Most stylish parka you've seen?

[Endlesscoathunt]

I can't find the right parka despite seemingly endless searching. I want something simple, with clean lines (no fur, or detachable fur), not too bulky but warm enough for winter. Water proof or water resistant.

These are examples of ones I like:
www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-winter-parka-khaki/p5099119 (sold out in my size )

And

www.toa.st/uk/product/womens+coats+and+jackets/c0pcf/cotton+parka.htm?clr=C0PCF_OliveGrove_sw (dry clean only and super pricey)

Budget up to around 300... please help!

The twenty percent off code won’t work for me!

@AnotherEmma

Does anyone have a Boden Dunbar Parka? I don't think there's much point ordering it as there's an 11 week wait (!) but I'm curious.

I bought this for my dd a few weeks ago, came within a few days even though website said January, she loves it got the petite one as she is short like me in a size 12, which is roomy but doesn’t swamp her.

@AnotherEmma I think the sizes are fairly accurate (think I’m between sizes but could probably get away with either). There’s a drawstring which pulls the waist in pretty well. The hood is nice and big. The teal colour looks lovely, was tempted by that one went for black in the end.
It’s not perfect but the best one I’ve had so far. Need to make a decision at some point!

@rk47
Thank you! I have ordered it, I've ordered and returned SO MANY but I figure I might as well try one more

@dontcallmelen
Interesting! I wonder if someone returned one and that's why it arrived quickly.

No worries. Hope you like it!

Me too! It’s actually pretty embarrassing how many I’ve ordered. Think I’ve got one more I want to try and if it’s no good I’ll stick with the O’Neill. I think this has taught me that ordering online just doesn’t really work for me.

I've done the vast majority of my shopping online for a long time, because of having a young child (and now a baby too) so it's difficult to get child-free time to go (and no way I'd take them with me, far too stressful!) but it is an utter PITA to have to trawl through websites, order, wait for delivery and then send things back. So much easier to just look around a shop, try a few things on and only buy if it's right. I will have to just look forward to the time when it will be easier for me to do that again!

@ AnotherEmma
At least you don't have to pay postage. You probably get free returns.
If we order from Ireland we have to pay a lot to return goods to the UK

You're right, except like an idiot I ordered one coat from bloody Denmark 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have a toddler so know what you mean about not getting time to yourself. And when I do I don’t really want to spend it shopping.
Before the pandemic I worked in town so could pop to a shop at lunchtime, usually looked online first and then went to try. Maybe I just don’t have much success with clothes! The shapes rarely right for me.

Been trying to order stuff with free returns. Must me a massive pain paying for returns from Ireland @LadyEloise

Quick update for anyone who’s interested...

I ordered another coat from Helly Hansen, had really good reviews but was really disappointed. Felt quite cheap and was too big.

I’m going to stick with the O’Neill in the bigger size so I can add more layers underneath if it gets really cold. It’s not perfect, the hood’s too big (but I do have a very small head) and I’d prefer a double zip but it’s by far the nicest and best fitting for me of the ones I’ve ordered (and there have been a lot!)

@rk47
Sorry the HH coat didn't work out. Glad you're happy with the O'Neill one. I ordered it to try but am sending it back as it didn't fit well. I also ordered the JW Wildwood parka as a few people on this thread had mentioned it. I like it and it's a decent fit so I think I'll keep it. The sleeves are weirdly long though (and I'm 5'8 so hardly short). So it's not perfect but I'm so over this now!

@LadyEloise

@ AnotherEmma At least you don't have to pay postage. You probably get free returns. If we order from Ireland we have to pay a lot to return goods to the UK

dO YOU use parcel motel? Parcel motel will process returns to the uk, so you stick on the free return label and you pay 4 pounds for the service. obviously you have to stubbornly resist the websites' redirection to the irish site!

Still a pain but I recently had to send back jeans to hush and they came in this huge box, would have been 15 euro to send them back through the post!

@AnotherEmma glad you've finally decided to keep a coat!

@OwlOne thanks! I still haven't completely decided

Glad you’ve found one that you’re happy enough with @AnotherEmma
I feel the same. It’s nice to have made a decision!

I've been eyeing up the Seasalt Plant Hunter so based on OPs review I've placed an order.
I've ordered 2 sizes so hopefully one will be ideal. Found a 10% off code VBTEN75

I really like my Didrikson Erika in green. It's really waterproof, fits really well and I think it looks nice.

I'm wading in with the thing I recommend to everyone, it's the arcteryx patera parka.

I know it's silly money, believe me, and I am by no means rich so it took me several years (and several coats that just weren't quite right) to buy one, but it is worth every penny. You can get them in the sales in some places too, I didn't pay full price.

Down filled but also actual goretex, so properly waterproof, whilst having minimal branding and styling was what I wanted and this was literally the only coat that fitted the bill!

https://www.arcteryx.com/gb/en/shop/womens/patera-parka?CMPID=Arc%27teryxPerformanceeEMEAUKKAllSmarttShopping8705227885%7C%7C%7C%7C409169628372%7Cm%7C&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0GO3ZL87AIVRuztCh21JgT3EAQYASABEgJZKfDDBwE

Wow, i do like that. £600 is a princely sum indeed but I like it. So far my north face brooklyn impressing me. Waterproof, windproof, the weather isnt cold enough for it yet so i have had to take it off many times when im too hot. I am comforted by that though because this is baby winter. January and february are coming.

Do you ever have to take that off because you're too warm in it? How would it compare with canada goose? Nearly the same price!

I love the canada goose coats as well.

@mistermagpie what had you rejected before you found the perfect patera?

You see @AnotherEmma i have a coat i like and im still keeping a roving eye out for a coat that ticks boxes i didnt know i had!

I lookedup the jw wildewood, it's nice

The arcteryx patera is my absolute dream coat. I made the mistake of trying one on and nothing else has ever come close. So so expensive though.

I so wanted a Didrikson but I need a 32 and the warm parkas don’t seem to come in that size. Might go for a waterproof one in the spring though

£600! It would have to be perfect for that.

The best of what I tried was the Rab deep cover parka, I still wear it a lot. A decent price and what's nice about it is that it's a puffer but properly fitted and quite flattering.

https://www.nevisport.com/rab-womens-deep-cover-parka?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpYndmNf87AIVmKztCh2FeQvDEAQYASABEgJGVPDBwE#colorrcode=Deep-Denim&sizelegacy=12

I'm sometimes too warm in the arcteryx but I'm a cold person so I love being warm! The thing about it is that it's actually quite smart for a parka so it looks ok for work as well as the school run etc. It's a really great coat. I love arcteryx stuff generally, so classy for outdoor gear!

I haven't tried Canada goose but the 18 year olds near me seem to be into it which has put me off a bit - I'm 40!

And Im 50, so I will give canada goose a swerve the 18 year olds will be over it by the time id have saved up! where do they find the cash
I like the streamlined look of the aertex pantera coat. It doesnt look like it'd be impossible to look smart in it, or stylish..

@delilahbucket did you buy the Wildwood in a Medium or Large? I want to get it but not sure whether to size up. Thanks x