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"

Kids are flexible. It’s difficult to have a happy childhood if your mother’s miserable. You need two reasonably contented parents.

If you don’t have a car you need to live somewhere with excellent transport links. Or to live round the corner from the school.

School runs on a bike in winter should have been vetoed from the off.

I hope you can give yourself permission to believe that everyone’s happiness matters, and that yours is important for your kids. And you find the strength to get out of this overly sacrificial mindset.

Is it battery operated or on a long lead?

I used to have one (black). I looked like those hay bales you see rolled up and packed in plastic. When I lost a lot of weight it went in the bin and I bought a duffel coat. Just as warm, hardly stylish, channelling Paddington Bear, but no more puffer jackets for me.

I have just sold one hideous puffer on vinted. I already feel better.

I had this red one from House of Bruar last year as I felt the same as you. Needed a new one but just couldn’t face another black one!

But... but... but....Puffa were (are?) a major UK brand that were one of the first to make big padded overcoats....

I agree though, black is such a stupid colour for an English winter. Who wants to look as if they're going to a funeral in Northenr Ireland in the 1980s?

@NotMyKidsThough , as posted by many others already.

Winter coats tend to be dreary colours. If you opt for synthetic coats they're usually in anorak colours like teal, purple, pink, beige etc.

I binned mine, and I live very rurally and they are practical. But they’re absolutely hideous things and I couldn’t bring myself to wear such a ghastly, generic item. I have nice wax jackets for walking and just layer up with good thermals and knitwear. Then wool nice coats for dry days, etc.

This winter it's so mild in London I may not ever get out a puffer. I have been wearing tweed jackets off Vinted with a packaway waterproof.