Smart coat with a hood

[TheBestSpoon]

My daily routine involves dropping DS off at nursery on my way to work, which is a 15 minute walk away. I can't easily carry an umbrella while pushing him, so I'm looking for a smart coat with a hood. Ideally, I'd like a long wool coat or similar.

The only coats with hoods I can find are puffa jackets, which while nice and warm and waterproof, aren't really smart enough for the office. And the smarter puffa jackets all have fur fringing round the hood, which isn't very practical when it's actually raining!

Anyone come across anything that might fit the bill or am I looking for something that doesn't exist?

I’m not keen on hoods but I wear a hat when it’s raining, I have a waxed cotton one with a brim. Barbour and joules both sell them and you can sometimes get them national trust gift shops too.

I have this coat from Marks and Spencer: it's warm and waterproof. I wear it with Next 'jeans' style leggings and long boots.

Zara have this which is quite nice

m.zara.com/uk/en/water-resistant-trench-coat-p00518261.html?v1=14259181&v2=1430786

Try Protected Species. Not wool but otherwise ticks all your boxes.

Thanks all! I'll take a look - that Zara one in particular looks like it might be a winner.

I've ordered this one for the same reason. Hope it'll do the job, and a bargain at £45 for fully waterproof.

Sorry, link
www.landsend.co.uk/Womens_Hooded_Waterproof_Raincoat/pp/P_39496.html?cgid=11299

There is a real gap in the market in this country for smart but weatherproof coats. I have a (possibly irrational) hatred of the ubiquitous puffa coat, even though the belted/shaped ones are an improvement from the ones that make you look like a walking, rectangular Michelin Man.

For properly warm and waterproof, I have finally succumbed to the Seasalt Janelle which is really quite frumpy but the best of a bad bunch for wet AND cold weather, as it is slightly shaped at the waist, a puff-free zone, and long enough to cover longer skirts (unfortunately, coats don't seem to have kept up with current skirt lengths and I refuse to spend 6 months of the year living in jeans). If you are happy with shorter lengths and don't need as much in the way of warmth then I would recommend looking at Aigle, who make (actually, properly) waterproof short coats/long jackets intended to look suitable for the city commuter look rather than looking as if you've lost your Labrador.

Well said TheLightGetsIn I hate those puffy coats too!

@TheLightGetsIn Yes, I share your puffa jacket irrational hatred! I'm currently using a Regatta jacket which is very warm and waterproof, but definitely not smart enough (and only hip length). I'll check out your suggestions. How hard can it be for manufacturers to make something smart and weatherproof??

I see that Hobbs are now doing their standard Saskia trench coat with a detachable hood, here. As trenches go this one's long-ish, which helps with practicality and versatility. But obviously that's still for warmer, showery days rather than full on January rain.

I have read good things about Ilse Jacobsen on MN before and taking a look, they do seem much smarter than your average raincoat. Here.

Just had a look back at Aigle's website and have to say I'm not so impressed by most of their current offerings. The one I have is quite old, and was more in the Ilse vein - this one, which has been brilliant: Aigle. I'm shortish, so it comes to just above the knee on me.

I just bought this from Long Tall Sally. I'm not actually that tall but can't abide short coats, I need my bum properly covered!
It was £112 on sale, reduced from £200. Never spent that much on a coat before but I love it. It looks smarter than in the pictures and is so warm.

www.longtallsally.com/coats-jackets/point-zero-hooded-parka-10AF018/p?option=10AF018RED

Have a look at Rains and Protected Species

I have this one and it's wonderful. Warm and waterproof and smart enough for my office. Sold out except in a 14/16 though.

www.jigsaw-online.com/product/faux-fur-lined-parka/J40124_BK000

I use my Janelle from seasalt for dog walking. Not an office coat in my view.

When I’m in Switzerland I see lots of women with rainproof coats with “fur” linings. I suspect Max Mara do expensive versions of these but they are chic and not Michelin msn lookalikes. I covet one!

@bubblesbuddy I agree that the Janelle is not ideal at all. But it was still literally the best I could find when you're looking for a smart-ish coat that is warm AND waterproof. It's easy to find smart coats that are not hooded or waterproof and difficult but not impossible to find smart, properly waterproof coats that are not warm. But when I was looking for a few weeks ago, I literally could not find a single coat that combined those three things. The Janelle was the best of an extremely bad bunch, which is why I mentioned it to OP.

Yes. I know it’s attributes. It just didn’t fit the op’s criteria - in my opinion! It’s difficult to find anything good. Jaeger do a good waisted black, not too huge, puffa coat. If you can throw money at it, definitely Max Mara. I found a fantastic waterproof coat at Bicester village last year. Hood, furry collar, just about waterproof and nearly knee length and, the best bit, 1/3 of the original price.

I’ve just bought a didricksons mea and I’m really impressed with it. Slim fitting, warm without being Michelin man thick, waterproof and a fab hood with detachable fur. I got mine in the sale at go outdoors

I've got one from Cos that sounds like what you're after: I wear it in exactly the circumstances you describe. It's long (mid-thigh/just above knee), dark navy, wool, with a smart hood, buttons. Slim fitting. It's two years old but might be worth looking to see if they have anything similar this season.

I have a traditional (Gloverall? I think) duffle cost but it’s shaped in at the waist rather than straight up and down. It’s years old but I’ve not been able to find anything better

What about Uniqlo?

this is the most similar to mine I can find, not to Paddingtonish though mine has sherpa cuffs and I think the bottom part flares out more

I wearva puffa coat under a wool coat. Works well.

I was in Marks and Spencer today and saw this: www.marksandspencer.com/waterproof-parka/p/clp60371093?color=BLACK
It looks impressively expensive, especially in the camel colour, and is waterproof.