Long padded down coats - are they a bit frumpy?

[Woozley]

The only people I see wearing them are mums on the school run...now, nothing wrong with that per se, but I'm just looking for something stylish, practical, but a bit, erm, fashionable, for want of a better word.

I am 37, quite tall, size 12-14 and am not trying to pretend I'm 19 or anything, but neither do I want to age myself either. I have a short padded coat which is very warm and light but it is enormous and I feel like Michelin woman so I think the longer padded ones are more slimming. Also my current coat isn't very waterproof with no hood so no good at all in snow/a lot of rain.

What about this one in purple or black?

Long padded coat

My hair is a bit like that too but brown! I tend to wear teal/petrol blue or slightly darker blues.

[Tanyaaah]

They are a bit frumpy but you won't care when it's freezing, I don't!

[Chottie]

You can buy shaped ones which are far more flattering.

[Fairylea]

Go for a parka. Still warm but far more with it :)

[BunnyLeBOOwski]

Imo that padded style of coat is seriously frumpy. You're basically wearing a sleeping bag.....how can that be stylish?

Unless you live in the arctic I think it's perfectly possible to keep warm and not give in to the frump.

[MrsBovary]

They do look terribly frumpy, but also lovely and warm.

The one on your link isn't too bad, in purple.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

I've got the barbour arctic parka and its not frumpy but its seriously warm. And this winter is set to be very cold.

I have various other coats but that's my default for properly cold weather

[snowmummy]

I've got a northface one, its fitted, lightweight and very warm. I wear it when its freezing - school run, the woods, walks etc. I quite like it, but its hardly high fashion, and I wouldn't wear it to town or on a night out. I don't like the one you linked to though sorry.

[cerealqueen]

I had this, it isn't that toasty warm, to be honest (but I feel the cold something chronic) and not that water repellant , which is why I returned it. I did feel a bit frumpy. Lands end let you return stuff no matter how long you have had it. I bought a nice fake fur instead.

[SantyClaws]

i have one but only because it's the only way i can keep warm. Anything shorter and my legs and bum freeze. I bought a short down coat the first winter here and regretted it.

when it's -25 (or lower ) and i'm wrapped up with only my eyes showing no-one knows it's me and everyone wears them here tbf.

if i was still in the UK i'm not sure i'd wear it - it is basically a sleeping bag fashioned into a coat

[GlitKnit]

Might be everywhere but are so practical.

[Mumelie]

Frumpy - yes, but it would be warm and practical! If its essential buy it and wear it with pride . I'd personally buy a parka, but I don't have need of that level of warmth (have it built in!)

[acertainage]

Asda have some nice ones. Moda one has a belt and it's only £35 so not the end of the world if you get bored with it and they have 25 percent off today. I think they look alright but I'm 27 and think they are a bit old for me!I prefer the look of the short belted quilted jackets rather then padded.

[HousewifefromBethlehem]

I've got this Barbour peninsula it's great! I don't think it's frumpy, but then again I don't care :o

[MorrisZapp]

I've got a Jack Wolfskin, it's fab.

[gilmoregirl]

I would not go for a down or padded coat as they are not waterproof (in fact they absorb water speaking from experience of a north face metropolis that cost > £100 and can only be worn on day days )

Have a look at some of the other threads about the perfect winter coat.

The merrill wakefield padded is popular and not frumpy and there are lots of others that are fitted.

I seriously considered the lands end ones but really they ARE frumpy, sorry. My American friend was stunned that someone my age (38) would even contemplate lands end as in the states is granny wear

[HousewifefromBethlehem]

Mine is waterproof, it's lightly waxed

[StockingFilly]

They add a stone on you, imho, but depends whether people care that much when they are just braving the cold on the school run, I guess.

I have a Didrickson fitted parker for casual and a long, military style wool coat for going out. Down coats make me feel like Kathy Beale.

[Nospringflower]

I was thinking about getting one but have been hearing that the down is really cruelly collected . Has put me right off (and off my bedding)

[SchnitzelVonKrumm]

Frumptastic I'm afraid, but very warm. Get a nice parka.

[Mu1berries]

I think they ARE a bit frumpy but once the temperature goes beneath about 7 or 8 degrees, I would rather be frumpy than freezing!!

[Mu1berries]

i have a landsend long down coat and i don't think it adds a stone. maybe because it's quite longto the knees so the effect is long rather than barrel. I hope. I hope. but like i said when it gets cold you don't care that much.

I would prefer a northface coat but twice the price of a landsend one. maybe more because i bought mine when it was 20% off.

[pinkhousesarebest]

I have the North Face Arctic. I loathe and love it in equal measure. It is frumpsville without a doubt, but I live in a place with harsh Winters and it is brilliant in the cold. Don't know though if the UK climate really requires this sort of coat though.....anytime I am home it is the rain that is the problem.

[Mu1berries]

well i'm in ireland and I could do with another one. I have one landsends coat that is worn to a thread because i've had it seven years and despite having other coats it's the one i end up wearing late november to mid feb. the rain is not as bad as the stereotype suggests in my part of ireland.

i was in a fancy sports shop yesterday stroking the GREY long north face and I thought it was lovely the way the hood was built in. and it's thinner than the landsend. not frumpy at all i thought! would be gorgeous with pink scarve I thought.

[Mu1berries]

depends where you're going of course

[Springhasarrived]

I've got the Landsend down commuter coat. It IS waterproof - rain just beads off it. It is also frumpy but I really dont care. I bought it to be warm and it does the trick. Better than being cold, and I have lots of none frumpy coats and jacket for other days!