To think there’s no such thing as a warm, waterproof and stylish coat?

[Autumnleavesinmyheart]

Happy to be proved wrong!

Spent hours online looking last night and came up with nothing. I’m looking for something high quality, happy to spend some money if it will last. Needs to be good for the school run but smart enough that I could also wear it to work...

Which is why I have work clothes and casual clothes.

There are many.

Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and next do some fab, warm, stylish padded coats as do DKNY, Tk maxx and La Redoute.

You can pay under £150 or under £50, if you wait for the sale or buy new from ebay.

You need to carry on looking.

@LazyDaisy10

I just bought this Barbour jacket from country attire. I didnt even know I needed a jacket until I read this thread this morning😁 Cant wait to get it delivered now

I just came on to post to say look at Barbour in colours other than green!

I have a lovely navy one very similar to this. Can look smart for work too.

@flirtygirl

There are many.

Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and next do some fab, warm, stylish padded coats as do DKNY, Tk maxx and La Redoute.

You can pay under £150 or under £50, if you wait for the sale or buy new from ebay.

You need to carry on looking.

Ah but are they waterproof?

IME markses do OK at not soaking through in a light shower but you've had it in sideways rain.

So let's get this right. Coat needs to be warm enough for winter e.g. frosty mornings, belting rain. Fully waterproof with a hood. At least to above knee length.

So what do you need for "smart" work? Do you drive or take public transport or walk? Are you client or public facing? Have you a dress code?

I only ask because in my professional job, coats are only needed for getting to the office, outdoors brands and practical coats are completely normal in bad weather. I can see maybe in the City, Burberry raincoats and wool overcoats are still worn. For smart outdoors jobs like maybe land agents/auctioneers , Barbour type and expensive country brands.

It's hard to see where a good quality parka or Ilse Jacobsen type coat wouldn't be smart enough on a wet day especially if in a dark colour. But you're clearly struggling so there must be a problem

For instance would anything by Jack Wolfskin suit or are they still too outdoorsy?

@NotMeNoNo

It’s not that I have a dress code (I work in a university), it’s more that for work/travel to work (largely public transport/cycling, or was pre-Covid) I like to feel like ‘me’, whereas for school run I don’t care so much what I look like

I had a waterproof warm coat for years but it wasn’t something I would have been seen dead in tbh apart from its weatherproofing qualities. Hope this explains it a bit...

Also jack wolfskin looks promising thank you!

Ok so what’s your ideal coat if only it was waterproof? Colourful/boho/minimalist/classic etc? Do you need to project a bit of authority?

Honestly I feel your pain as I’m short and wide and look like a barrel in anything padded. But being an engineer it’s always acceptable to wear an anorak .

I would say minimalist and colourful are good adjectives... Although colourful is flexible - would be happy with olive green for example. I basically want one of the cool raincoats on Isle Jacobsen or Stutterheim but warm and cosy... none of them seem to have padding/thicker lining.

Check out Ilse Jacobsen too if cycling. You could always add a down jacket under.

Yes maybe down jacket liner is the way to go!

Just watch out for bits with a down jacket, a good synthetic one might be better. My black cashmere jumper was never the same.

@SchnitzelVonKrumm

Natsuku waterproof overtrousers are great if you're out hiking but I'm not sure they're good for the school run but smart enough that I could also wear it to work as per the OP.

They're overtrousers, so you take them off when you get to work to reveal your work-suitable er under-trousers

These any good?

@BadLad perfect thank you!

I’ve given up for now, am edging towards Seasalt Plant Hunter but going to wait until more shops have their winter coats in...

I was thinking of getting a Seasalt Janelle but then found this Regatta Romina on Amazon for £27 reduced from £100. It's waterproof and insulated. With a down gilet underneath (I already have one from Landsend) I think it will be really warm. It's quite casual but so am I!