You're right about the j.crew's double-cloth lady day coat. I bought one with thinsulate last year. I love how it looks and it is very well made, but it's not very warm. Plus there's no thinsulate inside the sleeves.

How cold does it get, Lisa?

angie, ~50F, lower in SF...

Oh! That's not that cold! It's more about how you layer underneath and you MUST wear a scarf for insulation. How are you layering?

angie, i'm a wimp ;-) i usually layer:

--camisole
--blouse
--thin turtleneck (if 'really' cold)
--cardigan
--pencil skirt
--leggings
--knee-high boots
--scarf
--hat
--gloves

What types of fibers are in these pieces? Cotton? I think that having even a small amount of animal fiber helps (silk, wool, angora, cashmere, leather). Cotton feels cold to the touch, whereas animal fibers tend to radiate a little heat and feel warm to the touch. Mother Nature makes them well insulated on purpose.
I am really cold in the winter, too.

chewy, most of my clothes are synthetic (i can't afford to spend extra on high quality garments that require dry cleaning as well. if you have any recommendations,
i'd appreciate your input!

I think the fiber content is your issue, then. You really don't have to spend a ton, just be careful to look for that animal fiber. It's going to be a bit of a hunt, but don't leave any stone unturned. The good news is that you will require less layers and less bulky layers because of the warmth.
I have found pieces that are washable on the gentle cycle or by hand (knits need to be dried flat) at my favorite bargain haunts. For me, washing is a must. I got some sweaters with a litte cashmere or angora on the clearance rack at Forever 21 last year at the end of winter, I found one with angora at Ross last night, and Target has some wool pieces right now. I got a pair of wool lined pants at the Banana Republic Outlet at the end of last winter for under $20. Even Old Navy has sweaters with wool in them for a reasonable price. If you go to a store's website, just type "wool" into the search bar, and then narrow by category. This is one of my favorite easy ways to shop online.
I hope that helps!

I agree with Khris. Adding a thin wool cardigan would do wonders. Old Navy and Gap usually have inexpensive wool items, and it's easy to find them during end-of-season sales. The problem with synthetics is that they don't keep you warm in winter, but also make you sweat in summer. :( Cotton isn't that bad IMO when layered.

I've found thin thermal leggings under trousers really helpful and this year i intend to get a pair shortened to wear under skirts! x

wow, thanks everyone for your layering tips. i'll keep my eyes peeled...

LouLou I love the idea of shortened thermals for under skirts!!!
Cyan I imagine it does not rain very much where you live, correct? Down generates a lovely heat just like a heater, but it is no good when it gets wet. If it rains where you live, wool keeps you warm even if it gets wet.

Khis and Marianne are spot on. Also, wear a little jacket under your coat. I do that all the time – make sure that your coat fits OVER all the layers. A hat keeps you really warm too.

Your coat has got to be wool – not synthetic unless it’s a down puffer and the outer layer is synthetic.

Have you tried any consignment or vintage shops? I have found many timeless dress coats secondhand. My favorite is a red tweed Pendleton I found at vintage shop for $20! :) The wool is so much thicker and more durable than some of the ones I see new in the stores and often they are in very good condition, especially the dressier ones because they were not worn very often by the original owner.