How to Buy a Shearling Coat When the Rent Is Due

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Trendy? Yes. Actually warm? Absolutely. The shearling (a.k.a. sheepskin) coat can rightfully be classified as outerwear’s great compromise.

The style, once regarded as men’s-only due to its popularity among pilots and ranchers in the ‘40s and ‘50s, is a present-day no-brainer for anyone looking for a practical winter coat that’s still stylish. The catch, of course, is that finding a great one that doesn’t equal or exceed one month’s rent is tricker than you’d imagine.

To help navigate, here are a few pairs that hit both ends of the $$$ spectrum, broken down by style.

Missguided Teddy Faux Shearling Coat (above), $76, versus Ann Taylor Shearling Moto Coat 9 (below), $998.

ASOS Suede Aviator Jacket with Faux Shearling (above), $271, versus Topshop Real Shearling Biker Jacket (below), $1,100.

Abercrombie & Fitch Shearling Parka (above), $180, versus Max Mara Sheepskin Coat (below), $2,250.