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Anyone else hate practical winter coats?

70 replies

trilobiterevival · 01/10/2022 22:46

Apart from my long swishy wool one (ankle length), which is a luxury to me, I think I hate them. But it's almost too gorgeous and not practical for every kind of weather.
I used to live in the Lake district and spent most of my time, from September to April in waterproofs. Those synthetic wind resistant things, usually by North Face or Berghaus, etc. Then there's that other cold weather solution - the massive padded parka jacket type of thing (Didriksons, Seasalt), I grew sick of them also, lol.

I do live a bit further south now, but have learned a few things:

1/ Those raincoats are not warm, unless you stick 3 layers of wool beneath or wear a puffer with it.
2/ The big warm coats (Didriksons, etc) are usually really heavy, and a royal pain in the arse if you are suddenly warm and have to lug it about. Unless you wear very slim fit jeans or leggings they tend to look dishevelled, huge and odd with anything.
3/ Barbour and other wax jackets are ok, but either never warm enough, or usually come in dark murky colours that don't suit me Sad
4/ Wool turned out to be the actual warmest of all, without having to wear tons of layers underneath. They also look nicer (to me) and go with nearly anything. Still, often quite heavy and ludicrously expensive if 100% wool.

My solution (possibly insane):

Ditch practical coats Grin Just keep maybe one, loose fitting rain mac and wear knits. Aran, cashmere, whatever. A few merino underlayers. A warm scarf and hat. Make the knits do the heavy lifting. I tested this out over the past few winters and was surprisingly cosy. The only downside is rain, so it's either an umbrella job or like I said, a lightweight waterproof long ish mac you can stuff in a bag.

I feel this will be an unpopular opinion, but it's lighthearted! Surely it isn't just me who has had enough coats!?

OP posts:
Rapidtango · 04/10/2022 08:18

Live in the north of England (and previously n Scotland) and rarely wear a coat - find them too bulky and restrictive. Generally have a t-shirt, thin wool jumper then heavier wool jumper. Just make sure jumpers are long enough so there's no gap to let cold air in. Then a breathable waterproof if absolutely necessary.

TheOGCCL · 04/10/2022 08:42

I’m in London and walk and cycle a lot but also feel the cold. I have:

a thin quite long hooded puffa from Tesco which isn’t very heavy as it was cheap (£20).
a shorter hooded puffa from Esprit which is very light (but warm) and folds into a bag
a half smart/half casual very warm hooded winter coat from Next before their quality took a nose dive (has metal zips and some fur lining) for very cold weather
a very old navy wax look hooded jacket from Oasis which is on the large size so can fit layers under
a smart wool coat from Mango that rarely sees the light of day - no hood which to me seems essential
a padded gilet from H&M which fits under any of the above and packs away

I like that Berghaus/North Face chic look but those jackets don’t play nicely with my oversized bust and often come in dark colours only. None of my coats are black.

BarbaraofSeville · 04/10/2022 10:13

I have an unpadded mid thigh Didriksons and just layer up if it's cold. Because I'm pear shaped, there's more room on my top half than bottom, which means if it's really cold I can wear a little down jacket underneath, which is also packable into a pocket if I get too warm.

I do lots of walking/hiking and another advantage of my coat is that it has good pockets, including an inside one that holds an OS map, which means that I can go for a walk without a rucksack and still carry map, phone, food, drink, small first aid kit, hat and gloves etc.

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 04/10/2022 14:31

I haven't worn a raincoat since childhood and have no intention of wearing one again. And I've always lived in rain sodden places.

I stick with wool.

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 04/10/2022 14:32

partial to some faux fur too

Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 04/10/2022 14:49

I have 2 Barbour waxys that I'm too fat for currently. And aren't that warm. And they smell.
A "wool" coat that was cheap from M&S a few years ago that I loved (until I saw Jo Swinson wearing it on the '19 election tour.)
A Joules padded parka that makes me feel dead inside (as well as sweaty)
I saw a photo of Mary Berry wearing a yellow Seasalt type yesterday! Mary's lovely but I don't want to dress like her. I'm only 44.
My ancient khaki parka is brilliant but it's hardly smart.
I have nothing that goes with a long skirt - all make me look like a triangle.

Winter coats are a complete nuisance.

IlonaRN · 26/11/2022 15:02

crispinglovershighkick · 02/10/2022 01:29

I love coats! But I hate heavy, bulky clothes (including chunky jumpers) and I don't want a different saggy waterproof coat for each season. I just buy coats I like the look of and stick a down layer (thin jacket or gilet) underneath if it's cold. If it's wet I leave the coat at home, put a pac a mac over the down layer and use an umbrella if I must. If it's nice out but forecast is dicey I put the pac a mac and a rolled up gilet in my bag. (Something about the way they roll up into a little bag really tweaks something in my brain, I feel so prepared and organised.)

To be fair if it's really bucketing down my bottom half just gets wet so it's no solution if you need to be out in lashing wet and cold for hours.

If it's really cold I wear silk long johns as well. No bulk, sweating or clinging. Also good under lighter dresses in the spring or autumn when the weather is changing, you can just push the cuff up so it looks like your legs are bare. Not bad in the rain too as they dry almost instantly and don't chafe or sag. (Sometimes in the winter I wear them under my pyjamas.) If it's perishing I wear merino long johns instead of silk but in practice I've needed those in New York more than in London.

This is a good thread, I've thought so much about the whole thing (wet and cold vs wet and warm, sweaty vs freezing etc) over the years and it took ages to find a workable alternative to the dreaded sacklike waterproof.

Where do you get your silk longjohns from, @crispinglovershighkick ? I could do with some of those!

Catsaysmeiow · 26/11/2022 17:11

Had anyone tried the rain sisters coats? They look perfect but slightly more than I’d like to pay.

Im using a volcom ski jacket as my day to day coat (fully waterproof, mesh panels underarm to stop it getting so sweaty). Mine is a beautiful black/navy/pink/purple gothic floral type pattern. For Christmas I’m getting a collectif wool “Heather” hooded swing coat for when I’m trying to look a little more dressed up but still want the practicality of a hood

schoolsoutforever · 26/11/2022 17:29

I LOVE coats but really don’t like puffs/duvet style ones. They’re just not very stylish. I’d much rather have a wool, faux fur or similar. The puffs ones are just so horribly modern.

crispinglovershighkick · 27/11/2022 00:42

llonaRN my silk long johns, vests and socks are from Patra: https://patra.com/category/thermals/women-s-pure-silk-thermals

MintJulia · 27/11/2022 00:56

I have two lovely long wool coats for town, a belted mac, a Schoffel shooting jacket which is light, warm and waterproof for country walks, school runs (and shooting), and a drizabone riding coat for those torrential days when any sane person would just stay inside.

But I live in the sticks and need things I can wash mud off easily. 😊

lightlypoached · 27/11/2022 07:56

These are brilliant and they do a fleece lined one too. They screw up small and don't crease. Are very light and properly waterproof (even the pockets). Relatively stylish too with no big logos. The (foldaway) hoods are brilliant too as they tighten up and have a peak to protect the face.

I layer my non fleece one with a thick jumper (home knitted 😬) and huge thin wool shawl. Toasty.

www.protected-species.com/shop/

I should be a protected species salesperson 😂🤓

lightlypoached · 27/11/2022 07:57

Forgot to say when it's really cold I put a Uniqlo fold up ultra light down coat on underneath. Even more toasty. And it fits in a handbag.

😎

Deathraystare · 27/11/2022 10:06

I hate the fact that everyone is wearing black or grey!

I have a Lands End coat in red and got so many compliments.

By the way, I follow two young women from Norway (they are a couple) and out and about you see so many Norwegians in those duvet coats but they always seem to look stylish somehow.

I was toying with the idea of a small puffa jacket (why? it will be a bum freezer! plus the bright green colour screams mutant ninja turtle!

GettingStuffed · 27/11/2022 12:08

For winter I own a red wool peacoat, warm but too smart to wear over casual clothes. A summer waterproof which is roomy enough to wear a fleece or something underneath and a purple ski jacket.

SnowyPheasants · 27/11/2022 14:42

Tested out my long tweed this week, was warmer than in my puffer, it seems to be windproof also. I recommend tweed. Did get a few heads turning asI'm currently staying in an urban area where everyone wears black north face or a regular anorak.
I have a bell jar umbrella (wind resistant) for very bad downpours but that's it.

The only coat that almost rivalled it was an old Didriksons with arms down to my knees and so heavy & stiff i couldn't sit or bend properly in it.

I vote tweed!

SnowyPheasants · 27/11/2022 14:44

I mean, if i am out in the sticks or hiking i will wear a puffer with short waterproof over it but not in everyday life. Just not a fan of the look.

liveforsummer · 27/11/2022 14:47

I go with the equestrian brands. You can get some fashionable coats that are weather proof as the style is all quite glam these days. There is a lot of choice!

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 27/11/2022 14:48

I do find a wool coat + hat and umbrella is fine for light rain. wool is pretty water resistant, but they never have hoods.

Also, I feel the cold but often it's not cold enough for one of those big duvet coats. So today I've bought a new not-too-ugly mid weight parka, and a little lightweight down jacket (£15, primark) to wear underneath for the rarer days when it's properly cold.

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