I need a really warm coat and boots - any suggestions?

[OrchidLass]

Very predictable for this time of year so apologies for that but I have just stood watching DS play football and I am bloody freezing. I always seem to buy 2 coats for winter, one smart, one casual but neither warm enough so this year I am buying 1 coat only. I want it to be very warm! I also want low boots (pref leather, not knee high) not bothered which colour. Budget about £200 for both. Any suggestions please and has anyone any idea about Gil Bret?

well.. after some serious research I have settled coat choices to Didriksons (taylor, edith or greta parkas all look good) or possible jack wolfskin (fairbanks or the parksville parkas)
Footwear wise I am good as I have some merrell puffins, but I rather like the decora chant this year wide selection though. My other top recomendations are Sorel who now have a uk website

Oooo I can see a few on there that I really like but I'm not sure I can afford the ones that I love! :(

I'm going to buy one of these this year. I just need to decide between the Ellenwood or the Miette.

Can I resurrect this thread? I'm having an enormous dither over which warm parka to get, having got fed up with getting cold standing about in parks and school playgrounds.

I've narrowed it down to the Didriksons Stella, Edith or Greta. Edith is cheapest, but I worry it's a bit baggy-looking (as it's an older model, might be in the previous 'big' Didriksons sizing), Stella looks lovely but is £200, and then the Greta is of course the nicest but £240. I've discounted the Taylor as I fear the big pockets will emphasise my large arse.

Does anyone know if there's much difference between them? And do they fit hourglass-types OK, rather than rangy Scandi types?

And then of course there's the Jack Wolflskin option, which has confused me further...

No idea about Didriksons, but I have a Merell Haven and I love it. Really enjoying my first warm winter.

They do look good, but I'm obsessed with needing a furry hood!

Well the didriksons I have as little toggle thingy inside the coat that draws it in at the waist (edith says it has adjustable waist- and it looks like it might have the same thing). Have you checked out if anyone is discounting them? I'm not really an hour-glass so couldn't comment on shape, but having something that nips in a bit at the waist does help.....

I ordered a Didriksons at the end of last year - I'm a 14 and got a 12 after reading lots of these threads. Looking at how big it was, I don't think I could have got one small enough for me and I'm pretty flabby - can't remember which one it was, but will go look. I cannot emphasise enough how HUUUUUUUUUGE it was .

It was a Klara. It was quite ugly too, bulky so that even if it had fitted it would have made me look even fatter.

www.didriksons.com/article.asp?c=1&articleId=3429&typeId=0&usageId=6&systemId=0&sizeId=0&search=

I'd seen the Klara, and it is pretty vast-looking. The later models - like the Taylor and Greta - have been resized, and so a 12 really is a 12. That's one of the many things that's confusing me - I'm a 12-14, so would an Edith in 40 (12) be enormous or just right?

I'm particularly interested in the Edith, as I've found one reduced to £125 (from £250). Naturally there isn't a 38, only a 36 which I think would be pushing it.

'Vast' is exactly the right word! I'd go for a 10 if I were you.

There are no 10s.... Only Ms and XSs...

I can recommend these Keen Hoodoo I LOVE mine!

And I am always warm in my knee-length Lands End Stadium Squall Parka.

I have this and it's very cosy, without being ugly and shapeless, which I wanted to avoid.

I was a bit dubitative when I ordered it, but I'm actually very happy with it and it works well with both casual and smart outfits.

I live in the Alps, so it gets pretty cold here, but I've been very pleasantly surprised by how warm this coat is!