is a touch too big for me, but I’m choosing to lean into the relaxed nature of an oversized fit here—though I wish the sleeves were a hair shorter and I wish someone had put a vent in the back to keep it from skirting out too much over my rear. In any case, I’ll keep wearing this cozy jacket with jeans until the mercury rises too high.

—

Harlow Classic Wool Coat

Do you ever feel like a great, classic coat is sometimes the hardest to source? I’ve tried on a number of black wool overcoats over the years, but nothing has come quite as close to what I’ve been looking for as the Harlow Classic Wool Coat (also at Nordstrom).

This softly structured overcoat features three flap pockets (two lower pockets and a ticket pocket), generous lapels, and a two-button closure. The wool-blend fabric has the same composition as the Kidjo jacket above, but because this coat is lined, it feels much more tailored. The overall length is a little shorter than current trends, but this is a classic piece that will never look out of place.

A size 2XS was the right call for me, as it allows me plenty of room to layer a chunky sweater or even a thin puffer jacket underneath. That said, this jacket feels like it was designed for someone much taller than my 5’4″ self. The top button sits several inches below the waist, making the bottom button difficult to close—not that I typically wear this buttoned, but it’s a nice option if the weather suddenly turns icy.

While the pockets are refreshingly deep, they sit all the way down past my hips. I am a hands-in-my-pockets kind of gal, but it’s a little uncomfortable to do that with this coat as I have to fully extend my elbows to reach into these pockets. Of course, these petite person quibbles are likely benefits for my tall friends.

While my opinion is that the retail price of this coat is a little higher than warranted, I snapped it up at half-price and it felt like a steal for such a put-together coat. Overall, I recommend it for the more vertically blessed among us (I just suggest waiting for a sale or promo code).

—

Double Face Luxe Coat

Fair warning: don’t buy the Double Face Luxe Coat if you don’t want to get compliments from strangers. I feel like nearly every time I wear this coat, at least one person stops me to ask me about it.

This slouchy coat has a slight cocoon shape and hits somewhere between your knee and ankle, depending on your height. Though it lacks a traditional lining, thanks to the double-faced wool fabric, this coat looks more “finished” than many unlined coats. Interestingly, the product description mentions that it’s reversible—if memory serves me correctly, Universal Standard used to offer a two-tone version of this, but I really don’t see why you’d want to flip this one inside-out.

Once it arrived and I slipped it over my house clothes, Michael immediately blurted out that it looked like a robe. Okay, that’s a fair assessment, especially since I was in loungewear. But you know what? I don’t mind a cozy aesthetic, and it’s quite nice to feel like you’re wrapped in a blanket when you’re out running errands that you don’t want to be doing.

I really would have preferred to order this in a 3XS to take out some of the volume, but it was out of stock (now that it’s here, I wonder if I might have even been able to get away with a 4XS). Thankfully, the material is so drapey that I don’t feel like I’m swimming in it, even though the sleeves are long and the shoulders droopy.

To cinch it in slightly while wearing it unbuttoned, I like to tie the belt in the back (it has the added bonus of keeping it out of the way!). But even if you don’t prefer this look, you won’t have to worry about losing the belt, as there are a pair of buttons on the back to keep it attached. It’s so easy to lose stuff like this when you travel, but I thought that it was such a thoughtful touch.

As for warmth, I tend to reach for this coat when the temps are in the fifties. Any colder, and it’s not quite enough to keep me comfortable without several wool layers or a down vest underneath. But overall, this coat has gotten a lot of mileage since it arrived, as it’s essentially an instant outfit-maker. What more can you want in outerwear than ease?

CARING FOR UNIVERSAL STANDARD OUTERWEAR

A close up of the pocket on the Kidjo jacket

I’m afraid I have bad news: the wool jackets above are all dry clean only according to the care tags. The only glimmer of hope is that wool generally doesn’t need to be cleaned as often. It’s naturally odor-resistant, helping you lengthen the time between cleanings. The problem? These coats are all a blend and synthetic materials tend to retain odor. So, they’ll need to be cleaned more frequently than a coat made of 100% wool.

Personally, I like to haul all my coats to the dry cleaners at the end of winter, and combat food smells and other odors in the interim by spritzing them with vodka, giving them a once-over with my steamer, or hanging them outside in the sun (note: you do risk some fading if you choose the latter option). And maybe one day, with a little liquid courage, I’ll give a gentle handwashing a go as it’s better for the environment and I can save a little money at the same time. If I do, I’ll be sure to share the results!

FINAL THOUGHTS ON SIZE-INCLUSIVE OUTERWEAR FROM UNIVERSAL STANDARD

Alyssa walks away from the camera wearing a black wool coat from Universal Standard

Outerwear can really make or break an outfit. If it’s ill-fitting, made of poor materials, or too hot/cold for your climate, it can dampen your day. While I have some minor quibbles with the coats above, they’ve all been great supporters for the rest of my wardrobe—and I love that they can do the same for everyone.

Having a great coat makes these final cold snaps of winter more bearable, and I have a feeling I might even miss them when spring arrives…

New to Universal Standard? You can save 10% on your first order with code INFS-WAYBLOG10.

If you found this post helpful, please consider shopping through my Universal Standard link. Doing so doesn't cost you anything, but it generates a small commission so I can continue to bring you free reviews without ads. Thank you so much for your support—it means the world to me!

—

Questions for you

Do you have a favorite style of coat?

What is the most common issue you have when coat shopping?

Looking for more? You may also enjoy:

Share this post:

A Review of Size-Inclusive Outerwear from Universal Standard