The Item I Wear to Death: My Diane Von Furstenberg Wool Camel Coat

In our biweekly series, editors share "the item they wear to death," whether it be a basic white tee or a super-trendy jumpsuit. Prepare yourself (and your credit card) for some guilt-free shopping.

A fun fact about type-A me: I keep an excel spreadsheet saved on my laptop documenting all of the items in my closet and an on-going list of pieces that I plan to one day invest in. (I'll admit that is a bit anal.) Under the outerwear section of the excel doc I have a subsection titled "camel/tan coats" with a double breasted wool coat and a trench coat (Burberry's Heritage Kensington Trench Coat (opens in new tab), to be specific) listed as my dream styles. I believe a camel coat effortlessly elevates any look (opens in new tab) and every man and woman should invest in at least one.

The Burberry trench is top of my wish list as my dream rainy day go-to coat, but I also need an all-around camel coat, something that can be worn during each of New York City's fickle four seasons. For years, I searched high and low for the perfect one. I wanted the cut to be slightly oversized (it gives a little extra room for layering), the color to be a soft tan—not too yellow—and the coat to be versatile enough to be dressed up or down, perfect for any occasion.

Thanks to Nordstrom (opens in new tab)'s annual anniversary sale four years ago, I scored this perfect double breasted wool number by Diane von Furstenberg. (It was originally $598, but I bought it for approximately $350.) From the cut to the color, down to the wooden buttons and peaked lapels, I knew at first glance that everything about this coat was perfection. Even with the sale price, the coat was a bit of a splurge, but I can assure you, hindsight proves it was worth the investment.

This DVF coat has been my winter go-to for the office, dinner with friends, and even pairs nicely over a hoodie and track pants for that effortless street style grocery-store-run ensemble. It makes me feel effortlessly chic and put together. Aside from my cozy parkas, this is the only coat that keeps me warm in the winter, and it can easily transition for spring and fall, too. Unfortunately my current DVF style is sold out, but you should snag a similar style of your own. Trust me when I say everyone's wardrobe is in need of a classic camel coat.

Shop these similarly sleek options, below.

For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.

subscribe here (opens in new tab)