To Think My Puffer Coat Is Making Me Depressed

[ProcrastinatorsAnonymous]

I hate puffer** coats. I hate them so much. The shape, the texture, the dull colours. It might be shallow, but I find nice clothes an easy way to boost my mood. I like colour, surprising combinations, interesting shapes... However, various lifestyle changes mean I'm outside much more than I used to be, so a couple of years ago I caved and bought one from Uniqlo. It works. It keeps me both dry and warm. As all the marketing promises, I do indeed feel like I am wearing my duvet - which I admit can be quite nice.

But now the weather has turned, the thought of putting it on is making me so sad! I can't rot away in this slug-like thing from now until March.

Has anyone found a decent knee length one with a hood in a colour other than black, grey, khaki, navy, sludge brown or beige? I would love electric blue or bright green, or - god forbid - even a pattern. Does such a thing exist? I'm wiling to pay for it. Cheaper than therapy.

** I hate it even more when people spell it "puffa coat"

I was also in London and skipping to the tube, blissfully puffer free. Suddenly needing a puffer has not been the worst thing about leaving the capital, but it’s up there… Not saying my black Uniqlo puffer symbolises my lost life. But also not saying it doesn’t.

Not sure if anyone has posted Farm Rio yet.

Behold, the patterned puffer!
https://farmrio.uk/collections/puffer-jackets

Not sure if it's too outlandish for you though OP...

I’ve got a leopard print one. It makes me really happy!

I hate them, too - but as a dog owner, they are a necessary evil during the winter months.

Im barely 5 foot tall so I look like a lagged water tank. 😢

No colour on earth would help, sadly.

I work at Next , I've definitely see bright red, pink, white, rainbow colours, plus camo. Not all long ones some are jacket length

'Puffa' was a brand

I put mine in the tumble drier with three or 4 tennis balls. Works a treat.

Don’t buy that style then . There are hundreds of amazing warm functional waterproof and stylish coats on the market. ‘Puffer’ is a look, not a technical fabric or solution. Why are you so bothered by this.

this is a worthy investment:

fortisclothing.co.uk/product/fortis-combo-ladies-field-jacket/

Just why?

Don't wear it. Put on warmer underwear and an extra sweater and go out looking how you want to look and comfortable. Never wear anything that makes you feel sad.

You lose more heat from the top of your head, so always cover your head with a hat. Wear sheepskin lined boots (or man made for vegans). People rarely keep their feet warm and it affects the rest of the body.

I wouldn't wear one either. They are good for children though to keep them warm.

The only thing worse than a full length puffer jacket is a full length sleeveless puffer jacket!

Not read the whole thread but Orla Kiely?

https://www.regatta.com/orla-kiely-collection/shop-by/gender/Unisex,Womens/productsub_category/Jackets+_Coats/

Well @TMMC1... I've found that nothing else keeps me as warm as the puffer style, and also the rails of warm practical coats in shops are overwhelmingly puffer-dominated at the moment.

Why am I so bothered by this? A good question. I think it's just symbolic of the way my life has changed since having children. I used to enjoy nice clothes, and held up the puffer in particular as a garment I would never stoop to. I would never be that woman. That practical, mumsy (and I used to think rather sad) woman. But now I am.

I moved geographically (for other people's needs, not my own) and don't really like how I live or where I live now. I do a school run through all sorts of shit weather on a cargo bike. I can try to wear a skirt, but it's a pain to tie it up on the bike. So jeans or leggings it is. I can try to wear some nice colours, but they just get splashed with mud / rain / ruined with bike oil. So practical black or brown or khaki it is. I could do my hair - but I need to put a bike helmet on, so what's the point? I've lost a big part of myself in the move (and through motherhood more broadly - which in my case extends to parenting a child with some additional needs). It's about much more than clothes, but I guess the practical but necessary puffer feels emblematic.

I'm a bit lonely to be honest, so started a daft thread on Mumsnet for a laugh - and maybe to find a more cheerful alternative. Taken a bit of a sad turn now though, hasn't it?

Thanks for the link. That's also very practical. It looks waterproof, but not warm - unless you add an additional coat underneath. Some woman called Tracy Parkinson is quoted on the website as saying the jacket was "Everything she thought it would be" - which is quite an endorsement (depending of course on what Tracy thought it would be. If Tracy thought it would be a solution to the crushing loneliness of motherhood in a place you don't want to be, then I'm definitely buying it).

I used to hate them, until my dd bought me a down filled one last year. I have a fair few wool coats and nothing comes close to it for warmth on very cold days. Similar to this

https://www.asos.com/adidas-originals/adidas-originals-adicolor-down-long-puffer-coat-in-black/prd/209118248

You can dress them up with colourful scarves, or block shades eg cobalt blue.

You can dress them up with colourful scarves, or block shades eg cobalt blue.

Bright blue belted

This one is a bit more structured and has some stylish features.

They sometimes have discount codes and worth signing up to their emails.

I don’t have this one but have another jacket from there, I don’t wear it daily but have worn it quite a lot over the years and still looks brand new.

OP, it's difficult when all of a sudden you turn around and you don't look like you thought you did! This has happened to me about once a decade for the past few decades and it's a familiar story, for some reason, I've got a bit lost either emotionally, or having kids, or just stayed in a style for too long and it sticks and then you aren't dressed like yourself somehow.

In these situations, it has helped me to have a bit of a restyle. Not anything crazy, but some new Vinted stuff that connects me back in with how I see myself. It is in a larger size (now a 14/16, not a 10) and not quite the same, but I still wear cool jeans, a nice belt, good shoes and a coat I like 90% of the time.It might be worth sitting down and thinking what you used to wear and what things you could go back to and what are gone for ever.

In terms of coats, I have loads, all the wool ones are off Vinted, plus the odd cord autumn jacket, a couple of leather jackets. I wear these the vast majority of the year, with thermal vests and cashmere jumpers (also off Vinted), gloves and a hat, and it's only on those really cold winter days that I need to get out my dreaded black puffa. I hate mine too but am grateful to be warm when it's freezing.

I don't think you need wear a puffa all winter though. I also hate that you boil immediately on entering a shop. For walks, for freezing days, fine. The rest of the time I wear wool coats, some long trench style ones that are pretty warm, that and a wooly scarf do pretty well. I like coloured ones (beige, patterned) and hardly wear my black one as it's so depressing.

I'm rambling on, but I just wanted to say I do hear you and all is not lost, you will find your way again on more than one front!

I do agree that a long coat is not ideal on a bike, though, so perhaps one biking puffa or raincoat, but some other types of coat for the weekends or work or going into town might make you feel a bit less boxed in...just a thought.

https://sfycdn.speedsize.com/02c6093b-0da5-471d-911b-60169ce0c907/www.tog24.com/cdn/shop/files/61856_ORTON302_02.jpg?v=1724336545&width=720

I hope this isn't regarded as offensive . Por qué los chicos usan chaquetas infladas en verano | TikTok https://share.google/3AQyomhdAXfZKjPaQ

Puffa is actually a brand name. Hence why some people will also spell it as Puffa and not how you prefer it spelt. Just in case you weren't aware 😊

@LackOfSleepCBA , OP is aware

NormaSears · 26/10/2025 18:19
** , they've been around for decades and they're called puffers because Puffa was the brand name.
1

Its great you're cycling your kids to school - keep it up and good luck

Sorry you are lonely. I was answering your question. If you wanted a chat for loneliness be honest, your replies would be more constructive.

If you do want a coat, the one I mentioned is super warm, technical and I wear that coat in the coldest weather with a t-shirt.