stemcurious
stemcurious t1_jbhphd1 wrote
Reply to comment by Quail-a-lot in New or vintage women’s parkas? Ll bean, woolrich, CK, etc by Candid_Pear_
seconding Land's End - I bought their mid-thigh length puffer coat in 2017 and it's still going strong. Super warm, hood is detachable, pockets are lined with sweater material AND zippable, and internal cuffs at the wrists to trap heat. I'm 5' 4" and the normal XS fits me well, but it also comes in petite if that's your preference.
source on quality of coat: I lived in Chicago and wore it in 0 F weather.
Best of all, Land's End is probably the only place you'll be able to find a good long puffy coat (which is the coat you will need below 30 F) for around 100 dollars. Otherwise the price for a good coat is usually 200-300. Just wait for one of their 50% sales and you should be under the 100 dollar mark.
stemcurious t1_jbhrzpp wrote
Reply to New or vintage women’s parkas? Ll bean, woolrich, CK, etc by Candid_Pear_
Like a lot of the other commenters have mentioned, you'll probably want 2-3 coats for the weather:
- a long down puffy coat for very cold days
- a waterproof jacket that you can wear a sweater under when it's cooler/wet but not cold enough for the big coat (think 40 - 70 F)
- and optionally, what I call a "fashion coat", or a wool coat that is warm but the primary value is "looks pretty" (good for dry winter weather that isn't too cold)
For the first, I would recommend Land's End. Good quality, lasts a long time, and very warm. On a good sale you can get a coat there for around 100 dollars, which is by far the cheapest you'll find outside of secondhand. You'll probably want this coat to be around knee length. That being said, you can definitely get lucky on secondhand stores.
The second coat is because the Northeast is wet, and there will be plenty of days that won't be cold enough for the heavy coat but will still be clammy and cool. I usually wear a (mostly) waterproof jacket with a sweater layered underneath. If you don't already have a jacket that works for this, mine is an Athleta knee length rain jacket and it's been perfect. Bought it a year and half ago and I've worn it for weeks on end and it still looks good.
The third coat you don't really need, but most people enjoy having a coat that isn't a big puffy jacket because it looks prettier. You probably won't use this coat until next winter, so once you move, thrift stores are a great place to find options. If you're shopping secondhand, you'll want something that's at least 30-40% wool for warmth.