Non-mumsy mum coat - recommendations!

[Pigtailsandall]

I have a 15mo DC who loves roaming outdoors. My old winter coats are lovely woollen ones and not really suitable for picking up a muddy toddler!

Any recommendations for a coat for the playground and park which doesn't scream out playground mum? Going to the park is my main social event of the week so I'd still like to look nice!

Arket recommendation made me look at other Scandi brands and I really like this one from &Other Stories

www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/jackets-coats/jackets/product.quilted-belted-banana-sleeve-coat-black.0968308002.html

It's polyester, (recycled, so better for the planet etc), but not sure how warm it would be..? I do think it looks lovely on the model though.

I'm not sure what your budget is but I've just treated myself to a Fjallraven Nuuk Parka and it's wonderful. Very warm, waterproof and doesn't just come in boring black. It is on the heavy side and it was £300 but I see it as something I'll wear for many winters.

www.fjallraven.com/uk/en-gb/women/jackets/parkas/nuuk-parka-w?v=F89655%3a%3a7323450646837

Don’t wear it with a bobble hat!

Mum coat, bobble hat and boots is the standard mum uniform where I live. Make sure you’re also carrying a takeaway latte to finish the look. Maybe a cross body Orla Keily bag too. 😆

This is so funny, the cool mum uniform here is leggings, chunky boots, an oversized puffer coat (black) and a bobble hat or beanie.

OP I just bought a (properly) waterproof knee length puffer from Rains, but they are pretty hard to get hold of at this end of the season.

I'm mainly wearing this one at the moment. Its warm but not frumpy.

www.hobbs.com/product/winnie-puffer-jacket/0220-3047-9045L00-CAMEL.html#cgid=clothing-coats-and-jackets-puffer&is=false&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&pid=0220-3047-9045L00-CAMEL&pos=1

Oh and re the whole "mum coat" phrase.

I can see both sides.

If I were a really stylish mum, (which I am not), I can see why I might be a bit miffed to have "mum" bandied about as a synonym for frumpy. It's inaccurate. Where I live, (Home Counties, rural town), I see more stylish mums than frumpy mums. I am pretty frumpy* and I don't even care, but I'm not from this area, so I wouldn't be part of the natural habitat as it were.

But, at the same time, I don't necessarily think it's a misogynistic term... I hear "dad" used in much the same way. "Dad bod", "dad dancing", "dad joke", "that shirt is a bit 'fun dad'...", etc.

*I love M&S, Seasalt, Fitflops, Joules...but, I do think I make it look good and I do shop elsewhere as well.

Bit bizarre that so much of this thread is about whether 'mumsy' is a derogatory term.

'Style' is always going to be subjective. Not much point in arguing about the terminology people use on the s&b pages, surely?

It's not quite the same thing using the word 'mumsy' here, as it would be to use it with negative connotations on other threads. It's only to describe clothes, after all?

No, I don't think it's bizarre to have the conversation. If you want to use whatever wording you like, unchallenged, reddit is that-a-way .

I don't particularly find it offensive, but I can understand why some people do. And this is still Mumsnet, so, chances are, there will be a lot of mums on here, so possibly not the best place to say "oh GAWD, help me not look like a MUM, the horror" . (Tongue in cheek before anyone whips out the faces...).

Stutterheim? With lightweight puffer underneath for cold weather.

Interested in the mum coat debate.

Village dweller here. We don't have a playground uniform. Summer or winter actually. Parents come from a hugely diverse range of ages and incomes. Tesco furry hood puffer, ugg boots and leggings to Vestrum jacket, Chameau, and jodhpurs and everything and every combination in between. Goths included

Me? I like to buy a new coat every year. I own a load of coats. I love the idea of picking through my selections of trench, wool and rain coats depending on the weather. Reality is every year i buy a cheapy hooded puffer, hip length (usually a Tesco job or Sains.), and just bung it on each.and.every.time.i.leave.the.house for 4 months I buy a new one every year because i'm so utterly sick of the sight of it by spring and it's totally knackered!

Sometimes i go through my wardrobe and look at my other coats. That's about it!

[quote Pigtailsandall]Arket recommendation made me look at other Scandi brands and I really like this one from &Other Stories

www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/jackets-coats/jackets/product.quilted-belted-banana-sleeve-coat-black.0968308002.html[/quote]
Very good point! See, I buy clothes because I feel attracted to them, I really liked this coat...but I don't stop to think about the practicalities of them so I end up with lots of stuff I can only use at every third full moon when the weather is JUST right

Sorry @ParisJeTAime I quoted myself and not you! Shouldn't cook and type at the same time...

There's some great suggestions here and I know its end of season so might need to bag some of these suggestions for next year

@BlairWaldorfLovesShopping had a look at Rains, they look very stylish and practical, perfect coat for playground duty.

Also love that Hobbs one linked above too, it's a lovely shape for a puffer.

@Pigtailsandall I agree that coat is probably not that practical, but it's fab. If you like it, you could make it work. I bought a sleeveless down puffer from Uniqlo and often wear it under my lighter coats to make them warmer. Paired with a wool
jumper and merino leggings under my jeans! I hate being cold, so I always layer up underneath.

I recently invested in the Dunbar parka from Boden and I absolutely love it. It’s waterproof without looking like a waterproof jacket if you know what I mean. It’s also got really soft fur inside that is detachable for warmer weather so I will get loads of use from it I think.
www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/dunbar-parka/sty-t0650

My husband bought me this for Christmas-

www.joules.com/Women/Clothing/Loxley-Cosy/Waterproof-Padded-Raincoat?size=10&id=211456|MARNAVY|10

It’s knee length, waterproof, wipe clean, and had a faux sheep skin lining so it’s very warm. It has toggles at the waist so it can be adjusted to give a more shapely line. I too have a toddler DC who I’m always having to pick up and this works a treat

This isn't really my world any more so I don't post on this kind of thread as often these days but, although I think 'mumsy' is a lazy put down, I have less quarrel with 'mum coat' because to me, it actually refers to a job you have to do i.e. standing around in parks, playgrounds, and then later on touchlines. Let's be honest, it's tedious and, if you're also cold and wet, it's thoroughly wretched.

I won't suggest brands because I'm out of touch but I do say, forget the angst. It's not our fault that designers can't come up with a truly stylish standing-around-in-bad-weather coat. Just get something as warm and as waterproof as you can afford, with a big hood that you call pull in around your face, and deep pockets. And then think about boots and socks and yes, a hat - with or without bobble.

They are great coats. The Joules coat is quite like a Barbour isn't it?

The Boden coat is really nice too.

The other thing I always try and do is wear a slightly stronger lip when I'm wearing a very practical coat and runners. It makes me feel a bit more glam and just lifts it all a bit. I love a pencil Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk or the Bobbi Brown art stick, takes 30 seconds and makes me feel so much better.

@Frenchdressing and @Blair

I love a bobble hat! When I wear a hat without a bobble, I look like a burglar!

Although I did get a grey cashmere beanie and it's quite nice. So I may retire the bobble!

@Floisme For me, there definitely isn't angst about it all. If I feel like going outside without dressing up or putting on makeup, I do that.

But i definitely feel more put together and with it when I have a nice outfit on and a 3 minute face of makeup.

When I say nice outfit, I don't mean anything fancy. Just something I've actually thought about putting together and topped off with a good coat.

I've got this coat from Lands End in black. It's super warm and totally waterproof. I spend a lot of time outside and I hate the cold but this coat makes it bearable. Probably too mumsy though?

https://www.landsend.co.uk/WomensHoodeddExpeditionMaxiiLongDownnCoat/pp/PP41718.html?cgid=11299&dwvarP417188_color=%20AK9

I’ve yet to find a fully stylish waterproof and super-warm coat that comes in my size, but my suggestions for either are:

• warm: a cropped, high-collar (or with detachable/hidden hood) puffer, looks good with jeans and trousers, or just go full on head to toe in an arket maxi. Because it’s so long and warm you can get away with skinny clothes under.
• waterproof: protected species or Rains

I have to say: what is ‘mumsy’ is arguable, I live in a northern city where a lot of mums are the 20-sth/early 30-year-old influencers and hipsters, there’s definitely a mum-uniform but not what most would assume!

[quote hollyangel]**@Frenchdressing* and @Blair*

I love a bobble hat! When I wear a hat without a bobble, I look like a burglar!

Although I did get a grey cashmere beanie and it's quite nice. So I may retire the bobble![/quote]
It’s a good look! It’s just a lot of women are wearing them around here.

Love the M and S coat listed above.

Just wanted to say thanks for all the recommendations! I have ordered an olive green Ilse Jacobsen coat. It looks practical (and dirt-resistant) but also quite cool. Half price on sale too.

However I've found the ultimate cool playground outfit and it's this
www.ilsejacobsen.com/gb/en/outerwear/rainwear/rain-one-piece/10+RAIN162.C36.001.html

Too expensive for now but I'll keep an eye on sales..and I'm still eyeing up long puffers too!