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"

Landsend. I buy my daughter's from here. She currently has a turquoise one; the previous one was orange.

Puffa is a brand. Puffa jackets have been adopted as the normal name in the same way as buying a hoover (which is not made by Hoover). For that reason alone, I voted YABU.

I’m sorry to hear you’re not happy living where you are. The only solution to that is to move and create the life you want. What are the constraints keeping you there right now?

Every stylish 20something thinks they’ll never do the “Young mother” look. But then have kids and grow up and realise there’s more to life than mere style.

A practical coat you need for a particular activity does not define you. I’d just get the most warm, most waterproof and most comfy one for the bike rides and get something more stylish for country walks. (Is there a reason you can’t take the car?)

For cycling, I’d think a shorter jacket and waterproof trousers might be more practical. These are 700 fill goose down, and warmer than the polyester versions:

https://www.marmot.eu/women/jackets/womens-montreal-down-coat/SP_3184971.html

Longer version:

https://www.marmot.eu/women/jackets/womens-montreaux-down-coat/SP_3184972.html

Fully waterproof version:

https://www.marmot.eu/women/jackets/womens-chelsea-coat/SP_1570705.html

Oh dear. So this is not about the coat.
It may comfort you to know that, despite living in London, having grown DC and time to go to the theatre or ballet or gigs, I still wear a dark puffer from time to time to walk in the park or for riverside walks!

A coat does not define me, and sometimes practical is the best solution. That said, I am trying several alternative coats this year through Vinted.

You will find your way, this too shall pass and you will have time to yourself again.

If you hate puffer coats, have you thought of replacing with something else? Seasalt have some warm, padded, coats and jackets. They're windproof and waterproof.

I hate them but bought a long black one last year because I was always so cold. I absolutely hate trying to sit down in the car in the bloody thing, it just pulls all over in weird places. Forget trying to bend over to pick something up too

@ProcrastinatorsAnonymous I do know how you feel - we moved abroad during Covid and to somewhere quite cold and similar weather to UK - my padded black coat became mentally synonymous with feeling a bit lonely, no easy way to make new friends, dark damp days etc - please know that you are you , focus on other things and yep change the coat!!

Electric as in colour or is it actually electric because I would buy it if it was

I hate them too everyone looks a stone heavier in them even if they are skinny

plus so many aren’t even waterproof these days either !!

I've just seen an entire puffer family out for a walk. (They had a little dog that thankfully wasn't puffered, tho I'm sure there are doggy puffer coats available.)

The woman had a long puffer coat, and dad & boys had short ones. Made me realise that it's only the long ones that are depressing.

Also, the puffs on the male coats were very skinny lines of puff, which made their coats look like technical hiking gear - a brisk and active vibe that was much less depressing than the puffier puffs of the woman's coat.

I was offered an electrically heated gilet last winter to wear during an activity in a fearsomely cold workshop.

I declined because I was too WTF??? to even think about putting it on.

they were actually originally called Puffa jackets…it’s not a typo… it was a brand in the 1980s beloved of horsey types and Sloane Rangers. Apparently the term ‘puffer’ took over by 2013! 😆

The green one. Emerald.

This one is slouchy and bright (and a bit expensive)

www.masai.co.uk/coats/tulla-down-coat/1007352-2047S-XS.html?pi=3&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Masai%20UK&utm_term=1007352-2047S-XS&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=21151407819&gbraid=0AAAAADJTLLryjjBVBg9VLSNPM6ADFCn51&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9obIBhCAARIsAGHm1mRqPeOI7__vcxaqQnxFT9QpFsDbgc0NhF-SW20BO-QvS0I5s-T3_HkaAuS7EALw_wcB

I got one from this company. I got it from a independent retailer and it was last years' design so half price in the sale. It's so colourful and also extremely warm:
YASSIMILLY PADDED JACKET | Grey | YAS® UK

Don't feel quite the same hate to the puffer, but my preferred option for being on the bike every day in a very rainy country is a waterproof jacket from America Today. I have the non shearling version for spring / autumn and shearling for winter. They are not expensive and although perhaps not quite as warm as a puffer, much more waterproof, good hood, and fine for the coldest winter days if you layer up and have hat gloves etc.

However I did want to ask (/hijack thread, sorry)) - anyone have experience of Desigual puffer quality? REally very tempted with that electric blue one up the thread. It looks very cosy but is it?

I have two desigual puffer jackets. They look in great condition after around 4 winters. But the pocket quality is shit. I have to mend the pocket bags every single year, so the pockets are getting smaller.

They are water resistant rather than waterproof.

THanks @TwistedKeys and yes why is pocket quality such a problem with puffers it seems!!

Are they thick and warm?

I look even worse in a belted one.
Like a Michelin Tyre man with a belt......

I saw a woman today wearing a bright, bright orange one. It was hideous of course but it was cheerful and made me smile

We don't have a car. Where we live suits every other member of my family - particularly my kids - I can't uproot them again.

Your question made me reflect on why am in fact so bothered by it...

OP, you have as much right to be happy as any other family member. I moved once because one person (not me) was unhappy, and if one person is very unhappy, it is not ok. Children will and do adjust to moves, but living somewhere and a life that isn't yours will take its toll over time. I hope you find a way through, and have a lovely colourful coat in the meantime (if that doesn't sound too patronising). BTW, I bought a colourful coat off Vinted this week, it's not a puffa but it is light coloured and I thought how much nicer than a black or navy coat it would be in winter, partly because of this thread.

How about ones with no sleeves or even armholes?