1. NAU red hooded coat // 2. ESPRIT navy coat // 3. J.Crew army coat // 4. Anne Klein hooded coat // 5. Scotch & Soda army coat
DEAR ANDI:
I am in the market for a new winter coat—not puffy (my current one makes me feel like a marshmallow) and preferably with a hood and zipper. Any thoughts on where to look?
-Stacey, New York
Dear Stacey,
I feel your pain. Living in New York in the winter, it’s always a challenge to look both flattering and fashionable when you just want to bundle up and feel warm!
The trick to not feeling like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man is to make sure your waist is nipped in or belted—then you won’t feel bad about your puffy shell.
I splurged on my last winter coat and bought a Nau jacket like this one, which is remarkably thin, but packed densely with down, so it doesn’t look like a big puffer coat but it definitely keeps you warm like one. Not to mention, it’s waterproof, so you don’t get that nasty wet feather smell and you stay perfectly dry.
I’m all about the bargains, but I really feel that if you live in a climate like ours, you should invest in a good quality winter coat. People don’t think twice about spending $300 on a dress you wear a couple of times to a wedding, but when it comes to something you wear for nearly half of the year, it’s worth the cost.
That being said, you can certainly look for deals on coats at places like T.J.Maxx and Marshalls, as well as sales like this coat that has a major markdown.
Stay warm and stylish!