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Puff coat - long, good quality, synthetic fill?

medusa

Veteran

After we had a high of 7F here one day last week, I suddenly got why I need a puff coat. I want something warm, long (mid-thigh to knee length), good quality so I can keep it for a while, definitely with a hood and ideally with some fake fur trim, and it should have synthetic fill.

This last requirement seems to make things tricky, since it seems that the synthetic fill is usually on the less expensive/less warm coats. (I don't buy down because it's like fur: they kill the birds to harvest the feathers.)

Any ideas?

Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from shana

shiny

Veteran

I have one puffer with synthetic fill - it's Elie Tahari. It wasn't cheap, but it was just so cute. It has a shawl color and a flattering shape. I bought it without realizing the difference between synthetic and down. I have to tell you, I cannot wear this coat in temps below 32 degrees! Even with lots and lots of layers. It's simply not warm enough. I did wear it today - it is around 40 and rainy - this is perfect temps for it.

So I hate to say it but, if you want something warm, down is the way to go.

Alternatively, could you go with something more "gear" like that has a polarfleece lining? Polarfleece is pretty warm....

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Medusa, there are SO MANY fabulous puffers around this season, it's almost funny. Have you looked yet?

medusa

Veteran

Shiny, thanks for the comment. That's what I'm worried about.

Angie, I've looked on the websites of Macy's, Nordstrom, Land's End, Eddie Bauer, J. Crew, Target, and Talbots. There was one synthetic Nordstrom, but it didn't have a hood. The Target one seemed like it wouldn't be very warm. Where else should I look?

marianne

Medusa, I am afraid I am no help as far as where to look, but I just wanted to weigh in on the warmth factor - in my experience "gear" synthetic-filled coats are very comparable to real down. I have a Columbia Sportswear jacket that is very, very warm and with layers can withstand severe temperatures. Unfortunately, it's short. Perhaps you could check out gear brands like North Face and Patagonia - I know the style factor is an issue but there are surprises occasionally...

Maya

Veteran

That's so depressing. I always forget about that since it's the filling and not something I directly see, like fur. Not feeling as fab about my Zara puffer anymore

I remember them having a fake down puffer at Guess that I liked last year. I bet a lot of junior's departments might have polyester fills as well.

Personally, I didn't even own a puffer until this year and I managed to get through winters just fine with a only heavy wool coat (now I'm wondering if wool is evil too! But geez, I need SOMETHING). Anyway, the point is that if you can deal with winter in a wool coat, a synthetic puffer is probably just as warm.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Medusa, I just reread your post. I feel sick about down. Are you sure?

Maya

Veteran

Medusa is right

"Down can be collected in a variety of ways. Birds which provide the feathers may be used for other purposes, for example to provide meat. Some birds are killed solely for their down, while some birds (particularly some geese) are periodically live-plucked of their breast feathers. Some birds, such as the eider duck, line their nests with down, and such down is harvested safely after the young leave the nest.

Animal welfare groups consider the live-plucking of down to be a painful procedure and cruel, particularly since birds must undergo down collection repeatedly."

I'll keep the puffer since I already cut the tags and wore it, but definitely no more down for me

I don't eat duck (or obviously goose) meat, so I can't use duck feathers that were harvested that way, and live plucking or killing solely to obtain the feathers both make me sick to my stomach. The last option, about taking it from the nest after the young have left, is perfectly fine with me but I doubt most of it is obtained that way and there is no way to find out.

Thanks for starting this topic Medusa. I'll be more careful next time.

Louise

Veteran

Eeeewwww that's awful. I've a down coat and duvet! When they are due for replacing i will be buying synthetic thanks for the tip off x

garmenta

I'm going to leave the social and moral issues aside and work on the fashion challenge. Medusa, have you seen these Lands End coats?

This one is quilted, knee length, and lined with a synthetic fabric, and rated warm to 0 degrees F.
http://www.landsend.com/pp/Dor.....038;sku_0=::IRI&CM_MERCH=IDX_00002__0000000141&origin=index

This one isn't quilted, but it's knee length, has a synthetic lining, is rated warm to 15 below F, comes in several colors, and is on sale.
http://www.landsend.com/pp/Del.....038;sku_0=::IVO&CM_MERCH=IDX_00002__0000000141&origin=index

Hope that helps.

bella

(website)

Veteran

I didn't know this at all! I feel very naive and quite terrible about trotting around in my down coat!:(

Boof

I have the first coat that garmenta mentioned in a shorter length, and it's not that warm. I save it for milder weather. The second one she mentioned is an option, and check this one out too:

It may not be long enough for you but worth a look.

http://www.landsend.com/pp/Ins.....038;sku_0=::BLA&CM_MERCH=IDX_00002__0000000155&origin=index

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I appreciate you bringing down to our attention, Medusa. I don't judge anybody for their choices, but personally I always try to make cruelty free choices when I can.

Maya

Veteran

Medusa, I was doing some research on vegan winter coats for cold climates after reading this thread, and I found this jacket. It is sold out but it was highly recommended. I'm sure you could find something similar. It's made by TNF, but it doesn't look gear-like at all and doesn't have that annoying visible branding. Not a puffer, but I'll bet it's warm.

http://www.thenorthface.com/we.....tionId=044

I also found these which are beautiful eco friendly vegan coats...but yeah, not so wallet friendly and I'm not sure if they are warm though they claim they are waterproof and windproof. If I had the money, I would definitely give them a try. Seems like a great company, but what's the point of offering ethical products that no one can afford? *coughstellamccartneycough*

https://www.vautecouture.com/c-2-coats.aspx

I also found this site, which made me smile:

http://www.totalimageconsultan.....hion.shtml

medusa

Veteran

I'm feeling really bad about my post...I want to apologize and say that it was ABSOLUTELY not my intention to make anyone feel upset or guilty about down. I'm sorry! I also only found out about down relatively recently - I had bought down-filled outdoor gear for years. Now I'm trying to switch to synthetic only.

I also don't judge anyone for her choices, I know that there are always trade-offs. I myself buy leather shoes even though I would prefer not to because it's very hard for me to find shoes that fit and synthetic shoes don't last as long. I'm going to try to find a warm synthetic coat but the fill is made out of petroleum products which are not a renewable resource.

Garmenta, Boof, Maya - thanks for the great suggestions! I'll look into those.

medusa

Veteran

Here are some other synthetic-fill coats I found, in addition to the great suggestions above from garmenta, Boof, and Maya.

North Face Grace jacket
http://www.thenorthface.com/we.....tionId=B92

Mountain Hardwear Wanderlust parka
http://www.mountaingear.com/pa.....6952/N/913

Sundance McKinley jacket
http://www.sundancecatalog.com.....49683.html

Cole Haan smocked jacket
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/st....._sku=T27ST

Juicy Couture coat
http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com....._sku=T2B06

Via Spiga Serena coat (no hood)
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....um=organic

Searle pillow collar coat (no hood)
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....2646347976

Patagonia Mor coat (no hood)
http://www.patagonia.com/web/u.....8496-0-687

North Face Hayden jacket (no hood)
http://www.thenorthface.com/we.....tionId=74A

Michael Kors pillow collar coat (no hood)
http://www.michaelkors.com/sto....._sku=T24FK

Neiman Marcus ruched coat (no hood)
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/st....._sku=T2CDB

Steve Madden quilted coat (no hood)
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....erralID=NA

shana

Veteran

Have you looked into eider-down filled coats? I remember seeing some in Europe and my mother-in-law has eiderdown comforters for all the beds in their home (I hope she leaves them to us in her will because they are incredible - warm beyond belief and light as air).