A serious puffer for the plus sized - YouLookFab Forum

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A serious puffer for the plus sized

JAileen

Veteran

My son and his girlfriend are moving to Minnesota this month. They are aware that they will need seriously warm clothes such as snowboots and puffers. My son is an average size and should have no trouble finding something. His girlfriend, though, is plus size. Do any of you dear fabbers have any suggestions of where to look for an excellent plus size puffer?

Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from Banoffi

rebekahphoto

Veteran

LL Bean, Cabelas and Lands End carry serious technical puffers in larger sizes. Eddie Bauer and Columbia also have a limited range that are plus. For more fashion focused, I have seen both Michael Michael Kors lines with plus sizes & might also check DKNY. You might look at rei, but the selections in the past have been a bit limited. There may be more stores with additional options in areas that get more serious weather than where I live! (I have not worn my down commuter coat in 2 years- as we have had no snow!)

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JAileen

Veteran

Thanks for the recommendations.

I live in snow country, but it's not as cold as the Midwest here, only compared to the SF Bay Area, and I'm not plus sized, so I wasn't quite sure what to recommend.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Lands' End; they'll have the widest variety of sizes and options.

rachylou

Veteran

Another vote for Lands End.

JAileen

Veteran

Thanks! I mentioned Lands End to her and she's been looking at them. There are actually several coats in several colors each.

Anna

I have several Lands End coats and they wear well and keep me warm. Tell her to make sure she gets the right kind of puffer as Minnesota winters can be brutal. Their website has a temperature rating and it will help her pick out the best ones for the climate she will be in.

JAileen

Veteran

They're going to be in the Twin City area, taking buses, etc.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

There are going to be plenty of options come Sept/Oct. Another vote for Lands End, Nordies and Navabi.

JAileen

Veteran

Thanks, Angie. I've never heard of Navabi before.

She may have already ordered a coat from Lands End. They were running a special for new customers. Last night we were looking historical temps for Nov, Dec and Jan and it was an eye opener for me. The highs were only in the 20s for weeks on end. We think we're hearty mountain folk here, but our historical highs for the same time period is much much warmer. Yes our lows are very low, but it warms up every day. You fabbers who live in this climate, I salute you!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Minnesotans know how to do winter, and they get out and active in temperatures that would keep most of us in bed!

I have an EB puffer that I love when I'm standing outside, waiting for transit or at an outdoor event, but I've come to love the new "systems," that usually have a lighter weight puffer as a base, and a shell on the outside. The puffer makes a snuggly car coat on it's own, and the shell provides rain protection, and is useful over a technical base layer when I'm hiking in the rain. Your son and his girlfriend will likely find a need for a "coat capsule" eventually --- hope they have a hall closet!

Thirkellgirl

Veteran

My daughter has lived in northern Wisconsin for several years and we've been to visit, going through Minneapolis, mostly, in February. For the really cold weather (-20ish) she wears an LLBean Baxter State Parka, but if she had moved to the Cities to work (she's coming home instead! Yay!) she was going to get a Bean "Ultrawarm Coat," which really is ultrawarm, and you can't beat the price. I've worn my thick, twenty-year-old Lands End down (which is definitely heavier than their current down coats) and have been very toasty. This past winter I wore a LE lightweight (I think they call it "packable") down coat that went past my knees, with layers underneath, and was perfectly comfortable. My general impression is that LLBean's current products wear better in the long run, but Lands End has some cute colors and patterns, and either one would be great. Tell that girl she needs serious boots! Sorels!

Thirkellgirl

Veteran

Oh, and I meant to say that midwest cold is different from coastal cold - it really *is a "dry cold." Unlike New England cold which gets to your bones, Minnesota/Wisconsin cold just freezes your surface.

JAileen

Veteran

Well apparently she hasn't ordered a coat yet.

Beth Ann, your system idea sounds very smart. I have a Patagonia coat like that which I took to Istanbul a year ago in February. The puffy part wasn't warm enough, though, not being down. I layered up with a jacket and then I was okay. I did look like the Navy blue Michelin man.

TG, that's interesting that your daughter's preferred coats weren't long. I think she's going to need a long one if she's standing around waiting for a bus. She is definitely getting good snow boots. My son already has Sorels. That's the boot of choice in our area.

They will be there for several years so I'm stressing quality. I think it's cheaper in the long run, plus we're gifting them the coats for their birthdays anyway.

Thirkellgirl

Veteran

Both my daughters are 5' tall - a parka is long enough on them.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

JAileen, I was just browsing Nordstrom's sale section and saw that they've got several of the Jessica Simpson plus-size coats on significant discount, including a puffer. Here are two I found real quick; there might be more.

Jessica Simpson Quilted Puffer Coat with Faux Fur Trim (Plus Size)

$258.00 $169.90

Sale

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Jessica Simpson Anorak with Faux Fur Trim (Plus Size)

$198.00 $129.90

Sale

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Banoffi

Veteran

I also recommend LL Bean, Lands End or Eddie Bauer. I went to college in Minnesota. The winters there can be brutal!