I turn 50 this year and as part of my present to myself I want to buy a 'good' winter coat. I don't have a budget in mind particularly but I doubt I can spend much more than 300.
Obviously not the time of year to start looking but I struggle a lot with coats due to my shape so wanted to see if anyone had an idea of brand. I am a size 18 on average. These days seem more 16/18 but I also do need to consider a 20 for anything which is fitted around the lower abdomen (so really just some trousers as usually I avoid anything fitted there). But then they are too big around the waist.
I am short at 5ft 3 but have longer limbs for my height. I am very short waisted. I can never find my body shape because I'm a sort of hourglass/pear but with a big lower tummy. 10 inch difference between waist and hip but the majority of my weight is all squeezed in a triangle between my belly button and my upper thigh iyswim. I believe the youth charmingly call this a fupa.
This means that I really struggle with getting a neat fit. Waists aren't in the right place so then coast get tight around the stomach/hip because the waist of the coat starts lower down than my waist and the narrower bit hits where I start to spread. Petite fits are too short in the arms. If I size up to accommodate the gut I get swamped everywhere else and look like a weeble.
So any ideas? I wondered about Hobbs petite but then drew a blank. Any gems of brands? I know I can have things altered but would prefer to at least start with a good foundation.