Petite Coats

I had to retire my JCrew coat last year and am now trying to find a
replacement. I've gone to coat departments in numerous department
stores and have not had any luck. If they happen to have my size, I
don't like it. If I like it, they don't have my size.

I didn't think finding another coat would be that big a deal. I
figured I could just order the "Plaza" coat from JCrew. In the
catalog, it looks exactly like the coat I got rid of. I got it in the
mail last week. It is nothing like the coat I got rid of. It is
heavier, stiffer and not as soft. It is also A-line rather than
straight. It looked horrible on me.

So, I did a web search and came up with a classic looking cashmere coat
from Bloomingdales that was available in my size. It was way more than
I wanted to spend for a coat, but I rationalized the purchase by
telling myself that I could wear it forever. I received the coat
yesterday. It is very light and soft and drapes as nicely as I thought
it would. It looks much better on me than the JCrew coat did, and it
fits perfectly. The deal breaker is that it has shoulder pads that are
at least 1.5 inches thick!!!!!!!!!!

When I try it on with just a sweater underneath, it is not that bad,
but when I wear it with a suit jacket underneath, I look like a
linebacker. Why would they do something like this to an otherwise
beautiful coat???? (rhetorical question)

Do you think I should take the coat to a tailor to remove or replace
the shoulder pads? Do you think this will ruin the coat? Should I
just return it while I still can? If so, does anyone have any
suggestions as to where I can find a coat. It's not like I'm going to
be able to go without one all winter, and I hate to have to buy and
wear one that I don't really like.

Any opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

cofarb...

Can you post a link to the coat you bought?

I have removed shoulder pads from jackets and coats with varied results. I
have never done it to a new coat though. I've only done it when the pads
have dried out or styles have changed so much that the pads made the coat
unwearable. It definitely changes the fit and line of the coat, and if the
pads are really thick, the change will be significant.

How urgent is your need? Do you need a new, contemporary coat (or could you
get by temporarily with something funkier from a thrift shop)?And how hard
is it to find your size? I've gotten a couple petite coats from Sierra
Trading Post--one that's mostly cashmere--that have been outstanding quality
and great prices. They do have petite coats, though they usually start at
size 4 and I think they are pretty generously sized. They have really nice
on-line customer service chat people, and they frequently have free shipping
deals. I think there's a flat $5 return shipping fee (which can save you a
lot if you've ordered two or three coats with the intention of keeping just
the one that fits). And no sales tax. The chat people can tell you a lot
about the measurements and fit of the garments.

Bluefly always tempts me but I'm usually disappointed by the quality-to-cost
ratio and the shipping costs, coming and going, make a lot of the bargains
not really bargains.