Which coat?

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Generally hate parkas but quite like these (although still not decided on whether to continue a desperate search for something more feminine!)

I like waxed jackets so that one tempts me but can't decide!

Would probably go for storm grey although the normal one looks nice in khaki!

What are Mint Velvet like?

[MillyRules]

Well as I said im looking at snow on Snowdon as we speak and we have had hail today and yesterday and cold.

[MillyRules]

There you go.....waxed jacket in Matalan.

[MillyRules]

Only £35....bargin. ha ha.

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

That looks nothing like the others and won't have a detachable inner fleece lining.Doesn't even have a hood.

It's also bog standard navy.

Totally different.

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Sorry,bog standard black.

[MillyRules]

Maybe it is but you said there wasn't one in Matalan and I was showing you that there was a waxed jacket in Matalan.

[MillyRules]

Get the one you linked to then. It does what you want even if people think it looks like a bin liner. Im sure you will wear it with style and make it look amazing.

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Better than looking like a Michelin man,eh

[MillyRules]

Im sure it will look lovely on you.

[Bunbaker]

"Oh come on,uk winters are mild!"

In the south west they are. Up here in the Pennines they aren't. I lost count of the number of times the Pennine passes were closed last winter.

"I've been in Plymouth,Devon,where we've had a max of say 3 'snow days' in 3 years"

Last winter we had weeks of snow, even as late as the end of March. Fortunately Easter was early and the schools had broken up otherwise DD would have lost even more days at school due to snow.

[MillyRules]

Trip weren't you looking at cheap end waxed coats a couple of weeks ago if I remember. Did you not find anything?

[cloudskitchen]

which one do you prefer triptrap? Are you still in Plymouth? my daughter was born in derriford hospital and we used to live in the south hams

[cloudskitchen]

ps according to the news we are going to have a very chilly winter brrr

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Yep,still in Plymouth! South hams are more likely to get snow lol I've heard about the chilly winter,I was excited

Had to go up to the moors on my birthday to build a snowman LOL

Not sure which really,I like the relaxed look and shape of the second one.But I like the length,wax (if it really is waxed,rather than 'style' as most cheap ones)and lining on the first.A bit of water resistance would be preferable but either is better for rain than waiting forever for a wool coat to naturally dry out.

Will still be wearing dresses in winter too and not sure how the second would work with that?

[cloudskitchen]

We're in the south east now. a couple of years ago we were coming down there for Christmas and it snowed here. Loads of snow all the way down until we came off the a38 and by the time we got near the coast it was all gone. The kids were gutted. South devon micro climate lol

The grey one definitely says it's waxed. I think its really nice. Order both and try them on with your outfits. Maybe order from John Lewis if you can where it's easy to get things delivered and returned via a local waitrose

[ElizabethBathory]

I tend to agree that you don't need a duvet or high tech coat to survive a British winter, if you layer up with wool clothes. If it's pissing it down that badly no one cares what you look like and I'll wear a waterproof/use an umbrella/take shelter. I did used to wear a duvet coat all winter...when I lived in St Petersburg. (Now in Yorkshire and my butt-covering wool pea coat does the job.)

[LittleTulip]

I'm gonna go against the grain here, I love the look of that first parka, even the bin bag effect!

However I would not pay £179 for it. Maybe £80-£90 max.

You can get a much better coat (north face!!) for £179

[MillyRules]

I guess it depends upon where you live then. Im surrounded by snow most of Winter.

[MillyRules]

Thing is though Elizabeth why bother layering up with wool clothes? If you have a proper warm coat then you don't need to.

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Lol it's daft sown here cloudskitchen

Plymouth,the city where you often see locals walking around in autumn/winter or rainy spring/summer days wearing shorts and a puffa!!!!!!!!
Sometimes complete with flip flops LOL

Just discovered there's a Mint Velvet concession in Dingles so may go have a looksie.Or,I'm going to Exeter on Thursday shopping with friends (amazing that!I have no life!) So could have a look in JL while there

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Why Milly? Because it's often warmer (layering is the key to warmth,not thickness),it is more comfortable and you don't have to sacrifice having something you think looks nice.It's also helpful for when the day warms up,or you enter somewhere and have to take your coat off and don't want to freeze without it.

LittleTulip If I could find something so similar in shape,colour and other details I would be happy!Haven't managed it though.

[ElizabethBathory]

Milly I guess it's a choice between wearing whatever you like under a toasty but slightly ugly big coat, and wearing a stylish coat but having to wear a wool jumper too. As I like woolly jumpers and cosy jumper dresses, and spend a fair amount of time outside in my coat so want to look nice, I go for the layers option. But I can see why others might prefer the former. Also, for most of the year in England my wool coat is warm enough not to need a wool jumper underneath.

[cloudskitchen]

is there a john lewis in exeter now. the nearest was Bristol when we lived there. might move back then

[TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge]

Yep.Only opened in October though!Not sure how big it is mind,but hopefully not too bad.

Lol good reason to move

While on the subject of JL,I heard they do Santas grottos?Are they any good?Taking ds up to Exeter to see the Coca Cola truck next month and was hoping for a decent grotto somewhere up there aswell

[HelloBoys]

I just baulk at paying for something like that (Mint Velvet) which isn't waterproof and I KNOW (I saw) the similar Whistles ones in local department store were marked down about a week ago.

You should shop around or find voucher codes. It's your money but where I work (Wimbledon but have Kingston or West End) I KNOW there'll be sales on etc and stock even of winter coats is not moving. Mango, Top Shop coats in local dept store all still there in all sizes.

and yeah I would pay more for a coat and have done in past but again - now I'd try to get a discount more say if I paid in cash.

I know where I work (Wimbledon near Village) - sales time coats etc are marked down a bit.