When I moved from the Northeast to the Pacific Northwest, I took the opportunity to rethink my outerwear. I no longer needed my heavy winter coat (goodbye snow, ice, and sub-freezing temperatures!), but I did need something more waterproof (hello rain!).
I wanted just One Coat that would work for fall, winter, and spring, and settled on a mid-weight raincoat with a removable quilted liner. I opted for one with a hood, to eliminate the need for a hat (and hopefully, an umbrella—optimistic, I know, but so far, so good).
As far as color goes, I normally default to black for outerwear. But since this would be my only coat, I decided on gray instead—mainly so it would work in spring as well as colder months.
I purchased it late last spring, and wore it on a few rainy days before summer. The real test began this fall, and I found it to be the perfect weight as the weather turned cooler. It’s also kept me dry in what’s turned out to be a particularly wet season. To be honest, I never expected to use the liner; but when temps hit freezing last month (it gets that cold here?!), I finally fastened it in. And I’m happy to say, it’s kept me nice and toasty.
So, let’s do a versatility analysis:
- Weather. As it turns out, it’s the ideal weight and warmth for my region (both with and without the liner). Will it work for those of you in Michigan or Minnesota? Not this particular one, but I did come across several others that were significantly warmer. Find the right one for your climate, and you’ll be all set.
- Color. Gray has worked out well—it goes with everything, doesn’t show a lot of dirt, and will be brighter and cheerier than black when spring arrives. Personally, I think gray has a sophistication all its own, and the slight sheen on this particular coat makes it a touch dressier than your average trench.
- Occasion. Okay, it’s not quite glamorous enough for a black-tie event—but in the rare event I attend something in a ball gown, I’ll leave it in the car and brave the cold for a few steps. I wouldn’t hesitate to wear it to dinner, a party, or the ballet; things are a bit more casual here in the PNW. And for everyday errands—grocery, post office, school run, coffee shop, walks around town—it’s perfect.
I have to say I’ve found a certain satisfaction in having a (nearly) empty coat closet. It’s lovely to have one less decision to make in the morning when I’m trying to get myself and a little one out the door. I just grab and go without a second thought.
Just a note here (which will apply to the entirety of this series): I’m not going to mention specific brand names in my post. I don’t want it to be misconstrued as an advertisement, product placement, or sponsorship of any kind. The items I talk about are ones that I’ve purchased (often after much research and deliberation), and I have no relationship with the companies who make or sell them. This series is not about items you should buy, but what features make them so versatile that you could potentially own just One. (That said, if you really, really, want to know about a specific product, feel free to email me and I’ll be happy to provide the information.) Whew…glad we got that out of the way.
So I’m happy to report that One Coat is turning out to be a rather easy accomplishment. I’ve been doing this particular challenge since May, but I see no problem in continuing another full year from now (and far beyond that). Of course, that’s in large part due to my lifestyle and climate. I’d love to hear from others around the country (and the world)—would One Coat work for you?
{If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}
I currently have four coats- I’m not sure I could manage with just one, because if I had a coat nice enough for work/evenings out etc it would swiftly be ruined by dogs and horse riding! I think I could manage with two coats though, if I had well thought through coats! I hadn’t considered coats with linings- that would suit me as I get too hot really easily.
But anyway, I shall be continuing with my excessive four coats for a while until they need replacing!
I much prefer a hat or a hood to an umbrella- less troublesome in wind and one less thing to carry about!
I’ve never had more than one coat! I have a wool coat for the winter months, but it doesn’t get that cold in Auckland, New Zealand, compared to some places. I have a light denim jacket for the summer/autumn/spring months, but I don’t count it as a coat!
Unfortunately Denmark is simply to cold in the winter and to mild in the summer to accomodate only one jacket. I currently have two, one for the three cold season, and one for the one warm season!
Unfortunately not. Four seasons make it impossible.
I would love to have just one coat — so much less to store — but I don’t see how it would work in my life. I’m Canadian (from a ranch no less) and work in a professional job in London (UK), plus when I’m in London I walk everywhere, so at minimum I like to keep: two formal coats (one short, one long, for work), a Canada-strength parka I can get dirty, and a casual waterproof jacket for everything else. I had to prioritise this yet I still own only 30 items of clothing.
I have a wintercoat and a large shawl. In cold winterweather I wear both and during the rest of the year just the shawl. It works well. I also use the shawl when I am home. It means I don’t have to heat my house to much.
I live in the UK, which I’m sure you remember requires more than one coat. But I think one per season is an improvement on most peoples collections and certainly saves energy thinking about what you’ll wear for around 3 months.
Having watched The True Cost very recently I am endeavouring to wear out my clothing before buying anything new. I hope that wearing the same things over and over will help me see clothing as a useful tool but not something to spend time worrying about.
I’ve heard it said that the rich has a saying…I maybe garbling it up, but it goes something like this: “Boats and Coats, you only need one, so make it a good one!”
Coats are like eyeglasses in that I try to take into account the bigger cost vs. the number of wears I will get out of them before I lay my money down.
Nice article!!
Patty, that reminds me of the saying “Make sure you buy the best mattress and the best pair of shoes because when you’re not in one, you’re in the other”.
Not in New England but you opened by saying this only works for your climate.
Maybe someone could find the right coat to have only one but I think it would require more layering if clothes and it seems that having 2 coats would be simpler.
I have just one coat for the four season range of temperatures we get here in the Midwest, which range from -10 F to 110F. My one coat is down-filled and brown. When it’s really cold I wear a sweater under it. When it’s warmish, I wear it with the zipper open. If it’s too warm for the coat, I wear a sweater alone.
Miss Minimalist,
I just wanted to say it’s nice to hear you voice through your posts again. I always enjoy the Monday posts from others sharing their stories, and it is nice to continue reading your thoughts through the week. I look forward to this series.
I’m in Mississippi, and I could probably make this work. I’d like one of the coats that has a fleece liner that can be worn on it’s own. So really it’s a “3-in-1” system. Right now I have a fleece, a rain coat, a thin quilted winter coat, a thick winter coat, and a wool pea coat. The last two are relics of my schooling in Utah and Virginia and don’t get worn anymore.
My challenge is that what I have now works for me, so I don’t have the motivation to buy a new all in one coat to replace three functional coats.
I am enjoying the series of “one” as it really gets me thinking, and if I choose to keep more than one of a particular item, it is because I have given it consideration, and not just mindlessly allowing things to accumulate.
Living in a northern climate, I wear a full length down coat suitable for -40 C through the winter. And I have lighter coats and jackets as the weather changes. When you live in a climate of extremes, you do need a variety of outwear.
I would love to know where you found your “coat” (and brand name)that has the zip in/out lining. Sounds like something I would love to have. I love simplicity and don’t have a lot of room to hang all my coats, so one coat it my kind of living! :) I live in the midwest but it sounds like I could get by with that as long as I have a sweater under the coat. Thanks so much for any information you could give me on where to find it.
Thanks again, Christy
First Welcome to the PNW! I’m not super outdoorsey myself, but wondered if you go hiking, which is common in this area. A shorter coat would make that easier. I am in agreement with NicolaB who stated her dogs would ruin a good coat. Also, don’t bother with the umbrella, you will stand out as a newcomer for sure! I am very eager to read this particular series, I’m hooked!
Live in the tropics so no need for a coat here!
But love reading the post and comments
I agree w most that 1 coat wouldn’t work for me (have 3), but I’ve had 1 coat for 25 years so I think it’s served its purpose. There are many things I can have just 1 of. Cleaning out my parents house I’ve found 15 yardsticks (1 would suffice) & at least 50 emery boards. That’s just the tip of the iceberg at their house. 1 was not a number they understood…except 1 spouse for 65 years.
When I lived in London UK, I used just one coat for all for seasons. The trick was to have a very light water resistant top layer and a warm lining for the cooler months. I used an umbrella for heavy rain, which isn’t all that common there — usually it is quite light and water resistant material is fine. The lining of this coat was in a kind of dense fleece fabric. I was always toasty in the European winters.
It’s a different story where I live now where the winter temperature can easily get down to -20 degree Celsius and it’s not unusual to have temperatures well into the 30s in the summer. There needs to be at least one really warm coat for the winter as well as the shell/fleece lining item.
I found this very helpful as I have started to visit Seattle and absolutely love it. On my first trip to the PNW (ever), I was so confused as to what to wear. It was mid October and a month of weather transition. 40s to 60s temps, some rain and some sun. I was going to be outdoors (football games) as well as visiting an island and taking in the dining scene in the city. I had visited the East Coast and the Bay Area when it was 40 degrees (no rain) and I found that easier to dress for in a minimal way (one dress, one jeans, a pair of boots & a nice wool winter coat that made me feel nicely dressed the entire time). Now I had to be dressed for football, dinner, in layers with the possibility of rain! I didn’t do a good job, took too many things but now I know – a lighter weight inside waterproof (or repellent) shell with a warm layer inside. And Seattle is pretty casual so for visiting, a trench or short trench works for most activities except for maybe outdoorsy types of walks/hikes, etc but a simple North Face/Columbia hoodie would work fine for that (& also works during rain in my tropical hometown). The thing that confused me the most (being from a warmer climate), is that I thought the waterproof piece had to be warm. Now I totally get the warmth comes from the inside piece.
Also, I don’t think there is any harm in saying which coat your purchased. You could add a disclaimer that it was your own buying decision and no compensation was received. I understand your own personal guidelines for your blog but I, as a long-time reader wouldn’t take any sort of offense to that.
I work in Southern Florida and my husband is still working in Georgia so for the past 8 years I have been “visiting” my Georgia home on the weekends. Hubby picks me up and drops me off at the airport so I can still wear flip-flops and adjust my weekend clothes according to the weather – tee shirt and jeans in the summer, turtleneck and jeans in spring and fall and I add a sweater in the winter. NO COAT! Last spring my company bought a business in Atlanta and I now visit this business for several days each month, wrapped around a weekend. Very nice to see the hubby and cats but I now require work and casual clothes which requires a suitcase, computer, a rented car from the airport and a COAT! I could not remember the last coat I owned so I looked around and settled on a very plain black wool coat – I will make it work because I refuse to have two coats!
I did not realize how simple my clothing choices had become until i had to traverse two different climates, in the winter!
I have a bunch of coats (*blush*). I am cold even when no one else is. I work as a massage therapist so I don’t want to wear a nice coat to work (too many oils & lotions around).
1 light weight raincoat-can be worn to work
1 heavy weight raincoat-can be worn to work
1 Big Dogs fleecy jacket (was my husbands)-can wear to work
1 fleece “presentable” hoodie that my daughter often borrows because it’s fitted. This is not for very cold weather, more of a fall season jacket.
1 dressy blue velvet coat (given to me, not sure I will always keep)
1 dressy long wool coat (given to me, seldom worn because dressy)
1 unlined fleece coat, good for quick trips out in cool weather, mostly a fall season weight-can be worn to work
1 parka (wear over fleeces & sweaters because it has a taffeta like lining, which glides better than other textures over fleeces and sweaters)-can be worn to work
1 reversable fake fur coat because it’s ultra warm but can only be worn over smoother fabrics. Not worn to work.
I feel really guilty having so many coats! I am “working on it” (in my mind)…
Love these posts that go into specifics, it really helps me put minimalist principles into practise!
No coat, just a fleece jacket and an anorak with a fleece lining and hood. North of Auckland, New Zealand.
Good for you, sounds like one coat is really working for you. :)
Personally I find that I enjoy some variety – even when
it’s not due to extreme changes in weather.
I was so impressed with Challenge of One that I decided to do the 10 Item Capsule wardrobe for 100 days. On 1-1-16 I started 100 Thing Challenge but it was not enough challenge so I am being tested w/ coat, boots,, pjs, dress, skirt, pants, jeans,sweater, long sleeve tee, vest.
I’ve not included underwear, socks and tights because I don’t want to hand wash every
night. As suggested, I’ve got everything else waiting on sofas till I see it I chose the right 10 items I’ll need( then I’ll move all stuff to another closet). This will be interesting.
Hi Jeanie. I was also inspired by the One Challenge to do a 10 Item Capsule wardrobe and I’m finding that it’s plenty for me (I only work 3 days a week in a semi-casual office). I have a coat, boots, pants, jeans, blouse, cardigan, long sleeve tee, long sleeve tee, turtleneck sweater, pjs. This doesn’t include underwear, socks, 1 necklace, 1 pair earrings, and one scarf. I’ve actually been getting lots of compliments on the mix-n-match layered outfits I’m wearing (everything fits well and is in my favorite colors) – so much for needing a more extensive wardrobe!
I have done fairly well reducing the number of regular clothes I have, but reducing outerwear is not a realistic option for me. Temperatures in my area range from 0-90F, but I have Raynaud’s, which means when I get cold, my extremities turn red or white and painful from lack of blood flow. So I have a fleece jacket for chilly weather, a down jacket for cold weather, and a thick faux-fur-lined coat for really cold weather, and I still dress in layers. I also have several pairs of gloves in different thicknesses. I would love to be able to have just one or two of these items, but with my condition and climate, it is not feasible.
Heather, I also have Raynaud’s and live between -30 wind chill winters to occasional over 100 degree summers. I have 1 rain trench coat, 1 fleece jacket, 1 windbreaker, and 1 down winter coat plus scarves, hats, and many mittens/gloves. I’ve read joy of less multiple times, and it has greatly helped in many clothing, storage, work, etc areas, but I also won’t be able to get by with one coat or one pair of gloves
I sort of manage one coat. I have a down jacket (it’s marketed as a sweater but it’s a jacket) that gives me the warmth factor for cold temps. Outside that I have a waterproof black shell with a hood to keep out the elements. Varying combinations of this have gotten me through biking to work in Minnesota winters, skiing in Utah, and just going out and about.
I have one coat which was marketed as a “three season” coat and mostly it works very well. Warm, rain repellent and with a hood. I wear it 99% of the time. However, I do have another coat which is worn rarely but much appreciated when I do need to wear it! It is below knee length, very warm (padded), and with a well fitting hood. I have only worn it twice so far this winter but each time it has been very appreciated. I did toy with the idea of donating it, but was talked out of it by my husband and I find it useful to have as a back-up. However, I do like the idea of one of everything if possible. And I do try and make all my possessions count and to be a “considered” purchase.
I have 2 coats and a hoodie. I am in the PNW (I’m just north of Vancouver)too so I have my lined rain coat and my Parka for my winter treks back home to Minnesota. No amount of desire for less cant compel me to ditch it. I already had pneumonia once. Never again. I have been in the market for a 3-in-1 coat but can’t find one with long sizes. I am very tall and my current coat sleeves are too short
This is a concept I’ve been contemplating a lot lately. I’m really want to reduce my wardrobe even further. I’ve been researching jackets/coats lately because my Midwest winter coat is too heavy for my current climate. I’ve love to get your coat’s info to see if it’d work for me. The removable lining sounds nice. I wasn’t sure of the best email address to contact you at…. So I’m just leaving a comment ☺️
That looks like the Patagonia Vosque, or a knockoff of it. My only complaint with the coat is that it wrinkles like hell. I don’t know if it’s the “green” fabrics they’re using or the waterproofing or what, but I had to forget wearing this thing out for evenings because it looks like I was sleeping in it. I use mine mostly on sailing trips now, like up to Bodega and down to Monterey. In fact, it’s currently stashed on my friend’s boat. I also loaned it to one of my girlfriends for a winter camping trip and she used it with the layers to go snowshoeing. For the price, Patagonia should be able to come up with something that doesn’t wrinkle like this one does.
After buying this coat, I still ended up falling back on my Nordie’s slim car coat to go out at night. I just prefer something nicer for the evenings, but for more active stuff like sailing and short hikes or just running errands on a windy day, it works. For you folks looking for layers, this is a 3-in-1, so it could work for you. Check Ebay for better prices. I wouldn’t wear it with an LBD and heels, though. After my hopes for this coat went down in flames, I’ve learned that one coat doesn’t have to fit my every need.
I’ve been on the quest for an all purpose jacket for some time, and haven’t come across one yet. My goal is to have one sweatshirt and one jacket. I want to be able to choose one or the other based on the weather, and if it’s really cold, pair them in layers. The problem I have is that many jackets are made for really cold weather, and we just don’t get that kind of cold in Florida. I need something a bit lighter, something with a wind/water resistant shell and a thin liner, but still warm enough for when it dips into colder weather. I’d also like it to pack up small for when I’m traveling. So far the perfect jacket has eluded me, but I’m continuing to hunt.
Oh dear! I’ve just bought your book and evidently need it as I have just gone into my bedroom and counted 15 jackets and coats! I got rid of several at my last de-cluttering too! I’m dubious as to whether I can reduce them to one though, but certainly I can get rid of a few more now. That’s not including one or two (or more) zip-up fleece jackets. I only have a small wardrobe and they are mostly hung up on the back of doors. Whoops!
I have two coats. I also live in the Pacific Northwest and have found that minimalism in wardrobe matters is quite easy to achieve here. I have three dogs (not a minimalist in the animal department) and so I have a dog coat. It is gray, washable, and has a button-in liner that I have never used even once. It also has a hood that I use on occasion (no umbrellas for me). I use this coat for walks, vet or groomer visits and general running around. My other coat is black and nice looking, but also quite light weight. It serves me well for everything other than extremely casual outings. I can (and have) gone to the opera in it. In colder moments I supplement with a scarf and gloves and have always been toasty warm in either coat.
Thank you for this! I really appreciate your efforts to NOT advertise something because it seems like so many people are putting out paid product placement or reviewing free things. While I understand people need to make a living and should be rewarded for their time spent in producing content, your approach is a breath of fresh air.
I’d be really interested to see you feature some kitchen utensils, appliances, tools, etc because I was thinking about which items could be the most versatile and replace other things, like saucepans for example. A large one seems the most logical because you can cook large or small quantities, but how would one go about making pasta with sauce? Heat up the sauce in the microwave while the pot holds the pasta? Just some thoughts that I would be interested in hearing your take on.
I hope she does kitchen too!
Well said Maureen!
I have decided to follow Francine’s series The Joy of One, with my own series, The Luxury of Less, where I will follow Francine’s lead and blog about what I own.
For example, I am currently in the process of writing a post titled The Luxury of Less: Coats. (Actually it is written but I still need to take photos.) Next week I will write another one about whatever item Francine chooses to blog about – Since I have no idea what it will be I am imagining the worst and having to count and photograph hordes of stuff! I am married with kids so our house certainly does have it’s fair share despite all my efforts.
I have never counted all my belongings before so I am really excited about doing this. I certainly don’t think I will have just one of anything but even so I think blogging about what I do have will force me to be very intentional about what I decide to keep.
Is anyone else interested in doing this on their blog? Whether you have 1, 5, 15 or too many to count I would be interested to follow along with others on this journey too. If so please share your web address below.
My series the Luxury of Less will be at http://www.frangipani.bloomfields.net.au/family/minimalism
Please feel free to use the same title for your series if you wish, it should make it easier to find each other!
Please stop by and say hello!
PS- I will come back and let you know once the house has been quiet for long enough for me to get photos sorted and the post up!
Here is my post The Luxury of Less: Coats
http://frangipani.bloomfields.net.au/family/minimalism/luxury-of-less-coats/
I don’t have a blog, but am interested in following your posts, as well. Interesting take on the issue. :) Thanks for letting us miss minimalist readers know about your blog!
I must admit that I may have too many coats at the moment (I feel a bit ashamed to say how many, so I’ll refrain, but perhaps I’ll get over it or else think about whether I truly need all of them :)) and I can’t possibly explain the number with weather considerations, but there it is. It’s funny, since I don’t own so many clothes, in general, but maybe coats are my thing…Your four seem a very reasonable number and smart choices too! Everyone needs a little beauty in their lives as well as comfort/function. Or at least that’s how I feel, since it’s a path of minimalism and simplifying that’s led me to where I now happily dwell, namely a place of comfort and a little luxury, but not excess.
Just wanted to add that I can explain some of my coats with weather changes, as I’ve already commented on this blog post, just not this many! ;)
Sara,
Thank you for taking the time to visit my site :-)
I am happy that Francine has started with an area I have already begun to tackle. I am sure she will get to a tough one eventually and then it might take me quite some time to take all the photos!
I have one jacket, black with a removable fleece inner. I wear it everywhere in winter and spring from work, to watching kids sport to skiing and walking. I use it as a rain coat without the lining in warmer weather. LOn very cold days I wear a thick wool layer as well. After 4 years it is wearing out, but as it was from a cheap chain store they are still available. I will probably replace it with one exactly the same. Being black I have very bright colored skipants that I love and everyone compliments me on.
I read this post when it first came out earlier this week and I agree with all the points MM made. I was thinking that this would be a good thing, just to simplify things even further. Well, this lesson was really hammered home yesterday morning when I was preparing to leave home for work. It was raining and I could find neither my raincoat nor umbrella. I knew that I’d have to walk a fair distance from my car to the office building and I was panicked that I would get soaked. Not that I’m obsessed with my appearance, but I am a college professor and would be standing in front of a class 30 minutes after I left my house. I was not wanting to be a drenched rat!
It was so odd that I couldn’t find my raincoat since I always keep that in my car. The umbrella is a small one that I always keep in my purse, so rain never sneaks up on me unprepared. Circumstances had aligned the previous weekend, when I had cleared out the car and lightened the load in my purse, so that by Friday, the raincoat and umbrella were not where they were supposed to be, and got shuffled around somewhere else. With Christmas over, I have all the holiday decor out and I’m going through discarding unloved/unused decorations and packing them up for donation, so there is a bit more clutter in my living area than normal.
All I could think about when I was tearing through the house looking for the hooded raincoat OR umbrella was that if I just had ONE COAT, waterproof and hooded, of course, that I would already be at work and not stressed out! Well, I finally just gave up on the search and drove to work. By the time I parked my car, thankfully the rain had stopped and it was merely a light mist, so I did not get drenched, but the lesson has stayed with me and now I am on the hunt for the perfect ONE COAT to streamline my outerwear situation. This turned out to be a pretty meaningful post to me:)
I have been on the hunt for the perfect hooded raincoat for years, actually. When I visited Paris a few years ago, there were a few rainy days that we were not expecting, so I looked everywhere there for a hooded raincoat. Never found one under $500 U.S. dollars. I don’t mind paying for quality, but $500 seems a bit steep for a thin, unlined RAINCOAT! So, I bought a nice unhooded raincoat and a tiny umbrella just to keep dry. Will spend some time on Amazon.com today doing some research:)
I have one coat. A sage green REI raincoat. Works great for the mild winters here in North Carolina, and the rainy season. I took it to Utah for Christmas where temperatures were in the single digits. I got by with layering a sweater under the coat and by not staying outside for more than an hour. Also, I’m warm blooded and don’t get cold easily.
I do have more than one coat, for various reasons. I have had more in the past and reconsider regularly and that is ok for me. It is unlikely that one coat would cover all my activities (including sailing and skiing and city life).
This winter, I bought a new winter coat. The main criteria was that it should be a light colour. This is for three reasons:
1) I like bright colours and all the black/grey/dark coats everywhere depress me
2) I wanted something that is fairly smart because at my age/size anything that smacks of anorak looks scruffy on me
and most importantly
3) I want to be seen!! I don’t know how all you people feel who have black coats, but when driving in winter, often in the dark and/or wet, I am constantly on tenterhooks and afraid I will not see a pedestrian because everyone is wearing such dark colours; I have quite often had to brake sharply to avoid hitting someone. Dark colours are not visible and shiny sports fabrics reflect on wet roads and city lights. When I am on foot, I don’t want to risk not being seen.
I chose light turquoise.
Thank you for picking a more visible color! I wear black and grey all the time, but my coats (I live in New England, so I need a lighter one and a heavier one) are light colors to improve visibility during dark mornings and evenings.
I had a coat very similar to this except in black and it had a detachable hood! It was dressy enough to wear to anything I did (not having many occasions to wear a ball gown either) but casual enough that throwing it on over jeans etc was still appropriate. I’m in Auckland NZ and I found it was plenty warm enough during winter and if I was somewhere partiuclarly cold (for NZ) thermals and scarf/hat etc topped it up nicely. Our summers are mild enough that I don’t really need a coat at all.
If I found something like it again it would have to be really exorbitantly priced before I wouldn’t buy it as it ticked all the boxes of what I need in a garment.
Well this is timely…I live in Texas. We have hot, hotter, Texas hot and kinda a little bit of winter. I had ALL this deep cold gear. I have found by layering what I normally wear- say jeans, t shirt with a fleece over it, hat and gloves and I have one puffy coat, I am good to go. I eliminated an entire bag of clothing. :)
Canada here and I have 2 coats and a shawl
One is a heavy full length winter coat for the snow and -20C which is the temperature today, the other is a light thin wool cape for coolish days and I can add the shawl for cooler days and I too wear the shawl in the house or on cool summer nights.
Unless you’re stuck indoors most of the time, the climate has a huge bearing on the whole “only one of anything” quest.
In PNW, a lot depends on how active you are outdoors. I lived in Seattle for over 10 years and could have managed with just one rain jacket quite easily since unless you head into the mountains it simply doesn’t get that cold … very rarely below freezing … so the main thing to contend with is the rain. Lots of it.
At that time I knew one colleague who had NO coat. His family couldn’t understand it so would try to give him one as a Christmas or birthday present despite his protestations that he didn’t need one. He would promptly donate any received as presents. His argument was that he was rarely out of doors long enough to neither either the warmth or protection against the rain.
In my own case, I had a couple of ski jackets … one shell version for PNW area resorts and another heavier one for going out East.
Seriously, the “only one of anything” would be a breeze in PNW if you’re not outdoorsy or concerned with looking East coast smart … just adopt the local “uniform” of T-shirt, fleece jacket, rain shell, hiking pants, one pair of hikers and a backpack (aka as the PNW version of the handbag). I dare you to see how many people you can spot in this uniform during a 30 minute walk through downtown.
As an aside, IMO, the East Coast casual is equivalent to West Coast smart. And at the office we always knew that if we saw a guy in a suit, he was there to sell something.
Ironically, having moved east to Ontario, my wardrobe needs changed drastically. Gone were the long long months of spring/fall type weather to be replaced by bitter cold that changed quickly into humid heat. Let’s just say I am forever grateful for goose down parkas, air conditioners and bikinis.
I recently halved my coat collection. Although I’m still far from a “one coat” wardrobe (I live in Vancouver, Canada), it felt good to be able to use every coat in my collection within each year. Previously I had multiples of the same type of coat just hanging about and not getting worn at all. I eventually donated these extra coats during a recent coat drive in my community. It felt good to know that someone was getting great use out of the coats that formerly just hung neglected in my closet. What it came down to was: one formal wool coat for winter, one water-proof deep winter coat, one raincoat, one shell, and one light parka for the fall and spring. The latter has an adjustable waist which is very helpful when I’m pregnant.
i love this and like the idea of one coat. where i live, we have the full range of seasons, so i’ve found 3 coats to be just right. my simple warm layers include a light, a medium and a heavy coat. i wrote about them recently, if anyone would want to take a look. :) http://janejojulia.weebly.com/blog/simple-warmest-layers