i had to google that. difference between a jacket and a coat. turns out a jacket is a bit lighter? can be simply for fashion purposes? while a coat is a legitimate piece of keeps-you-warm clothing. got it? whoops! i left out parka. safe to say parka is in a league of its own, right? “the blizzard is coming, the blizzard is coming, whatever you do, don’t forget your PARKA!”
anyway, i’ve always had like whatever coats. i wore one for years that i got at the burlington coat factory by my parent’s old house in pennsylvania. nothing against burlington coat factory. in fact, it was warm(ish). and then i had a marmot ski jacket, when you only ever wore ski jackets, you know? (even though i’ve skied a handful of times in my whole life, but that’s beside the point.) but then i moved to massachusetts. oh massachusetts. massachusetts’ winters will make you scratch your head from your warm bed and think, “how many days till i have to go outside?” it’s the state that demands a big girl coat.
and so, here we are. i’m 31, dammit, and i think i need a “forever” coat. at least that’s what i told steve. so, i’ve done my research. and, if you’re also in need of a big girl coat, you’ve come to the right place today! hooray for you!
here are some of my latest faves + finds:
fjallraven parka// this is a great one, great brand, pretty warm (down) without being michelin-man bulky. by the same people, a non-puffy parka. steve has a winter jacket by fjallraven and says it’s the warmest. it also warms his scandinavian heart to wear the brand.
canada goose parka// this is the jacket that i’ve looked at online perhaps more than any other jacket everrrrr. what’s always stopped me? um, that price. i’ve heard nothing but rave reviews from people who really like to be warm in the winter, so i guess the price is appropriate but still! come on canada goose! anyhow, true story: i stopped a woman on the ski slopes two years ago to be like, “do you like your jacket?!” when she was wearing this one. that circle on the arm gave her away. i almost suggested we trade. anyway, if you’re lucky enough to own a canada goose, consider yourself blessed (and warmer than the rest of us). (also super cute, but not for me cauase i like my butt covered… this one.)
patagonia parka// really nice one with 600-fill power (800-900 is the absolute highest, but i haven’t seen anything about 800). a much friendlier price than the others, too.
north face parka// a parka at a fairly decent prize. huzzah, north face!
okay, that should get the ball rolling…
(and then, for the fancy days, is this jacket beautiful or what?! the dark forest one!)
You can justify the price for the cost per wear! And you'll have it for years. I have friends who have the Canada Goose Jacket and they love it but not for me because it's too warm and I'm usually inside public transport so I need something warm but not too warm.
I bought my down filled parka at Zara and I got it for a steal when it went on sale. Gotta love sales!
Perfect timing! I'm going through this exact same search right now. I'm torn between the cute j. crew coats and the warm down ones…. I might try and convince the husband that I need both. 😉
Perfect timing! I'm going through this exact same search right now. I'm torn between the cute j. crew coats and the warm down ones…. I might try and convince the husband that I need both. 😉
Esther, I was torn too! I ended up being practical and getting an ugly but extremely warm plain black parka (the one from Patagonia.) And I only regret not getting something cuter like, 10%! haha.
I have this jacket and I live about 8 hours north of you. It keeps me super warm. I got mine in a bright red, but this blue is beautiful. I have had it for two winters and it's still in great condition and still warm. I am 5'10 and it goes almost to my knees and the hood is big and perfect!
http://www.lolewomen.com/shop/types/jackets-coats/luw0307.html
This is the best winter coat ever: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/70409?page=winter-warmer-coat
The black is fairly chic and it is INSANELY warm. And super affordable! They usually run sales if you sign up for the email list.
3 of my friends have bought it since I got mine and also love it.
In my experience, Canada Goose is just a status symbol… and the status is a**hole. There is no reason to spend that much on a parka other than to let others know thay you spent that much on a parka. It is not a better parka. Just get the north face. Everyone has it for a reason. (This coming from a Minnesotan)
I got my down parka from Lands End (and I'm not a mom…) on sale for $40 and let me tell you….it is the warmest! I've had it for four winters and I'm never ever letting it go. Clearly shopping at Land's End proves that I'm not a fashionista, but if you want to be warm and still afford to pay your bills, Land's End is where it's at!
The one I have is an old version of the one below, but mine has a belt:
http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-shimmer-down-coat/id_288488_59?cm_mmc=139971612&source=GS&003=56492216&010=4302601
I have that Patagonia parka and it is just about the warmest thing ever!! This coming from an NYC commuter who trekked many miles across frigid Manhattan last year!
I just moved up to NYC area and have had the down with it parka for a week. Don't think I'd be surviving winter without it. That thing is WARM.
Huh. I always thought of a 'coat' as something a little dressier. I have this one when I want to be a bit fancier and it feels so special putting it on… http://www.allsaints.com/women/coats/allsaints-aice-monument-coat/?colour=5&category=117 (Also, when I went to get the link, the company swaps your definitions for coat & jacket – maybe the UK (and Canada) use it differently?)
And everyone in Norway wears Canada Goose. I mean EVERYONE. Even 12 year old girls. And they are twice as expensive here as they are in North America. Canada Goose and Marc Jacobs bags…everywhere.
I've had my Lands End coat for 4 years. Haven't been cold since. Bonus: they come in Tall sizes for this of us with long arms!
I straight up struggle in the winter. I end up not really wearing jackets unless I will be outside for a bit because of 1. the bulk and 2. the fact that when going back and forth to the car I can tough it out for 3 minutes until I'm warm again. But when I do wear coats or jackets and do any sort of physical activity, even just a walk, I end up sweating like I'm at Gold's Gym pounding the weights. LOL.
I can only imagine that the jackets you listed, however, are like wearing a amazing sleeping bag because of the down! 🙂
I live in Northern Canada where we are pretty serious about our winter coats. I can highly recommend this brand: http://www.soiakyo.com/ – the down filled parkas keep you super toasty and look good (not too bulky). The pockets are in the right place and lined to keep your hands warm and the hood is the right shape so it doesn't slip or shift. I have been wearing it for several years now and it is the coat I get complimented on the most.
I got this coat last year for Christmas (in black) and I loooove it. Its on a great sale now with 30% additional off. A steal. Its really warm and even looks cute for a puffy winter jacket.
http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-tulip-hem-down-coat/id_281032
I have the north face parka that you linked and I love it. It is on its third season of daily winter wear and it still looks brand new.
Me too! I'm in Canada and adore mine as well.
LL Bean has some 850 fill coats/jacket/parkas. And patagonia has several options on their website for that length/style. I love the quality level of those two companies. 🙂 I too tend to keep my coats around for a very, very long time. They're usually well worth the investment.
i've been eyeing that canada goose parka, too! and another similar one from barbour…. but the PRICE. eek! settled on this one (http://www.fatface.com/Jackets/Mawgan-Long-Puffer-Coat/invt/906642) and love it. though at nine months pregnant i can't actually zip it up haha. soon enough 😉
I lived in the yukon for a while so invested in a canada goose and would never be parted from it, especially good when standing in cold playgrounds while your 3 year old needs one….more….swing. actually, I slightly cheaped out and got a canada goose jacket from the youth section – 300something dollars instead of 500something, felt like a steal!
I have a Canada Goose and I love it. I've had it for 5-6 years and it still looks, and feels, exactly the same as the first winter I wore it. I clicked on your link and was shocked to see the price at over $1000! In Canada (where I'm from) it's around $600-$700. Maybe you can buy from a Canadian retailer and save some money?
I have the one from north face you mention and it is awesome- go for it!
It's so funny I read this today because two days ago I told my husband it is time for me to buy a proper coat for winter. Whenever we moved to Chicago a few years ago, I had purchased the fancy down feathered coat that saw me through a few harsh winters. But after moving back to the south, I finally gave it away and have been skating by with hoodies/sweaters for the last three winters. Anyway, perfect timing on this post!! I don't think I'll need any heavy duty parkas, but I am drooling over the JCrew parka…so maybe! Haha!
My husband is Danish. As in, was-born-and-raised-in-Denmark Danish. He has a Fjallraven. Just saying 😉
(if you can find one by you, I wear one of these https://www.karitraa.com/en/)
I had a Canada Goose for two years (bought it online from Bloomingdales) and it was way too bulky and the arms too short (I'm tall). Warm? Definitely but I had a hard time driving, moving my arms, etc. Bloomingdales has a great return policy so I was able to return it and I exchanged it for a Parajumpers Long Bear (on sale in March at 70% off) and it is definitely better. I obsessed when coat hunting so take your time! And get it from a return friendly place like Nordstrom or Bloomingdales so you can return it anytime even after a full winter of trying it out.
I just got the down with it parka last week, and o.m.g. You guys, it is awesome. To be fair I have ZERO judgement on this type of thing (I'm a Floridian recently transplanted up North and this is my first non-fashion coat ever) but it's been keeping me sooooooo warm! :))