Do I need a coat... - YouLookFab Forum

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Do I need a coat...

jenanded

Veteran

This is such a dumb question... I live in the subtropics so our winter is like summers in Northern parts of the world. I am going to Denmark in November then north of Scotland, Sandinanvia etc around April (for up to 3 months). The weather guides say its 3-9 degrees celcius average (is that around 40s and 50s in Farenheit?) I don't own a coat per se- I have a lightish wind breaker coat I used to wear with a woolen zipper cardi underneath (now dead alas) has been my cold wather wear and I know I FROZE in March/April in London a few years ago. I found this wool blend coat... do you think it is worth getting since I will have these several trips coming up? I will need it for business and travelling and I hate carrying too much stuff... What do you think? It looks like it goes with lots of colours and is a little smart. I have loads of scarves I could wear with it.
http://www.sportscraft.com.au/.....87_2814324
Thanks so much!

Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

How thick is the fabrication? Can you see in person first? I have a cheaper wool blend coat that doesn't keep warm enough in those temperatures.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

That is a beautiful coat! I would say yes, you need one. Temperatures of 40s and 50s is pretty chilly especially if windy and cloudy. I wear my winter coat with gloves and scarf when it gets below 50 and unless it's sunny and balmy, when it's in the 50's.

Since you are not used to cold weather, you may feel it even more than the natives. You may want to look for another light wool sweater to add even more warmth and wind insulation under a coat like this one.

Irene

Veteran

You are used to really warm weather. I am from Barcelona (north of Spain) but we have a very mild 4 seasons climate with no extreme temperatures. Our lowest in an average winter day would be around the 6 or 7 ºC first hour in the morning... that's quite cold for me. When living in the UK (for 9 months) I used to wear a skiing feather puffer. Mine was hideous because it was cheap (so warm but not very stylish) since we only wanted it for that occasion. I usually wear wool coats in my city, but I'm not sure I could handle the lower temps up there in my beautiful coats...

I visited Edimburgh in April... it was really cold for me. I even wore snowboots (it wasn't snowing but it helped with the cold feet). My Spanish companions were the same. The British, that's a completely different story, they are used to those temps.

Were I you, I would spend my money on a beautiful puffer, then maybe buy a less expensive coat for fancy occasions, if you feel like you need it...

cjh

(website)

Veteran

But as Anna mentions, you might want to see this in person to know if it's heavy and meant for outerwear, or if it would also serve as a blazer or suit coat. In the latter case, it might not be warm enough.

jenanded

Veteran

Oh thank you... I will try and look during the week (esp as there is a sale on it this week... its expensive but I can see 12 months needing to wear it) Annagybe... As you all say I just don't know what cold feels like and how you deal with it - but cjh if at those temps you would put on a coat, it sounds right... Irene yes 7 for an hour while you are in bed in the morning is my prior experience too

Caro in Oz

Veteran

This looks like a coat for cold & dry weather to me. What about cold & rain? I think a waterproof coat (with warm lining that could be taken out) might be more useful.

jenanded

Veteran

Rain? In the UK Caro??? Good point!!!!!! I am not sure we would have such a beast as a lined coat here in Australia... Not sure if any Aussies can help me out with where one would get a warm adn waterproof jacket... Perhaps i need a new icebreaker thing to go under my water resistant thing...

JR

Veteran

Yes you need a coat. Absolutely. I find coats like that adequate down to about 5-10 degrees below freezing, but do keep in mind that I am Canadian. When I have visited Italy in March, I remember a cousin wearing a puffer coat at 13 degrees, which totally shocked me. I had my wool overcoat open and I was dying of the heat...

Do plan on layering underneath it. With a jacket under the coat, and a good scarf, you should be able to take it down to freezing pretty well, even with Aussie cold resistance. Pack a hat too or buy one when you get there. You can't feel warm when your head is cold. Wool caps are great for travelling, because they're so easy to roll up and throw in your purse or suitcase when not in use.

A heavy trench could work well (there are some with removable warm liners which might work well, if such beasts are sold Down Under) and would be reasonably waterproof. But keep in mind, you can always carry an umbrella for rain.

Have fun and keep warm!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You absolutely need a coat, and preferably a hat and gloves, and also something rain resistant or rainproof. And possibly boots. Phew!

It will feel much colder to you than it feels to me (a Canadian). November in Denmark - maybe ask our Danish and/or Norwegian members if they can suggest something. As for the April trip, if it is April through June, you might not need a coat for the later months, but early April could be cool.

April

Veteran

You will definitely need a coat. When my family (who all live in the western, desert-y parts of the US) visit me on the East coast in the non-summer months, they're always carrying on about how cold it is. And when they visit in the summer, they carry on about the humidity.

I think it's true that you will feel the cold more than someone who's used to it.

Laurinda

Veteran

November in Denmark is damp, chilly, and blustery with minimal sunshine or daylight hours. I recommend a cozy warm parka -- I never find coats (wool fabrication) as warm as parkas (outer shell with down or thinsulate insulation).

Look for: 1) waterproof shell, 2) good insulation, 3) long enough, 4) sleeves that cinch or have ribbing to shut out the wind, 5) a 2-way zipper on the front (for ease of movement) with a storm flap, 6) hand warmer pockets you can enter from the sides, bonus points for outer pockets that can be secured shut, 7) a hood that can be secured tighter -- possibly removable. It is also very nice to have zippered pockets on the inside.

Choose a roomy size so you could add a fleece jacket, or even a down vest, underneath

My favorite in the US is the insulated Squall from Lands End, just to give an idea.
(Their design has had problems for the past couple years so I cannot recommend them this year). I wear mine every day between November and March - in temperature down to -25F. http://www.landsend.com/pp/wom.....31_59.html

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anne

Veteran

Are you in the north of Australia? I am in the south west, and I wear coats quite a bit, although not always wool ones.

I wore a coat in england in April!

MsMary

Veteran

OMG I'm in Southern California and if I were going to Denmark in November I would totally take my puffer coat!! I would freeze in a wool coat!

rute

Veteran

You DO need a coat! Not a tweed coat, a GOOD puffer coat for the snow!

jenanded

Veteran

Oh gosh, now I am worried - will scour online for a puffer coat (how will I even carry it to the airport in 90 degree heat 90%humidity ).... My Danish friend just told me that when she came here and they bought board shorts in winter, that the Aussies said they had just bought their winter clothes... Am looking for puffer in the morning... Thanks everyone! no doubt this saga will continue...

April

Veteran

If you get a puffer, you could purchase one of the very large Ziploc bags, put it inside, and suck the air out with a vacuum cleaner: http://www.ziploc.com/Products/Pages/BigBags.aspx

That should flatten it down for packing.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

If you can find one, those super lightweight packable down jackets are great for layering. I bought one last year, and while it is not waterproof, it is much warmer (and nicer looking) than a fleece and fits under my other coats. Plus, it packs down into a little stuff sack but doesn't wrinkle, so it is great for tossing into a bag.

An umbrella will be useful but it is often windy in the UK, especially near the coasts, so I think a waterproof trench or rain coat is a must. An umbrella won't help you when the rain is being driven horizontally in the wind!