Where to buy a nice winter coat?

[lucysnowe]

Hi!

I want to buy a really nice, durable winter coat for DD. Maybe one that's not too stuffy so she can wear it for as long as possible during autumn, winter and spring. Can anyone recommend a good place to buy one? Also, is it best to get a really colourful one for walking in traffic, or will she stand out? also also, :) is it worth getting a nice expensive-ish one or should I go for the cheapest in case it gets lost?

Thanks!

lucysnowe - I bought my oldest DS a lovely coat from Joules, do you have them near you?
It's lovely with a fleece lining, like there fleecy sweatshirts, the girls range is gorgeous, you can also buy it online

ooh, thankyou! she would like the spots on this one

I tended to go for H & M or Next when the girls were younger. Lots of people at school had indentical coats though and they would get mixed up. Nowadays (teenagers) Debenhams, GAP or Top Shop.

It really is a lovely shop (we have one in Chichester) and I'm always drooling over the girls clothes (I have two boys!) it's not the cheapest, but the designs are great and I have washed his coat loads of times. And when they have a sale they have a sale!

I buy the Gap super warm ones as we walk to school. They periodically do a 30% off discount voucher which I use.

The girls Boden ones were good as you could unzip the sleeves and use it as a gilet too.

I got one from gap last year that will do this winter too. The 30% off makes them really reasonable.

I.had puffa coats from Gap and Boden for my dcs last year. They're both good quality and warm and you can get discounts for both (boden have theirs in already). boden also have nice duffle coats in, but not sure they're as practical as the puffa jackets.

Try Mountain Warehouse if you have one close by? They have a sale on at the moment and have those waterproof all weather ones with the fleece lining that can be attached. They are great for every season!

Before she had one from Boots which lasted three winters! they don't do big girls sizes tho. I will check out GAP and Boden! Don't think there is a Mountain Warehouse nearby tho, should?

oh this is cute!

Have you also considered places like The Cotswold Company (they are online) and others ?

Also, TKMaxx can be very good for coats. Sometimes requires a visit to a few different ones, but there are some lovely, good durable coats to be found !

Ah yes, thanks for the recommendation! I'd like to buy online if poss tho, being lazy :)

We had mountain warehouse last year and year before. (Coats lasted 2 winters). They are waterproof which a lot of high street coats aren't.

Just be wary about buying some brands online. You very often need a size bigger than you think !

The boden one you posted is lovely. My DD had one of them last year and they are really good because they are not too bulky but still warm. Really easy to chuck in the wash too. I think it was kind of waterproofy too...

Ohhh, now I want to order one for this year too! The sizes are pretty accurate generally...

Only thing I would be worried about is it getting nicked lost as school. Our school is pretty good with stuff like that, but I know its a problem in some places and the little monkeys do tend to leave coats all over the shop!

Yes, I do worry a lot about that Snoopers. I will have to put about three different name tags on it...

The best winter coat I ever bought was for DS1 - he's in it for the 3rd year running this winter! It's a Mini Boden puffa from Ebay. It's very puffy but easy to wash and has arms you can zip off so it goes windcheater for Autumn. It's bright green so although not reflective is very visible.

When he grows out of it I'm going to buy him a new one as it'll easily last for DS2 afterwards. DS2 has a windcheater from Joules with a reflective strip built into the back. Also Ebay.

I know people slate them on here but you really can't go wrong with Boden for coats. Either the fleece lined anorak someone posted above or their duffle coats. Both are lovely quality and last and last so can be passed down to another child. The fleece anoraks wash really well; unfortunately the duffles are dry clean only but I still love them!

Your local school uniform shop may also do them.

DD has to have a particular school coat but it has been excellent - waterproof, fleece lined, hardwearing - it was under £30.