Desperately need help to find a nice, waterproof coat to be delivered before Friday

[moosemama]

We are off to a festival this weekend and the forecast is not great.

I have been searching for a nice, non-grannified - iykwim - waterproof coat for weeks now and have drawn a blank. I'm now getting desperate, as I only have tomorrow and the next day and can't get to the shops, so have to order it next-day delivery from somewhere online.

The problem is I only have £50.00 ish in the budget for it, although would go up to about £65.00 for something really nice and all that seems to get me is either a 'label' pac-a-mac, which will be no better than a basic 'camping brand' one or a fashion coat that won't be up to the job.

I am very self-conscious about my appearance at the moment, having gained a lot of weight through ill-health since losing it all the year before last.

I'm 5'7, a size 14-16, with a decent waist, very large chest and chunky legs and hips. I was hoping to find a long-ish (midway between hip and knee) coat, that would cover my backside and be slim fitting enough to stop me looking like the Michelin man, but have more than just one of those mesh linings so that it keeps the wind and cold out. I don't like anything shiny or plasticky and prefer the canvassy-type, matt-ish ones - if that makes any sense.

I see other mums at the school in nice coats, but they always seem to be expensive brands I can't afford.

MN style and beauty you are my last hope .

Can anyone out there help me - or am I doomed to spend the whole weekend looking like a drowned rat in an ancient, tatty dog-walking coat?

You may have a point soaccidentprone. I got carried away by the price.

I've got it in red, and have had a couple of positive comments on it.
Not been tested in true rain yet, but everything I've been exposed to has beaded off, making me think it might actually be waterproof.
Red or Kahai tho, not a big colour range?

Sonotkylie, not really a lippy sort of festival - more hippy/grunge, which is half the problem really. I'm a hippy at heart, but like to look respectable at the school-gates so need a coat that'll fit in in both arenas.

Tethersend, I just don't look right in traditional shaped macs and trenchcoats. Not sure why - think it's the ridiculous sized norks that mean I look better in waist skimming stuff, rather than belted-in.

The Kew one finlaysmum and peggyblackett linked to would look great on someone young, tiny and funky, but I know from experience that anything that shape looks awful on me - and they don't do it to fit me anyway.

I have looked at a few on GoOutdoors and that's where I'm headed tomorrow if I can't find something online tonight. Most of them looked a bit too anoraky though.

I do like the one nextphase linked to, that ticks all the boxes and is a little bit different as well. It's a tad over my top budget though and would be another £7.95 for express delivery. Might have to smile nicely at dh when he gets home and suggest I have it as part of my birthday presents - even though my birthday isn't until the beginning of June!

What's the fit like nextphase I am an odd shape often have to size up to stop coats being too snug across the chest and as it's not insulated may need to fit a jumper underneath on occasion.

Yeah, that looks good. But, did you look at the photo of the model in the green version? It seems rather high wasted on her so I googled and randomly found this, (scroll right down) she doesn't look tall but the waist still seems high. On norks would turn it into an empire line, I fear.

Might it be a good idea to order a back up plan coat too and return one of the them?

turquoise
<a class="break-all" href="//(www.outdoorgear.co.uk/Target-Dry-Women-rsquo-s-Emily-3-4-Length-Parka-Coat-sku44104101.asp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">yours, cheaper)
brown. hard to get excited about but fills the brief

Yours, cheaper

very similar to yours (which they also stock) but to have a more standard waistline.

Not sure if posted already

www.millets.co.uk/clothing/109124-peter-storm-womens-margo-3-in-1-waterproof-jacket.html

Primark has some lovely shower proof coats .

www.millets.co.uk/s:waterproof/womens/

That's a link for all women's waterproof items, so you may see one that takes your fancy!

PM'd you my vital stats!
I'd say its true to size, if anything slightly generous.

I have a great one from seasalt. Waterproof, has a hood and slightly funky dipped hem at the back. Is grey, Matt and doesn't make me feel ancient. As I am on mat leave and pushing an enormo double buggy all the time, it's been great. It's much more sturdy than it looks in the photos. I have stupid J cup BF boobs at the mo and the 12 goes over them - little tight but nothing silly. I can see me having it for years.

www.seasalt cornball.co.uk/women/clothing/outerwear/lightweight-waterproof-long-summer-coat_stone.htm

Less than £15 and excellent customer service . I find them generous for norkage too.

Aargh! Can't keep up. Am on my own for bedtime tonight and typically all three have decided to be as awkward as possible.

Dh has just walked in though, so I am hiding on mn resuming my search, while he makes me some food.

MrsLettuce, coincidentally, that's exactly what I thought just after my last post, when I clicked on the green image. It's odd how it looks short-waisted on the model, but not on a mannequin.

I looked at the Regatta Chrystal last night. Like you said, it does fit the brief but ...

I looked at a few with shoulder capes earlier today, but think I'd feel silly and flappy in them.

The other one from Target Dry is ok, but nothing special for the price-tag.

Not sure about the Millets/Peter Storm one, it looks like it would need to be a few inches longer and I might have the same problem with it being shortwaisted and clashing with norks.

Sorry, I am just too picky aren't I - of course I am - that's why I still don't have a coat two days before I need one.

I am sure I had something like this as a child but I like it. Bit of 70s retro fisherman going on!

More school run than hillwalker don;t know if that floats your boat.

Over budget but maybe?

Bike run, I like the second one for school-runs. I actually really like the style of the first one, but it doesn't have enough backside coverage for me - again one for those that are much younger, much more hip and much thinner.

I was looking at Lands' End, because my mum has a squall coat and it's really good quality, but they're a bit too warm for wearing in summer - something like that, without the padding would be good.

MrsLettuce, that one is out of stock.

Think it's going to be a trip to GoOutdoors tomorrow to pick whichever one looks the least awful on me - either that or rock the drowned rat look at the weekend.

Good luck Moosemama in your quest.
Given the weather in this country, what you want really shouldn't be that hard!

Thank you Sonotkylie.

You would think it would be easy wouldn't you, but the combination of a weird shaped body, lack of self confidence, lack of funds, needing it to do more than one job in very different environments - plus lack of funds is making it impossible.

Ho hum, off to GoOutdoors with instructions from dh to get whichever one I like the most - as long as it's not megabucks. Think I might just get the Regatta Trisha and have done with though - am so fed up of looking.

I love that Merrell one.

Fast, I really like that one as well. It's a similar shape to the other Merrell one I like.

I'd love a Merrell, but they are just too £££s for me at the moment.

The GoOutdoors I went to was a smaller one and didn't have a lot of choice it was either their own brand (Hi Tec) or mega-priced ski and mountaineering jackets. Ended up getting the Regatta Trisha. It's OK, just very plain. It's not shiny at all, which is good, but it is a tad rustly/crinkly because of the lining. It comes down to just below mid-thigh, but has no shaping or detailing so very utility and not all that flattering a fit. Plenty of room in a 16 for wearing a thick fleece as well though, so it'll do for now.

Felt I couldn't come away empty handed, bearing in mind the torrential rainstorm that was going on while I was in the shop.

Think I might ask for contributions towards a Merrell for my birthday though and keep the Regatta for dogwalking.

Well done Moosemama. Sometimes practical is the best way ... Winter again soon so there'll be more choice again. Only about 2.5 months to go ...
Have a good time, now you've made sure the sun will shine for the whole weekend!

Wouldn't that be typical. Forecast still looking pretty dire except Sunday afternoon.

Winter again in 2.5 months! That's if we ever get a Summer.