Bold Plaid. Plush Texture. Effortless Vintage Volume.

Wrap yourself in the richly textured character of this vintage Express Avenue de l'Opera / Compagnie Internationale coat. A vibrant red, blue and green tartan plaid meets a heavy, fuzzy mohair-wool blend, a dramatic oversized shawl collar and a slouchy silhouette. Made in Italy and estimated to date to the late 1980s or early 1990s, it brings statement-making personality to cold-weather layering.

~ Product Details:

• Brand: Express; label wording: Avenue de l'Opera / Compagnie Internationale.

• Estimated era: late 1980s to early 1990s; 

• Origin: Made in Italy.

• Color and pattern: red, blue and green tartan plaid mixed.

• Design: oversized shawl collar, dropped shoulders, deep front pockets and double-breasted closure.

• Marked size: Medium, with a generously oversized, relaxed cut.

• Outer fabric, as supplied: 30% wool, 20% wool mohair, 20% acrylic, 20% nylon and 10% polyester.

• Lining: 60% acetate and 40% rayon.

• Label identification: RN 55285.

~ Who It's For?

For vintage outerwear lovers, expressive dressers and anyone drawn to dark academia, grunge or relaxed streetwear. The roomy shape is especially appealing if you enjoy layering chunky knitwear and prefer a slouchy boyfriend-style silhouette rather than a fitted coat.

~ Why You'll Reach for It:

The tactile, fuzzy surface and saturated plaid make even a simple outfit feel considered. Deep pockets add everyday practicality, while the broad collar and dropped shoulders give the coat its distinctive vintage proportions. The approximately 50-inch garment bust offers generous volume, but is not a recommended body measurement; allow room for your body and layers.

~ Style Tips:

• Dark academia: layer over a charcoal turtleneck, tailored trousers and leather loafers.

• Grunge: pair with a band tee, faded denim and lace-up boots.

• Everyday statement: let the plaid lead over a cream sweater, black jeans and simple ankle boots.

• Play with proportion: balance the roomy shoulders with a slimmer bottom, or embrace a relaxed head-to-toe silhouette.

~ Brand History & This Garment's Story:

Express began in 1980 as Limited Express, with its first store at Chicago's Water Tower Place, initially selling women's clothing. Its early growth places the brand firmly within the American fashion landscape of the 1980s and early 1990s.

This coat carries the Avenue de l'Opera / Compagnie Internationale wording and a Made in Italy origin. Its oversized shoulders, generous collar and expressive plaid evoke the bold proportions associated with that period. The French wording is part of its label identity, not evidence of French manufacture. The exact collection, factory, production date and previous ownership are not documented, so those details remain part of its unknown past rather than an invented provenance.

~ A More Considered Second Life:

Choosing pre-loved outerwear keeps an existing garment in use and can reduce demand for newly manufactured clothing when it replaces a new purchase. This coat's sustainability story is reuse, not a claim that its original production was impact-free or that its mixed-fiber fabric is readily recyclable.

Sustainability calculation: A credible garment-specific carbon, water or energy saving cannot be calculated from fiber percentages alone. Coat weight, original manufacturing data, transport, cleaning and the purchase it replaces would be needed for a defensible comparison. No quantified environmental savings are claimed.

~ Condition:

Excellent vintage, pre-loved condition, with light signs of previous use. No notable flaws, stains or holes reported. Sold as-is in its pre-loved condition. Please review the photographs for surface texture and signs of wear; vintage clothing is not new.

~ Size Chart | Marked Medium:

The 50-inch garment bust and 22.5-inch dropped shoulders create a distinctly oversized fit for the marked Medium. Compare these measurements with a coat you already own, allowing for your preferred layers. Vintage sizing may differ from modern sizing; measurements are approximate.

~ Care:

Professionally dry clean only. Share the fiber composition with your cleaner and follow the garment's care label.