Can you help me find a winter coat? Difficult.

I am looking for a warm wintercoat that will protect me from rain. This is getting really difficult as fashionable coats are not rainproof and/or windtight. I have tried on many coats, most of them were not nice enough, but these were picture-worthy. I don't think I have the perfect coat yet, I am planning on going to a specialist outdoor shop later this week and would love to have your input on these coats first.

1. Helly Henson coat. Really great quality, very good detail, it was reduced in price but for this price a coat must be perfect and I am not sure about it (for example how the pattern doesn't flatter my shoulders, they look droopy).

2. Protest coat. Down filled. I like it, but wasn't sure (first coat I tried on, bad lighting in the fitting room).

3. Esprit coat. Down. I like the fit in the front view. No guarantees on watertighness, no hoody. I like this coat (but should I wear a belt with my posture?It accentuates my bottom), but am not sure it will stand up to a good soak.

4. Another Esprit coat, the sales assistant said this one was relatively watertight. Looked better in the mirror than on the picture.

5. Gaastra coat. I think I like this one best from what I have tried on. Perfectly watertight. In the first picture you can see my problem with all coats: when I am wearing a cardigan it either hangs like this or it puffs my coat when I stuff it under the coat.

6. Another Gaastra coat, a tad cheaper. I like the quieter hoody, but overall I think I prefer 5. Less water repellant than coat 5.

What do you think. Go back to the shop and get coat 5 (on sale so I can't buy it, think about it a couple of days and return it if I find something better), or try on more coats?
And are there any points that I have overlooked in my descriptions that I should be paying attention to?

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14 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

The Esprit down coat, #3, is good looking on you. The others I feel are frumpy. Don't know what to say about waterproof - as you said, it's hard to come by dressy in waterproof...

KikiG

I agree with rachylou--the Esprit coat is the best, and most flattering on you. It is also a very nice and flattering color! It is also the most dressy, which means it will look cute with skirts as well as pants. Your #1, for instance, with a dress or a skirt would look like gear.

Parsley

Heleen,
Were you looking more for a jacket than a coat? If not, the problem with your cardigan hanging down could be taken care of by wearing a longer coat like some of these:
I think a longer coat would give you a prettier line, too. The last one is actually a waterproof wool coat! I didn't know that existed!
Good luck in your search.

http://www.landsend.com/pp/Dow.....88_59.html?

http://www.landsend.com/pp/Sty.....12_AF.html?

http://www.eddiebauer.com/cata.....leId=35636

http://shop.timberland.com/pro.....d=11325775

Sylvie

I liked #3 the best on you as well. It fits well and is flattering. However, if it isn't waterproof and you can't get by with an umbrella, then it's no good.

I like #5 the second best but it is very casual. It would be fine with jeans but it's going to look a little off with skirts/dresses.

It is very challenging to find a coat that is stylish, functional in the rain and warm. I hope the specialist store has some options that meet these requirements.

If it's pouring rain, I'm going to be wearing my gear waterproof/breathable shell from REI with armpit zippers and a well constructed hood. Until I find a better alternative, Id' rather be warm and dry and unstylish.

HeleenH

I guess I meant a jacket, I didn't realise a coat was the fancy type. I'm sorry, that is my unfamiliarity with the finesses of English. The main goal of the item is to keep me Dry and Warm, and it must be not-too-unflattering at the same time.

Parsley, those are nice coats, especially the purple down commuter coat, but unfortunately I am petite and most long coats don't look good on me because they are too long. We don't have a petite section (I live in Europe), I just have to make do with what is available.

Heleen, Those Land's End coats *do* come in petites! Look at the little tab right next to where it says "Regular"

They'll ship to Europe for 39 dollars.

(I don't work for them, I swear!)

Thank you so much for looking it up Parsley, but I am so not an online clothes shopper Shipping back would be something like 39 dollars too, that is a lot of money in case it doesn't fit me. I also noticed it is marked for -35 to -10 F, whereas we rarely are colder than -12 C (8F). So it might be a little too warm.

You're welcome, Heleen!
I can certainly understand that. Good luck with your search!

rae

(website)

#3 made me sit up and take notice - really nice!

I bought a coat today! I went to two outdoor shops and one of them had a waterproof, down filled coat. So much better than the ski-jacket kind of coats I have been wearing over the years. I will post a picture of me wearing it later, but now my feet are going up for a little while before I have to pick up dd6.

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Angie

Fashion Stylist

I was going to suggest that you try a longer coat and it looks like you found it! Good job.

This is such a learning curve, Angie! Before I was happy when I found a jacket/coat that would go around my body. Now I look at so many aspects. These days I want to be really happy wit the coat, not just happy that it kind-of-fits.

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