Properly warm but stylish parka/puffer

[ChilliPB]

I’m know I’m being really fussy.

I’m looking for a warm (I live in Scotland but also often go on trips to cold cities in winter) parka or puffer BUT I don’t want one that looks too sporty/outdoorsy. It’s to wear in the city for eg a day of walking around, and something water resistant would be ideal. I just want something which looks more stylish and less like I’m off hiking. Something simple would be fine, just that would go with jeans/boots etc. I know lots of people just wear outdoors brands over regular clothes but I really am not a fan.

I don’t want down either for ethical reasons so I’m struggling to find anything.

I’ve seen plenty of nice styles from high street shops but I’m not convinced they’d be warm enough.

Any ideas gratefully received!

Wow… I spent around 3 hours yesterday looking for exactly the same and came up with nothing. The only vague one I quite liked was from Karen Millen which was just under £80 in the sale.

I’m glad it’s not just me @Doidontimmm !

I don’t know why it’s so hard to find something practical, but not outdoorsy. I don’t mind spending a bit as a coat should last for years, but I haven’t found anything that ticks the boxes!

How about these? - what you're looking for is exactly what these guys are aiming to design.

scandinavianedition.com/

I hate coat shopping for the same reason. You can be warm and dry and look like you're off to Ben Nevis or be cold and wet but look good. The inbetween is like unicorn poop! I keep buying cheap high street coats which look ok for one winter but loose waterproofing, go thin and flat or break in some way.

Some are down but some aren't, like these
scandinavianedition.com/products/coat-nordic-forest

Didriksons? Given that it is by nature a fairly functional looking garment, I think there are plenty here that look a bit smarter.

I came here to recomment Didrikson. I live in Sweden and we get much colder winters here than Scotland and my Didrikson Stella (the long one) keeps me warm all winter. It's a great brand.

Thanks for the ideas. None really jump out unfortunately.

Didriksons look ‘ok’. They’re not offensive, they’re not ugly, but not beautiful. On the whole they look like they would blend in, but that’s not really what I’m after. The Scandinavian Editions are also ‘ok’ but so very plain.

What I’m getting at is that if you’re looking on the high street you could find all sorts of prints, patterns and shapes. Whatever your style is - you might want a bright pink, oversized puffer. Or a leopard print puffer. Or a camo print parka with a pink hood. Or a black puffer with a gold hardwear belt. Or one with a big fluffy faux fur hood. But you’d probably be cold and wet.

If you want something practical you’re probably going to get a sludge green shapeless parka. Or something black. Maybe yellow. Or brown.

Is there nowhere that does practical coats in a bigger variety of colours and shapes with some detail to make them look stylish as well as practical rather than just merely functional? As I say I know I’m being fussy but why can’t be have both?

Typo! Why can’t we have both?

Didrikson for sure . I have many people asking what I got it from. Mine isn’t sludge green. It’s a lovely blue.
It’s very warm. I am permanently cold during winter and this coat has been amazing at keeping me warmer.

I really hate the Didrikson I’m afraid, as I’m short I think I’d look awful in them. They look good to keep you warm but not as @ChilliPB is trying to describe. I think I’m giving up lol! I like this but is definitely not exactly what I wanted!

This is probably a very unhelpful reply but last year I got a got which is a puffer layer on the inside and then a proper coat on the outside all in one from River Island. It was too warm for most of our mild winter.

Maybe a Montcler then? They are very expensive but definitely stylish and warm.

This one is maybe more the style you are looking for but it is expensive. I'm not sure if you have suggested a budget, so sorry if I'm way off track.

This screen shot is from Selfridges.

Maybe they’ll have more later in the year. They currently have very few blue coats. Most are navy. None look interesting, fun, stylish or beautiful.

@Snoken @MadameCholetsDirtySecret stylish but they’re all down, unfortunately.

Rains

Thanks @BamBamBilla I’ll definitely look at Rains. Some good colours.

What makes a Rains puffer worth £300 to £450?

i would recommend north face, on the pricey side but i think they'd be worth it. They've really come into fashion, but it is actually an outwear brand so should be warm and goof quality

North Face is a bit down market (excuse the pun).

Have you had a look at Hobbs?

Water resistant and not down. And definitely not khaki or navy: leopard print puffer

For me, part of being a 'proper' grown up was acknowledging that High St outerwear was never going to do what I needed it to do - keep me warm and/or dry. I'm now devoted to experts in their fields - I have North Face and Merrell rain coats and an Aigle super puffer coat. They've lasted me absolutely years and look the same as they did when I bought them. Happy to have 'sensible' colours to keep warm and dry.

Thanks @VeganGordie theyre still too tech-y for me. I want something a bit less sporty I think.

I wouldn’t have thought of that, thanks for the link. I do like leopard print 😊

I completely understand what you mean @EmmaStone but what I’m asking is why doesn’t anyone make practical stuff in nice colours and designs? They’re all so sensible. Surely there’s a market for stuff that is warm, waterproof but also looks stylish? Loads of the suggestions are all perfectly nice, simple, plain coats that nobody would take offence to. But there seems a real gap in the market for anything that’s actually better than ‘ok’ style wise.