A "walking around " jacket?

[Doteycat]

Im trying to find a good quality nice jacket for "walking around" not sure if anyone will get me when i say that, but say for example , we are going on a city break end of Jan, so want a nice jacket that i can walk around see the sights, stop in a cafe and still be respectably dressed, comfy but decent. Not a long coat and not a going out jacket.
I cant seem to find one that is not a big puffer one, which are dreadful on me.
I do like the furry ones though.
Any suggestions?

Really like that one too. (It's purple, so not sure what would be a more "interesting" colour?! But anyway it looks great. I do love a Hobbs coat.)

What about a Barbour wax jacket? I love the Barbour Beadnell.

We've all agreed no to Barbour further down the thread

Worth looking at Uniqlo. I have this for going into town when I don’t want to wear a long coat - removable hood too. I bought it big enough to wear with a jumper under it. https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E479764-000/00?colorDisplayCode=69&sizeDisplayCode=003

Omg don't need another jacket but this is stunning !

Paris in January is likely to be freezing. A cotton jacket won't cut it.

I have jacket similar to the one linked to Whistles and the only time I wear it (rarely) is in summer over a T shirt.

It looked navy in the image I saw. Bright pink would be my colour of choice! Navy and dark purple both feel a bit ‘middle aged, middle class’ to me (I’m in the former camp myself).

Ah, you see I really love the dark purple (although wouldn't want navy). But then I am indeed middle aged and middle class, so possibly not helping the case here...

This thread is bad for your bank balance. I've ordered the Seasalt coat, in the green though. And very tempted by the puffy Hobbs one, but I randomly got a bright purple trench coat in Hobbs the other week, just because it was on sale. I don't need another coat!!

😁I’ve never been able to bring myself to wear navy. I find it a thoroughly depressing colour.

I like navy.

I'm curious to know just how smart the general public really are in Paris. I expected to see a lot of beautifully dressed people in Rome when I visited, but that was not the case.

The Parisians are generally well dressed, smart but conservative. But if you’re mainly in the tourist hotspots you may not see that many actual Parisians. (I used to live in Paris).

Personally I tend to wear a well cut wool/cashmere coat in Jan/Feb in Paris unless I’m intending to be outside for a long time (why would I be?!!). It’s not a wet month (it’s drier than London and London isn’t wet!) and I’m in and out of shops/offices/restaurants/homes of friends.

I love navy and wear a lot.
It's kinder on older skin than black and looks more classy IMO.

It was my school uniform colour. Even several decades later, I've still never been able to shake the aversion!

Agree navy more flattering and chic. Just can't make it work

Why would I wear my normal life coat? Silly thing. I am in need of a new coat and a new jacket anyways so wanted one that would also do Paris.
I am allowed purchase a new coat. With the money that I earned, working in the company I own, to wear on a trip that I paid for.
Its one of the perks of being a grown up.
Tbh im not really arsed about being as fashionable the locals, sure that ain't ever gonna happen. I just want to be respectable and warm, and feel like im in suitable gear.
I hate feeling like im dressed wrong or just a bit uncomfortable with my choice. Which happens a good bit nowadays.
Wait until you find out I want a few new jeans and a dress too!!!

I think this is great advice if you LIVE in Paris (it's certainly what I would do in Jan/Feb in London, where I currently live).

But I think a city break is different. You may actually be walking around a lot, even if the weather isn't that great - it's nice to explore a city on foot, and you don't have the option of postponing stuff till next week instead. You're not likely to have friends' houses to pop into. You're probably only going to have one coat with you.

This is why I think that the category of Walking Around Coat is actually a brilliant idea for winter city breaks. It needs to do everything and still look good (and be resilient enough to survive being bundled on the back of a café chair, etc). It's a marketing opportunity waiting to happen.

Same! I’m now 55 and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve worn navy since leaving school.

Although I nearly bought some navy Pleats Please trousers in the sale last week so maybe the school uniform ‘colour trauma’ is finally fading after 40 years. 😂

I actually (politely) disagree with this. For me a wool coat (or jacket) is a ‘walking around’ coat and is perfect for a city break. It’s flexible for day and evening, not too bulky and I wear layers underneath so can adjust to whatever the weather is. I take a small umbrella, leather gloves and scarf and I’m pretty much ready for anything. I’ve just returned from being away over the Christmas break and this is exactly what I wore. I’m a city dweller anyway so walking lots is normal for me, which is why I don’t want anything too bulky and like to wear layers as lots of walking keeps me warm makes me sweat.

It was my school uniform colour. Even several decades later, I've still never been able to shake the aversion! My school uniform wasn't navy, but I've not worn the school uniform colour since I left school.

Just ordered that grey one, thank you!

Sadly I am not headed to Paris though 😭

I’m still wedded to black and intend to remain so. I prefer grey to navy.

I wear navy because it really suits me.

Good for you..

It's not an argument.

I don't suit black. Had my colours done years ago and that confirmed it for me.

Sounds like you're making it an argument. Wear what you want. I will. I'm also allowed to hate navy, just as you're allowed to like it. It really doesn't matter.