Size 20 and need a coat. Please help!

[YoungBritishPissArtist]

Sorry if this subject has been done already but I'm on a tight budget and don't want to go out and buy without advice.

I'm 34, DCless, live in London, try to dress fashionably. I'm size 20, 5'7, my height is more in my torso than legs, iyswim.

I want to stay away from anything thick or puffy, so should I get a thin waterproof coat and layer underneath to keep warm?

I tried on a Barbour style coat in Tesco, as recommended in 'Mumsnet Swears By' a while ago, I looked like a frumpy farm worker

I don't have a coat at all at the moment, have been making do with all my thermal tops but can't put it off for much longer.

TIA

[OneLittleLady]

New Look tend to be generous size wise in coats. I can get away with a 14/16 in the coats there when I wear anything up to a 20 everywhere else in coats. Well ones I can get layers underneath anyway. Other than that I'd suggest trying Simply Be as they have some nice ones although they are more expensive than New Look

[YoungBritishPissArtist]

Thanks, OneLittleLady.

I'm wondering if I should buy a 'proper' warm coat and a thin mac, or try to find a coat that does both.

I'll have a look at NL's now.

[EldritchCleavage]

What is your budget, and what style and colour would you like? (I'm obsessed by this topic-see my cocoon coat thread in S & B).

My 'blow the budget' choice would probably be Marina Rinaldi, in Selfridges. A friend has a gorgeous coat from there.

More affordable is Lands End. They have some nice stuff, including flattering belted coats and bright colours.

[OneLittleLady]

I know that on New Look online, they have items they don't have instore and they do have a dedicated plus size line as well if there's nothing in the 'normal' range. I have found the plus size to be very generous though, far more generous than other supposed plus size stores

[tethersend]

I would get something lovely and warm and get a cheap waterproof or, since you're child-free, use an umbrella. It's rare that we get more than a couple of days' solid rain in London.

I would get something fitted, perhaps belted. What sort of style do you normally wear/like? What colours suit you?

What's your top budget?

[tethersend]

Am thinking of something like this but longer.

[EldritchCleavage]

And tethers is even more obsessed than me.

[tethersend]

this is nice, but still very pricy.

[tethersend]

'tis true.

Coats are my weakness. I have waaay too many

[tethersend]

this is nice

[tethersend]

could you do leopard?

[tethersend]

ooh, eldritch, look...

[filee777]

I just bought a lovely winter coat from marisota, it's a joe browns and I got a 22 so it was roomy.

[tethersend]

leopard one also comes in camel

[filee777]

I can't do F+F clothes, they seem to be built for size 20 women who have the breasts of size 12 women! Doesn't work!

[tethersend]

Really?

I love F&F coats, really good quality for the price. Have had no problem with fit in the past- am a 16 with big boobs and narrow shoulders.

[filee777]

Never tried their coats to be fair, have bought a couple of summer dresses from them which I've had to send back because of severe lack of boob space and I don't bother with them anymore.

[tethersend]

Oh, that's a shame... Not tried their dresses for a while, but the coats are lovely.

[tethersend]

La Redoute

[YoungBritishPissArtist]

Thanks for all your responses

My budget is low, £50 tops, so New Look and F+F are my realistic options.

I live in trainers and flat boots so a really smart looking coat may not work?

In terms of style, I really like pea coats but I'm just too booby, even if they're single-breasted. I like that ASOS coat that Tethers linked to. My problem is that I have a really big tummy (and can't even blame it on pregnancy or DC!) so I feel self-conscious in anything with a waist.

[tethersend]

Would you do a cape?

[tethersend]

more casual

[tethersend]

bargain cocoon coat

[YoungBritishPissArtist]

I like that Next one! I want to buy in store rather than order so I'll hit Westfield tomorrow.