Does no one wear a coat any more? – have you noticed this too?

[clary]

So I am really not a big coat person. Apart from a short waterproof badged with my club that I wear when my summer officiating role includes a rainy day, I own one coat – a 5yo Seasalt rainproof coat with a hood and a cosy lining.

The main times I am outdoors tbh in cold or rain are a) watching DS play his sport or b) when I am out at an event (Christmas craft fair, trip to concert or theatre) or on a winter city break where I use public transport. Otherwise I drive to work (not accessible any other way unless you live close enough to walk).

Maybe that's it. I mean I think of myself as a coat refuser but even I wore one to work yesterday – it’s almost November, chilly and possibly rainy. But when I put it on the coat stand and then took it off at the end of the day, there was only one other coat there.

So do Gen Zs and Millennials (I am neither but there are lots at my work) just not wear coats any more? Any thoughts?

I do, I have lots of different ones, they are a much used part of my wardrobe, I walk a lot but do feel the cold a bit.

Why are you not counting jackets and long puffas as coats though?

Oh of course what a fool I am.

I only used floppies at work so I was thinking that, but for sure people used them at school and I guess at home. We never had a computer of any kind at school, nor at home until my mum got a laptop in the late 1990s. <tiny violin>

I did a Masters around 15 years ago and was struck then by how few of the young students wore coats. It brought out my inner mother hen. There were various reasons including student budgets and lack of storage but basically I don't think this is new thing.

Me I have loads of coats. I have them for every season (except heatwaves) but it's not cold enough yet for my favourite - a tweed Aquascutum overcoat which I can put on over any old piece of tat and look elegant and classy. Because they appear to be out of favour, they can be picked up second hand for reasonable prices so I'm happy.

I think it’s a lifestyle thing as we all have loads of coats. I’ve got stinky horsey coat for yard jobs, a decent waterproof one for school runs, a long cozy duvet one for watching rugby, a work coat with logo on , a lovely fake fur for posh nights out… and hubby and kids have equally as many!

Last winter everyone wore coats and I’m sore they will this year when it gets colder.

“It just doesn’t seem to get as cold as it used to”

Spot on. I have a couple of lovely coats I’d love to wear, but when? I’m in the London area too. Having said that, I went to the West End last week when it was cold and rainy ( thanks to wind from the north east) and I saw lots of women wearing gorgeous trench coats

I think it depends on how hot/cold you are. I bought one that wasnt even full length or particularly best quality last year because I was going to Denmark over christmas, but even in a snowy nordic December I was way too hot in it, so I cant fathom people wandering around in the UK for most of our very mild winters without sweating to death!

I didn't wear a coat much last year. It was so mild, I only really needed a jumper. I needed a coat when I used to walk to work but i am rarely out in the cold now. I have an old duffel coat which is on the small side and i treated myself to a new leather jacket this year.

Yes it definitely depends on how much you feel the cold and whereabouts in the UK you are! I wouldn't be without mine.

I have two- a long puffy tog 24 perfect for when it’s at its coldest and a long black more dressy one which is probably only worn a few times a year. I have a few jackets of different uses from cold to warmer weather. I don’t drive though so use public transport (and a lot of waiting on buses and trains!) and walk a lot. I think it depends a lot on whether you drive. One of my sisters I don’t think has ever owned a coat or even a warmish jacket and borrows from me if she has to be somewhere outside cold for a long time!

I’m in my 50s but rarely wear a coat unless it’s below 5 degrees or heavy rain . Not worn one once this autumn as it’s sooo mild , I’ve barely even worn a cardigan or jumper !
my 18 year old owns 1 coat, a North Face waterproof.

My DD (18) doesn’t wear one often but older DS’s do. I always wear a coat.

I'm in SWCornwall. It was a bit chilly when I walked the dog this morning so I wore a fleece coat and scarf. A woman, also walking her dog, passed me in running shorts and a vest. It's like that here, it takes zero temperatures to get people out of shorts and tee shirts.

I see a lot of older children going to school without a coat, in all weather's, including rain!

I love my coat but I've had to wear it only once in the last couple of months and that was last weekend when Storm Boelo was raging away. Today I popped out to the supermarket in just a jumper and was still a bit too warm.

I have only worn a waterproof (not lined!!) so far this year when raining. Not been cold even once. Have worn a cardigan perhaps twice.

I do have coats, but it needs to be exceptionally cold for me to want to wear one. If I'm walking I heat up quickly, if I'm driving I don't need one.

Back to tee shirt and sandals weather here in the SE today, glorious sunny and mild day.

God no, I hate being cold and I live in one of the warmer areas of the UK.

I wfh in the week but leave the house 2/3 times a day for dog walks. Drive the car less than once a week. Definitely need a warm coat in the winter. I’m on the hunt for a new one right now 😆

I don't have a coat.
Happy to wear a cardigan and a scarf, add a pair of gloves if it's really cold, brolly up if it's raining

I do drive and if I'm going to a shopping centre most are undercover where once inside it's far to hot to be wrapped up.

I take one even if I am driving to wherever I’m going and going inside. I worry about things like the car breaking down and me being freezing

I don’t own a coat…I just presumed that was because I’m from the North East and we are a bit hard 🤣

Oh yes, I always have them in the car from about Sept to April, I am strict about that and make the DCs do the same but never wear them in the car.

I also find them annoying. If go for a wander round shops you get too hot in the shops etc.

This is so funny because I’ve been thinking the opposite. I was in the city centre the other day, it was 16 degrees and people were in puffer jackets or thick wool coats with scarves. What the hell are they gonna have on in January?