Ankle-Length Winter Coat Dilemma — Stylish vs Practical

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I’m looking for an ankle-length winter coat, but I’m stuck deciding between two approaches:

1. Go for the warmest, most stylish puffer coat or lined parka I can find and accept that it will always look practically like a coat no matter how chic it claims to be.

2. Choose a stylish, fitted wool coat (or something similar) that isn’t waterproof, and just carry an umbrella when the weather turns.

I’m leaning towards option 2 because I’ve seen some lovely Korean-style ankle-length puffer coats with hoods that look super cosy, I’m not sure I can pull it off and instead give off a Michelin Man vibe. That said, I’m open to being convinced either way!

I’d ideally like something ankle-length (though calf-length could work), and I’m looking for something that’s black, navy, dark brown, dark green, or even camel/cream. My budget is up to £200, but I’m happy to spend a bit more if it’s worth it, as I see this as an investment piece that I’d use long-term every winter.

Any recommendations for coats that tick these boxes? Has anyone faced a similar dilemma and found the perfect solution? Hopefully I’m not the only one feeling this way.

Not very helpful but I’d spend £100 on two different coats. I get the dilemma, but both styles of coats are so different that I know I’d always want the other one. I’d take myself to tkmaxx and search for a proper wool one and maybe regatta etc for the waterproof one. Plenty of deals and sales on now for Black Friday.

I would also get both. One of these puffer type coats them with what’s left look of a lovely second hand proper wool one.

www.landsend.co.uk/s/LandsEndUK/Womens_Hooded_Maxi_Down_Coat/pp/6228838.html?coupon=SAVE&cm_mmc=search_g_Pmax_21875313114m6228838&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADm_SrK0SBWQ_hW8pUbuAEdX1Bbdu&gclid=CjwKCAiAxqC6BhBcEiwAlXp456HR_7fJ6XEr818wdzq-KMchKA3NkK_mi0IPfpyNEWm6AqyoKaBFJhoCJaEQAvD_BwE

Same. If you shop around you can get a decent coat for £100 and I'd want both,

I'm not keen on coats but on a budget of £200 I think you'll get a good quality puffer coat. A wool coat at that level, unless second hand, isn't going to be great. I wouldn't buy 2 at £100 each.

I'm not keen on puffer coats....etc, etc.

I’m happy to spend more if needed, but I’d need to justify the cost 😅 But I don’t like shopping online because I’d like to try something on, so I’d prefer to have recommendations. Preferably something I can try on 🥲

I did come across this on Debenhams. I’d love something like that but I’m not really tall. I’m 5ft 5-ish so it will be too long on me

Not sure whether it is rainy where you live..... but ankle-length coats can get very splashed at the bottom when you walk. I would opt for mid-calf.

I’m open to suggestions 😁 For instance, I quite like this. I just like the look of the ankle-length coat.

That coat is 100% polyester. It won't be warm because it's very slim fitting so you won't be able to add layers under it.

I think you’re doing too much theorising and yet somehow missing your mark.

If you want something waterproof you need a raincoat, not a puffer coat.

If you want an elegant and versatile wool coat then mid calf is surely a better length, or just below knee length, depending on which suits most of your clothes best. That way you get to show off your footwear and you won’t be dragged down by the weight of wet wool if you do wear it in the rain. (Actual 100% wool would be rain resistant, btw.) Cos has a mini sale at the moment

https://www.cos.com/engbp/women/sale/coats-and-jackets.html

but there’ll obviously be many more reductions in their main sale imminently.

No puffer coat will ever look elegant at any price - I agree that T K Maxx would be a sensible place to start if you must have one.

I don’t really particularly want a puffer coat. Just thought that they seemed very practical. And it seemed nice to be able to wear a hood and not have to carry an umbrella. But I have had 100% wool coats in the past that have attracted lint so I was looking to avoid that and it seemed to be more noticeable in my black coats. They no longer fit me and I’ve given up trying to fit into them again.

By lint do you mean they've bobbled? I I've never had a 100% wool coat which did that or anything that could be described as attracting lint (cat hair yes). Cheaper mixed fibres will bobble.

Most of these are wool blend. One is pure wool.
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Having said I don't like puffer coats I make an exception for this one. It's way over your budget but beautiful. Posting just to show puffer coats can be stylish.

Plumo Puffer coat

I have never seen anyone look good in a puffa coat

But they do keep you warm

That jacket is very nice - but it's waist length

If you need warmth, it has to be past the bum

As a general rule most puffer coats are made of down which is not waterproof. Some newer ones are water repellent but still down is proper horrible when it gets waterlogged. I do have one but it was way above your price bracket 10+ years ago, its rarely cold enough to bother

If you want waterproof and warm enough generally for the uk, you get the seasalt Janelle.

Uniqlo do some beautifully cut waterproof (labelled resistant but are to all intents and purpose waterproof) but you have to layer underneath for warm. Bought one as a stop gap for a Janelle that was destroyed by paint and can't see me bothering switching up.

I'd trawl the second hand shops (or 4bay/vinted) with about £20 ish to find a decent quality wool coat. You can't beat the quality you can find second hand. Looking for ideally old brands such as windsmoor, planet, Laura Ashley or if that fails, solid brands like M&S or next. (Dont get a waterproof secondhand, you never know if someone has done something stupid to the waterproofing).

In your case I'd personally get 3 coats!! A first hand uniqlo waterproof on the large side to layer if needed, a puffer vest from either tog 24 (warm/quality) or uniqlo (cut/bargainoius), and a decent second hand wool. Then I can wear them all individually or combo them according to weather. (Then get a uniqlo down long coat to layer under the waterproof for really cold sub zero)

That’s the nature of the wool fabric. The 100% wool coats I’ve had in the past, have gone slightly fuzzy and were prone to slight pilling over years of use. It can be fixed when dry cleaned. But I often carried a lint roller because I feel like I noticed lint/fluff on my black coats but not on lighter coloured ones. So I ended up buying coats with a wool blend which seems to attract less lint and weren’t as prone to becoming fuzzy. I don’t always like wearing coats so wasn’t too fussed when I outgrew them.

I do buy vintage. I break my own rules when it comes to proper, hardy winter outerwear: my down jacket is a Mountain Warehouse one and can withstand even the fiercest cold. Otherwise, over the past year I've bought two wool and cashmere blend coats and one almost ankle length wool one with a fake fur collar and cuffs. Two out of the three were almost new. All three together cost under £150.

This is now my go-to shopping practice. The quality of high street clothing has plummeted through the floor whilst costs escalate, and that's the case whether you buy standard or high-end brands. Also important the harm I now know fast fashion does to the environment. And thirdly, there's something very satisfying about a fairly unique vintage find.

I'm not going back to my bad old ways!

I have a full length teddy coat from Long Tally Sally. I’m only 5ft 7 so it is long on me but doesn’t drag on the ground. It’s sooooo warm and comfortable and I get lots of compliments on it. I had to get the buttons moved but since the coat was only £100 and it’s going into its third winter, I think it’s good value. Maybe try the Long Tall Sally one and have it taken up a tad if you like it?

I’ve seen people look really stylish in puffer coats but sadly I’m not one of them.

I have had a 100% wool calf-length coat from COS for over 5 years now and it’s going strong. It’s so so so warm. Has genuinely changed my experience of winter.

No bobbling and not especially linty - I give it a once over with a roller before leaving the house every few weeks to pick up hairs that have accumulated. I get loads of compliments on it too!

I am sure COS have something similar each year. But it was around £230 or so, so with inflation its equivalent might now be well out of budget.

If you can stretch to it though I can’t recommend it enough. The wool repels water. I’ve never got wet wearing it. No hood but I just wear a hat and on really rainy days carry a compact umbrella in the pockets, which are huge!

If you are looking for an investment piece that will actually keep you warm, avoid polyester. Spending over £100 on that long tall sally coat would be a total waste. You can get a polyester coat for half that price on ASOS.

I personally hate those puffer coats and don’t find they are any more practical than a really good wool coat in any case.

You need to be tall and slim to look stylish in a long puffer coat I think. Mine is midi length and if I want to look less like a Michelin man I wear my midi length wool coat and hope to evade a true downpour! I also second buying in the sales or second hand for good value and better quality if your max spend is £200.

For wool coats, I'd look at Mango (they have loads, some wrap over), J Lewis own brand, Boden (in sale) if you have more cash or wait for the sales, Reiss have some lovely wool coats as do Jigsaw (but more like £300 full price.)
By wool I mean at least 50 or 70% wool.
100% wool is going to cost you £300ish if it's decent wool.

I've never had a wool coat bobble.

I've a boiled wool coat from Boden which is over 15 years old and is as good as new. Been worn and worn!

I'd get both if you can afford it. In really cold or wet weather nothing beats a down coat, but wool coats look much nicer.

I know you said you want to try on, but you must have an idea of what suits you I would imagine. I bought three beautiful coats from the Oxfam eBay shop. 1 damsel in distress frock coat in heavy gabardine for over fitted dresses. Black of course £20. A Uniqlo camel teddy bear coat for dog walking ( have a blonde cocker poo so we look the same) £7 and a Maxmara wool belted coat, like a dressing gown, in navy £75. The first two were bnwt and the third was lightly worn.

I have to say I have never had a wool coat that pilled. (And have tended to assume that coats that do this must be made of either very cheap wool or some unsatisfactory wool mix.)

The two best coats I’ve ever owned as an adult were firstly a hugely expensive Jil Sander (bought new and full price when I was young and reckless and held in high favour by my bank) now nearly thirty years old. The wool is still mostly perfect, only a little faded in places and worn at the wrists. I wish I’d had it re-lined about 15 years ago. I’ve stopped wearing it because the colour doesn’t work with my undyed hair.

The second is a beautifully neat (maybe princess shape?) houndstooth Rochas coat that I stumbled upon in TK Maxx and couldn’t be persuaded to take off. (It really is genuine Rochas; I’ve seen its siblings on the catwalk.) Double sided; the narrowest sleeves, perfect length. Really hope I’ll be wearing it for ever.

In the distant past I’ve had one or two wonderful wool overcoats from vintage clothing markets, where the men’s stuff is usually far better than the women’s. And several other wins from T K Maxx, though it requires a bit of patience and some knowledge of what’s what.

As for puffer coats … Lockdown madness made me buy something for which the current iteration is around £800. (Though I paid much less in an LN-CC sale.) I Don’t Know Why and can’t seem to get to the point of getting rid of it, even though it doesn’t work with my winter clothes and makes me feel lumpen and ridiculous. I am determined never to buy another.

Have a look on Vinted for some wool coats. I got a stunning British wool UK-made tweed coat there for £25 because it needed a new lining. You have to be patient and sift, and play with filters, but you can find some lovely things on there.