Puffer coats are out and smart coats are in for A/W

[Niftythrifter]

John Lewis leading the charge and reported in the Guardian today. Can’t link from the app.

Yes my coatigans should last another season 😂

Oh this is awesome. I just bought a grey trench coat from Topshop. Very heavy (warm) and formal. For £3 from a charity shop. I also bought a navy pea coat from & Other Stories. This was £5

I got them today! Everyone else browsing summer dresses and for some reason I was drawn to the coats department. Both look like new!

I have bought so many coats from charity shops @Slowlivingiwish including a Joseph wool/Angora jacket for £8 or something like that!

I guess those saying puffa coats are out don’t have loads of kids that play outdoor winter sports or two sets of two-mile walls to school every day. No way I’m wearing a wood coat to do that. I’ll stick to my puffa with a massive hood and sleeves that cover my hands.

It’s sort of not surprising as puffers have been popular for quite a few years now. I don’t think they’ll suddenly be unfashionable or popular but I imagine that they’ll just not be the most popular in the way they have been. I have some lovely smart coats including Max Mara and I’ve been wearing them for years but when it’s really cold and I’m just wearing something casual, my puffer will still be worn.

unfashionable or stop* being popular, I meant to say.

I never knew that. Can you recommend a spray?

I have far too many coats (I buy coats the way some people buy shoes), and always avoid wearing wool when it’s wet.

I am NOT standing at the side of a sports pitch in a woollen structured coat. Maggoting through winter it is.

JL - didn't they try to dictate what kind of dresses we could wear this summer?

Wear whatever suits the activity you've wearing it for.

It’s all a big cycle - wool coats were in a few years ago, then along came the puffer, now we’re back to wool, etc etc.

On a freezing cold day with horizontal sleet my wool coat will be left at home. Dress to keep warm is my motto.

A spokesperson from JL says it's about offering more choice. It's quite funny seeing how angry and defensive some people are when a poster on style and beauty talks about new trends emerging. The huffy, you'll have to take X garment from my cold, dead hands, I don't give a shiny shit, all so rattled and worked up. It is not a sumptuary law. And as for saying puffer jackets make their wearers look like maggots is 'rude'. God help us. Painfully silly over-sensitivity. Just waiting for the 'there's a col crisis on you know' dafties.

Well I do love a smart tailored coat.

But when I’m walking to nursery at 7:45am in the dark/wind/rain/sleet/snow in December in N.Scotland I’ll be sticking with my cosy puffer thank you (unless someone from John Lewis wants to come and do the nursery run for me!)

I don't blame you, I would find it really hard doing anything in a wood coat tbh

My uncle owns a Drycleaners. He will be absolutely thrilled, all this washable puffer coat nonsense was not working for his business plan.

Good - the grey Harris tweed Dior coat I bought in a charity shop 30 odd years ago is still smart and going strong. Especially after I got the sleeves relined with a torn Thai silk scarf in a fabulous peacock colour last winter.

Right, just off to start a bonfire with my collection of puffer coats ... not.

I don't blame you, I would find it really hard doing anything in a wood coat tbh

Just imagine the splinters

Is this the same John Lewis who announced the death of the floral midi dress earlier this year?
Well that went well ……..

I am cheap and cheerful. Have a colourful collection of short padded jackets with hood. Perfect for Autumn. Throw in the machine and out they come good as new. Wouldn't say the same for a wool coat now would I? Then I have a heavier longer version for the freeze/diagonal wind/etc. It too can be machine washed.

I can't think of any occasion I would either wear or use a smart wool coat. I don't get out much ha ha.

Winter stuff is serviceable to me, but I like bright colours just the same. I don't need clobber for the office either. So I am fine thanks.

Crikey @midsomermurderess chill out!

I agree with PP that I don't think this winter will big for coat sales given dropping disposable income. More cost to dry clean.

I would buy a wool coat as an extravagance, an extra option, since as PPs say they just aren't as practical. They rarely come with a hood and if they do that ruins the concept.

Fashion is a business, after years of making money on puffers, retailers deem wool coats to be in again because they need the profit.

BTW, there’s no way the John Lewis Anyday coat will be wool, it’ll be polyester with 5% wool or something.

I like fashion but am a bit cynical these days.. must be getting old!

Great, I've been looking for a smart coat for ages and all I see are puffer coats. But when it comes to mid-winter I'll be ditching them for my puffer because nothing else keeps me as warm. Fashion can dictate whatever they want but practicality wins out.

You haven’t looked anywhere worth looking then! Dressing gown type coats were everywhere last year. Mango’s were good. Arket and Cos have very good winter coats. Toast for higher priced ones. Hobbs always have winter coats.

JL - just want to market coats!

“I will wear whichever of my coats is appropriate for the weather and the activity I am undertaking.”

This!

Surely puffer coats and smart coats are for different occasions?! Not sure how one can replace the other.