Would you spend £160 on a new Winter coat?

[KayHarker]

It's an enormous amount to me, but my old coat is threadbare. I need something really weatherproof for doing the school run in the winter, and I've seen one that's like a duvet, right down to my knees, with a good hood on it too. I'm thinking of saving up the pennies and buying it in a couple of months when the cold weather bites, but I'm wondering - is £160 a ridiculous amount to be paying?

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Hello, this thread is a little old now and some of the links are out of date. Take a look at this handy page for a round up of Mumsnetters' favourite winter coats.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Yes, I've got a lovely wool coat which ought to be really warm, but the sleeves are quite open at the ends and a gale blows up them, it used to be particularly bad pushing a pushchair, I always look for something with inner cuffs now.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

It's also about the Goretex/waterproof/wind proof factor. If the wind can get in, it won't matter how thick the coat is, it'll be cold. I bought myself a thick fleece once for walking the dog. It was freezing in the wind. Bloody thing.

[Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme]

It's the Sam Vimes boots theory of socioeconomic unfairness...

I love how Discworld quotes come up time and time again!

Carry on.

[LynetteScavo]

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee You need to link to a £40 coat which is as warm/dry as a £160 Landsend coat.

I would go with out coffee/newspaper/nights out/ haircuts in order to buy a really warm coat. But I feel the cold. For me it's not so much about how I look, it's about how I don't feel like I'm about to cry when outside in the winter.

I am gobsmacked at how thin most coats are.

[mysteryfairy]

OP now I've read that the coat you fancy is from lands end I think it would be a mistake to spend approx £150 for the simple reason that they are constantly discounting their stuff and I bet if you time it right you can get the coat at some point in next few months for well under £100.

I think you are not unreasonable to want a decent warm coat for the school run but duvet coats are so similar every year I don't think it's a sensible item to pay full price on. I picked up a half price arctic down coat in the summer sales this year which I'd identified I liked last winter and saved a lot by buying out of season (£300 to £150). I think it's possibly just a bit late now to be nabbing stuff in the summer sales, especially if you need to save a bit first, but TK Maxx is definitely worth a check if your current coat is not going to last til the January sales.

[JennySense]

Yes, providing it was a nailed on classic I will wear for at least 2-3 years.

[jimjamspam]

I think a coat is one of the best things to spend money on - even during a mild winter you will wear it and a good one should last a few years

I used to buy a cheap £30/40 coat every year, I was never warm enough and never liked them. Got a North Face down coat in an outlet store 5 years ago and it was a really excellent buy, especially as i spend a lot of winter time in freezing cold Munich!

[DontmindifIdo]

I do think that 'afford' means different things to different people - I might say I couldn't afford a £300 coat as some on here have bought, I wouldn't dream of spending that much money on one coat, I wouldn't think I could afford it. However, I do have about £300 a month for my personal 'fun money' - so if I did cut back on lunch out, going out, buying coffees, didn't get my hair dyed for a couple of months etc I could save up a that much without having to get in debt or worrying about paying the bills, or having any impact on family finances. I could technically afford it, but I do'nt think I could easily afford it without giving something up, and that seems like an amount on one thing that's out of my price range...

Anyway OP, if you think you can afford it without needing to get in debt, then a coat is a thing that's worth spending money on, so long as it's classic and you do a lot of walking to justify the expense.

[chocolatemartini]

I spent £345 on a coat once, I totally couldn't afford it, but was a student with no responsibilities and a large overdraft facility, and I loved it so thought what the hell. I'm happy to report that I carried on loving and wearing it for 10 years at which point the lining fell apart. I may have it re lined and get another 10 years out of it. Probably one of the best value items I ever bought in terms of price per wear. So yanbu if it's good quality, warm, and a fairly classic design and you can afford it.

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

Kay - yes it did, didn't it I almost never post on S&B for a reason. Your thread came up in Active Convos and it seemed quite a reasonable question, so I thought I'd reply.

I'm glad you have found something suitable & a good bit cheaper. Scarf, gloves & boots sorted too I hope! Mind you, we might be in for a mild winter this year. We keep following the NZ weather and they have had a very very mild winter! Not based on anything scientific, just trends!

Yes, sadly it is time for them to go back. Good news is that it means we are probably in for some lovely sunny days again soon!

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

BitchyRestingFace - yes, agree totally.

ceecee - couldn't agree more.

missbopeep - that's not 'errr...forthright', that was tempered based on the fact that I was posting on a S&B Thread

You've made a call that she can't afford it because she's agonising over the cost- but she may still buy it Of course she might still buy it - I gave my opinion not a decree

Yes, it's only my opinion, but it doesn't make mine wrong and yours right.

Your statement that 'cheap coats on the whole don't last - the fabric is rubbish' isn't fact, it's opinion. Quite often, they are perfectly adequate - just lack the branding.

Anyway, the OP asked for opinions, I've given her mine - what she does with that is up to her.

I'm not going to argue with you (or anyone else) on a 'S&B' thread because it really doesn't interest me how much people feel the need to spend on coats, bags & the like.

[KayHarker]

Wow, this took off didn't it?

The coat is from Lands End and on closer inspection it was £140 in my size. Still a very expensive coat for me. But all is well as I've found a similar coat for £60 in a catalogue which is ideal and much more within my price range, though still expensive. I'll get a lot of wear out of it come the colder weather - I'm a complete wuss when it comes to wrapping up against the cold. Is it really nearly time for them to go back to school?

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I think for lots of walking you don't need such a warm coat, that is why my duvet one was too hot for me. It's if you do lots of hanging round in cold places (bus stops, watching DCs play football in winter etc) that you need it IME.

[missbopeep]

uniqlo

[missbopeep]

Wow Chipping are you always so errr.....forthright!

It's purely your 'opinion' over other people's- you aren't 'right' any more than I or anyone else is 'wrong'.
You've made a call that she can't afford it because she's agonising over the cost- but she may still buy it!

On an experience level, I beg to differ - DD has had numerous cheaper coats from New Look and similar and her 3 x£70 ish pound coats have fared worse than mine for more than twice that.

OP if you want a long down coat, look here [www.uniqlo.co.uk uniqlo]

I got a great one for £80 last year. They don't have full stock in yet but will have soon. They are not fully waterproof- only Gortex is that- but they are showerproof if that's good enough.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

I'm surprised how people need such serious coats. I live in the sticks in the far north, walk miles in all weathers and find bulky coats too warm despite being someone who feels the cold. I prefer layers and scarves. In very wet weather I wear my summer raincoat with a cardi underneath. A summer weight quilted barbour or a fashiony (i.e. cheap) and thin wool coat or coatigan does me even in snow. Good footwear and gloves are important in staying warm so an expensive coat isn't always the only option if it's too budget stretching.

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

No missbopeep I don't need to read it again. In my opinion, the OP cannot 'afford' to buy it.


It's an enormous amount to me

I need something really weatherproof for doing the school run in the winter

I'm thinking of saving up the pennies and buying it in a couple of months

is £160 a ridiculous amount to be paying?

She didn't ask if it was a lot - she asked if it was a ridiculous amount - which indicates to me, that it is a lot of money for her.

She does not need to spend £160 on a coat to get one that is weatherproof for the school run. If she needs to save for it, it is ridiculous to be spending £160 on a coat that will not keep her any warmer or drier than a £40.

The amount of money you spend on coats is up to you. If 'style and beauty' is 'your thing' you will justify it. They are going to last longer if you have several different coats and don't wear the same one day in/day out.

I have a short coat that is over 10 years old, it is still warm, comfortable, waterproof and still looks good. It cost me something like £25 from New Look (from memory). I bought another coat last year as I wanted a long one, just for a change, it was reduced from £50 to £20.

Just because a coat isn't expensive, doesn't mean it's rubbish. I could afford to pay £160 for a coat, without 'saving' for it, without thinking 'this has to last me x years' - but I choose not to, it doesn't interest me.

[BitchyRestingFace]

I would say yes, if

a) it really is as good as the price and will last years

b) you really love it and will be happy to get it out winter after winter

c) you can buy it having saved up for it without causing yourself financial hardship.

I spent £100-ish on a beautiful down jacket about 5-6 years ago and it was worth every penny. It comes out every year and I still love wearing it, it's like a warm hug. I don't drive so spend a lot of time out walking or hanging around at bus stops, and on the bitterest days this is the only one of my many coats and jackets that makes those long waits for non-arriving buses bearable

[missbopeep]

Sorry Chipping you need to read again.

She didn't say she couldn't afford it- she was asking if it was a lot- and that she would save for it.

In the 'grand scheme' of winter coats no, it's not a ridiculous amount. I paid over £300 for a wool coat about 15 years back. last year I paid £250 for a gorgeous wool coat and 3 years before that about £150 for a boiled wool from Boden which is now into it's 4th year.

I think she was asking for a perspective.

Cheap coats on the whole don't last- the fabric is rubbish.

Gortex and similar from 'outdoor ' suppliers should pretty much last forever.

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

No it's not. She might even decide it will do her just fine next winter, but even if she doesn't...

A cheap coat this year £25, the coat in the sales, max £100 = £125 for two coats v £160 now for one coat.

It's not the Sam Vimes boots theory of socioeconomic unfairness - it's Good Old Fashioned Common Sense.

The OP cannot afford to spend £160 on a coat.

Yes Kezztrel we all know that, BUT, if she was to tell us which brand it is, we would be better able to advise her if it was a good buy or not due to how that brand is made/what materials they use.

[Kezztrel]

And the material it's made of is much more important than the brands. Good thick wool or hi tech downy stuff is warm. Unfortunately lots of brands are now making '80% wool' coats for £40/50 but the wool is thin and crappy.

[Kezztrel]

It's a waste of money to buy a cheap one this year if you're only going to buy another one next year. It's the Sam Vimes boots theory of socioeconomic unfairness...

[Tweet2tweet]

OP what brand is it? You may be able to get cheaper or same elsewhere. I got a Didriksons coat for £80 last week, it's £150 most other places....

[ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee]

It is an enormous amount of money to you, so yes, it's a ridiculous amount of money to be paying when it isn't necessry.

I wouldn't in your situation. I would buy a cheaper coat this year (there are plenty that are good enough quality, warm & keep you dry) and maybe buy a better one in the sales at the end of this winter for next year if you want 'A Brand'.

If you post in 'style & beauty' you will get the vast majority of posters saying 'Yes, you should' because they are interested in Style & Beauty and brands... stands to reason.

IF you decide to go ahead and do this, then I think you should post on here which brand it is, to see if those in the know about these things think it's 'value for money' and will last or not. Just because you spend £160 on a coat, it doesn't mean it's a good coat.