This winter season, I was in the market for a classic, wool camel coat. But, I didn’t have thousands of dollars to drop on a MaxMara coat, the quintessential wool wrap coat. Instead, The Curated’s Instagram ads caught my eye with their perfectly shot editorial photos and alluring price points starting at $350.
Interestingly enough, despite their Instagram popularity, The Curated is relatively low-key aside from their direct digital marketing campaigns. Unlike other direct-to-consumer fashion brands (ex. Everlane, Allbirds, Rothy’s), they haven’t yet made a big push in news outlets.
There also aren’t many detailed reviews – so I decided to pull the trigger and give it a try, especially given the palatable price point. I was torn between their Classic Coat and their Tailored Coat. Ultimately, I chose the former as I preferred its straighter silhouette. I hope you find the following review of The Curated Classic Coat useful in your consideration!
The Curated Overview
Founder Nicola is focused on making “investment pieces” affordable and more accessible to a wider audience. Specifically, The Curated works with vertical mills in that produce both the raw materials and finished product, in an effort to reduce waste. And in the case of their new Cashmere Coat, they also work with factories who have remnant wool for a limited collection, to make sure the materials don’t go to waste. And these materials are actually from the same suppliers for much more expensive brands.
The combination of efficient production and smaller mark-ups result in quality pieces at a lower price point. Additionally, they try not to overproduce by utilizing pre-orders. They ship directly from Inner Mongolia, which is why production and shipping can take a little longer. You can also read more about their pricing for the classic coat.
Material
When I received my Classic Coat, I was a little on the fence after trying it on from the box, wrinkles and all. However, a good steaming really made a difference! The coat has a nice, medium weight that drapes beautifully – they use 100s merino wool that feels so soft to the touch. It’s not too thick, yet not too thin – perfect for being an overcoat for mild, Californian winters. The 30% cashmere & 70% wool blend feels luxurious, and I don’t find it to be itchy at all.
In particular, the camel is a lovely neutral with warm undertones. Compared to my Elizabeth Suzann cocoon coat and my Burberry trench, the Curated camel has rosier undertones, which is a nice contrast from the rest of my closet.
Fit & Sizing
While they don’t offer free returns, they do provide exchanges in the US. However, I wanted to make sure I got the sizing right the first time around. I’m 5’4” and usually wear a size 2 most clothing or 26 in jeans. According to their size chart, I’m an X-Small, so I went ahead and ordered that size.
Thankfully, it fit perfectly. Because this is a double-faced, unlined coat, I do have to wear warmer layers underneath for particularly cold days. The relaxed fit, even in the X-Small, allows me to wear chunky sweaters like Everlane’s Alpaca Crew underneath without feeling any restriction in movement.
I like the fact that they provide an optional belt without sewing belt loops on the coat itself. I know some don’t like this exclusion, but I actually prefer having the option to go beltless without awkward belt loops hanging around. Additionally, it allows for perfect customization of belt loop placement for those who do want to add them.
If I had sized up to a Small, I do think the coat still would have fit due to its relaxed fit and the lack of shoulder seams. If you are in-between sizes, you can email their customer service team for advice.
Customer Service
As an aside, I want to give a shout out to their customer service team. When I placed my order, I ordered two in the same size (my coworker also wanted to try it out) – but the package arrived with only one.
I emailed their team, understanding that it was an honest mistake during the busy December season. I was concerned about their usual wait time given our impending holiday travels out of town. They promptly shipped the second one, which I received just a few days later.
The Curated vs MaxMara Coats
Of course, I was curious to see how The Curated Classic compares to the holy grail of wool coats – MaxMara. I popped into Nordstrom to try coats from both the ‘S MaxMara and MaxMara line.
The Curated is most comparable to the ‘S MaxMara line, which ranges from $1,000 – $1,500 for a wool coat. I tried on the Polly Wrap Coat, which is 100% wool, has silk lined sleeves, unlined body and retails for $1,550. This was a size 10, so it was large on me, but you can see that the drape is fairly similar.
In the close-up, there is a bit more texturing to the ‘S MaxMara coat, but otherwise the feel of the material was almost the same. Similarly, it comes with a removable belt but no belt loops on the coat itself.
‘S Max Mara Polly Coat in 100% wool 
The Curated (wearing) vs ‘S Max Mara wool
I also tried on the MaxMara Ruta ¾ Sleeve Coat in 50% Camel wool and 50% cashmere. Now this is a very nice coat. The material was much thicker, extremely luxurious feeling and looking, and had more weight than the ‘S MaxMara and The Curated coats. Which was reflected in the price tag of $5,000 (though 24s.com has it on sale for a mere $2,500).
Like the other coats, it also came with a removable belt and no belt loops. Does The Curated coat compare in quality to the mothership MaxMara line? Not in this case – but I wouldn’t expect it to at its $350 price point!
MaxMara Ruta Coat in Camel Wool & Cashmere 
The Curated (wearing) vs MaxMara Camel Wool & Cashmere material
Verdict
Overall, I think The Curated Classic Coat is a great value for the quality of material and construction. Though I haven’t tried their other styles, I would gladly purchase another from them in the future. I love that they’re taking a more thoughtful and sustainable approach to beautifully designed coats, and look forward to seeing how they evolve over the years.
I hope you find this review helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment and I will try to answer!
Partnership Disclosure: This blog post was not sponsored by any of the brands listed above. As always, all opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, in which I earn a commission on purchases.
