Where's a good place to buy a warm coat?

[dreamshark]

My old winter coat appears to have been stolen out of our (unlocked) van. Oh well, I hope whoever took it really needed it. I've had it for years and years and was pretty tired of it anyway. I've been making do by layering under my lined leather jacket. But if it's going to keep up like this, I guess I should buy another winter coat.

It's been years since I've bought a new coat, and I'm not sure where to start. I tried the Burlington Coat Factory, foolishly thinking that it would be a store full of coats. Silly me - it wasn't anything of the kind.

I think I want a coat that is at least knee length, but not necessarily longer than that. It's not usually my legs that get cold. I want something wind-resistant, which probably leaves out fashionable wool coats, but not something that makes me look like the Michelin tire man either. I want pockets that are large and/or numerous enough to hold a hat, gloves and maybe a scarf. And either a hood or a high collar that can be fastened tightly around the neck. I don't want to pay a fortune, but I'm willing to pay $100-$200 if necessary.

Any suggestions?

Comments

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

For serious keeping warm, REI and Eddie Bauer are the places. But serious keeping warm is somewhat in conflict with your fashion goals (I personally don't care how much like the Michelin Man I look, so long as I'm comfortable inside it all).

My current jacket is a couple of years old, from Eddie Bauer, and was $100. The one thing it lacks is a decent hood, which is really the key thing for keeping warm (hats are in my experience grotesquely inferior for keeping warm, and also come off too easily).

[von-krag.livejournal.com]

I've found that Cabela's is better in quality & price over Eddie Bauer.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

I should have mentioned the more recent generations of places. For urban winter wear they're better values (I don't think they have anything to come close to the high end of the Eddie Bauer range, for example).

[cowfan.livejournal.com]

JC Penney might have coats on clearance, and you can often find coupons for $10 or more off in the Sunday paper. Or try Kohl's or Herbergers.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I bought one of my coats at Burlington Coat Factory, one at Lands End, one at Eddie Bauer.

K. [the Eddie Bauer is 17 years old, and I still wear it]

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

I was confused and disappointed by the Burlington Coat Factory. It looked a lot like a T.J. Maxx, only not as nice - a random assortment of clothing and miscellaneous items that appeared to be overstocks and clearanced merchandise. I didn't see any coats at all. Maybe it has changed its business model since you bought a coat there?

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I don't know. Mine is two years old. I found coats in the back, and a lot of nonsense as you describe in the front. I bought some cloth napkins there that leaked dye all over my clothes in the wash. Several things were ruined.

K.

[magentamn.livejournal.com]

Lands End. They have an outlet store at Lyndale and 494, and another one in Rosedale, and they're online. Their "Thermocheck" fleece isn't puffy, but it's really warm. Parkas are on sale, I guess because it's midseason. And they have lots in plus sizes.

[romsfuulynn.livejournal.com]

I have this coat
http://www.landsend.com/pp/DownLongCommuterCoat~213588_57.html

It is extraordinarily warm - down but not michelin man looking. I think there are shorter versions if you want one.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

I used to go down to Dayton's and get a coat. I shopped around, but getting a tank of a coat, with hood, pockets, right length and double zipper, etc was tricky. It was pricey, but lasted a decade or so. I think I'm on my third winter coat since moving to Mpls in '78, maybe fourth. Not counting my Antarctica parka which isn't nearly as warm...

[daedala.livejournal.com]

I'm very fond of my Land's End Down Commuter Coat. There's both a long and a longer version: http://www.landsend.com/ix/index.html?store=le&action=newSearch&search=down+commuter+coat

It has excellent pockets, is warm enough that I don't have problems waiting for the bus, and has a hood.

[romsfuulynn.livejournal.com]

Hah - I should have read to the end of the comments - this is the same coat I recommended.

[von-krag.livejournal.com]

My sometimes SO Em went to here (http://www.landsend.com/ix/outerwear/Outerwear/Women/Jackets-Coats/Coat+Length=Just+Above+Knee/index.html?seq=1~2~3~4~5&catNumbers=1028~1029~1034&visible=1~2~1~1~1&store=le&sort=Recommended&pageSize=12&tab=7), Lands End.com for hers this year. As far as I know she's very happy.

[wombat-socho.livejournal.com]

Kaplan's on Lake Street, if it's still open. It had a pretty wide variety of winter wear, mostly in the heavy-duty construction worker style, but all very reasonably priced.

[pyffe.livejournal.com]

If you were near me, I'd let you choose from my 'extras closet'! People give me nice coats all the time. NICE coats. But I don't wear any of them. I'm one of those people that rarely wears a real coat. I stick to one extra layer, most days, but not coats. (Hmm... Maybe that's why people give them to me!) I have them in nearly all sizes, too. Guess I should donate them all some day.

The strange thing is... I've always wanted to choose my own coat. But since I have so many, I can't bring myself to buy what I'd really want. Weird.

[pameladean]

I got my coat from Junonia, but the drawback is you can't try them on; it's just a website. They are having an outerwear sale, though.

P.

[sraun]

Lands End Inlets at 78th & Lyndale, I-394 first exit west of 169, and Woodbury (I-94 & Radio Drive?). Most of their stuff is sold at catalog prices, there's usually some stuff at significant discounts in the back corners.

Lands End Outlet at HarMar has all their product at significant discount. But the selection is dependent on what's been returned or retired recently.