I've been making camel wool coats for years, and if there's one question I get about a camel coat, it's: "I know I want a camel coat, but I'm not sure what to actually wear it with."
It's a fair question. Camel is one of those colors that looks so right and feels so obvious when you see it on someone else, but then you get it home and suddenly your whole closet feels uncertain. With that in mind, here are five outfit formulas I keep coming back to.
These aren't rules. They're starting points. Once you have one or two of them locked in, the rest tends to follow naturally.
1. The All-Black Foundation
There is a reason that all fashion designers wear black. It's easy and it requires very little focus so that you can concentrate on what matters. This is the formula I reach for when I want the coat to do all the talking. Everything underneath is black...black top, black pants, black boots if you have them, and the camel just sits on top of it like a frame.
What I love about this combination is how much the coat's details pop. When there's nothing competing underneath, you really see the drape of the fabric, the weight of the lapels, the way the shawl collar folds. Our camel coats are made from a heavyweight American-milled wool, and against a black base that quality becomes the whole point of the outfit.
For a classic look, add a red lip, a gold earrings, and a great bag. That's the whole formula.
The formula: Black top + black pants or skinnies + camel coat open or draped. Add one classic accents and stop there.
2. The Crisp White Shirt + Black Pants
Perfect for the office, a crisp white shirt already naturally works with a pair of black trousers (as Uma Thurman so perfectly illustrated in Pulp Fiction.)
This formula works for everything from a coffee meeting to a gallery opening. The key is the white shirt. Not a white blouse, not a fitted white tee...an actual button-down with some structure to it. Something with a collar that can hold its own against the coat's lapels.
Wear it tucked or untucked (depending on your office etiquette) and pair it with your most comfortable, yet polished black pants. I love styling this look with some chunky black loafers but a pair of pointed flats or heels would look just as nice.
The formula: Structured white button-down + black trousers (any silhouette) + camel coat + black loafers or ankle boots.
3. All Neutrals, Head to Toe
This one is very easy to forget, but when done creates a look that is very unforgettable. It reads extremely deliberate and very high end. This look is great for not only everyday but special dinners and parties.
The trick is varying the texture and tone rather than trying to match everything exactly. Nothing is the same color, but everything belongs in the same family. The result is that long unbroken vertical line that makes any silhouette look more elegant.
Camel coat over cream, oatmeal, ivory, warm grey...all of these work. What doesn't work as well is mixing warm and cool neutrals in the same outfit (camel and slate grey, for instance, can feel at odds). Stay in the warm family and you'll be fine.
The formula: Any warm neutral knit or blouse + warm neutral trousers or skirt + camel coat. Vary textures. Don't try to match exactly.
4. Winterized!
Let's not forget the whole point of wearing a camel coat! To stay warm while looking beautiful outside.
Some of the best styling comes when adding a beanie, cozy mittens, a pair of tall boots, a good tote slung over one shoulder...suddenly the coat looks less like outerwear and more like the centerpiece of a really considered winter uniform.
By simply changing the winter hat that you wear with your coat, you can create a whole new look.
The formula: Belted coat + black or camel knit beanie + tall black boots + leather tote. Works over anything underneath — jeans, leggings, a dress.
5. Casual with Jeans
This is probably the most-worn formula of the five, and the one that most people are already doing without thinking of it as a "formula" at all. Jeans, some kind of top, coat over everything. Out the door.
What elevates this combination from casual to pulled-together is the coat. The coat hides whatever you are wearing anyway, so by simply adding a camel coat, you are already making your everyday look feel more polished.
Brown Chelsea boots, are a particularly good pairing with camel, as they stay in the warm neutral family without being too matched. Black ankle boots work just as well and are more versatile if you're building from scratch.
The formula: Straight or slim jeans + layered top (shirt collar or turtleneck showing) + camel coat + ankle boots in brown or black.
Bonus Round! The special occasion (dressy) look
Last but certainly not least, a nice camel coat is a great way to top off a cocktail dress for those Holiday Parties, Weddings, or any special occasion that calls for a dress or skirt.
Nothing kills a special occasion look faster than a puffer coat.
A camel, black or navy wool coat is a MUST HAVE for special occasion dressing. So before you say, "I don't have anywhere nice to go" or "I never dress up" don't forget that most of us DO have a few special occasions within the span of the year and at these moments wearing your camel coat will be a no brainer.
Shop The Checkroom's Camel Wool Coats
If any of these looks made you want to finally commit to a camel coat — or upgrade the one you have — I make four styles in camel, all from American-milled wool and all made to order in Chicago.
The Southport is our most popular style: knee-length, belted, with an oversized collar that works open or closed. The Dearborn is for anyone who wants the full floor-grazing statement coat. The Mag Mile is our newest style — a relaxed, slightly oversized silhouette with a beautiful drape. And the Halsted is a jacket-length option if you want the camel wool look without the full coat.
Each one is made based upon demand, so don't be shy is your size is out of stock. Browse all four camel styles here, and if you have any questions about fit, fabric, or which style is right for you, reach me at liz@coatcheckchicago.com. I read every email.
— Liz
