A school-run then going to work sort of coat

[WipsGlitter]

I need one of these ^ don't want it to look too anorak-like ie like I'm about to go hiking, but not keen on the boden rainy day look either. I don't want it too long as I hate sitting on a coat in the car and preferably it will have a hood (the holy grail of mum coats!).

At the minute I am wearing an Armani coat I bought years ago but it is way too bulky and too good to be wearing like this.

I have a small - below £70 budget, but have £100 of M&S vouchers!

I was going to say a Boden Mac but what it is it about them you don't like? If it's the garish colours/patterns, they do sometimes come in plain colours and I have a dark grey one which is v. smart.

Or if you still don't like that classic mac style, what do you prefer?

If I were you, I'd choose the coat you liked best for and was most suited to work and just wear it . After all the school run isn't an occasion that requires any special outfit in itself surely .

It probably is the pattern and the length of the boden coats I don't like.

I know what you are saying re the school run but I was just trying to illustrate what I would be wearing the coat for.

What polyhymnia said.

But if you want a hood, there's not many smart coats with a hood around. I have a wool one from Cos, try there plus they have a sale on. Or you could try a smart duffle type coat?

Too anoraky?
www.marksandspencer.com/premium-performance-thinsulate-hooded-mac-with-stormwear/p/p60064640
Smart coats with hoods don't exist in my view - see this
www.marksandspencer.com/best-of-british-pure-wool-duffle-coat/p/p22327515

They have a pretty big selection of hooded coats though

This is my Cos one - sold out unfortunately but it is really smart. Fit is very different to the pic too, it comes down to my knees and is more cocoon shaped.

I have that Cos coat in camel from a couple of years ago when I searched high and low for a work coat with a hood. It's great, mine has a zip-up front so practical all round. Only complaint is it's unlined (a personal bugbear), but I have a feeling the more recent ones are lined.

It seems to be a recurring style for them and they crop up semi-regularly on eBay, worth keeping an eye out (last year's version was in burgundy I think)

Mine isn't lined either Zinnia. It's lovely fabric, but not very warm tbh as it's not lined. It's beautiful smooth wool / poly / cashmere mix that just looks so luxe and hangs beautifully. The burgundy one last year and the navy one the previous year are shorter, were above the knee on me - and were lined in cotton. It's more than I'd ideally spend on a coat but it's the third year in a row I've lusted after it and I didn't want to miss it altogether!

What about a shorter length hooded duffel coat?

like this?

or this?

I like that first H&M one! I don't want it over my bum because its annoying then when I'm driving. I've seen some flitting through M&S but they didn't look as if they had hoods.

Love that cos coat. Please post if anyone sees it come back in!

How about this one from Zara?

Boden do a shorter length RDM that looks quite nice in plain black here . Hope link works, on kindle and winging it here

For winter My smart work coat is black wool from M&S. When it's freezing I have a sort of waterproof long puffa one with a hood from Zara. When it's torrential rain I use an oversize mans anorak that does up over everything. I find it impossible to find the perfect water proof coat.