The Range: Long Puffer Coats
Dec 7, 2020
Spending the winter in Montana is a question of proper preparation. You need a coat, gloves, hat, boots, thermal underwear, hand warmers, a space heater, a heating pad, an electric kettle, and prayer. Because the walk from the parking lot to the Capitol may only be a few hundred yards, but in the frigid wind and blowing snow, you might as well be Shackleton on an ice floe. But maybe today, we just start with a coat.
Corner Office
Cubicle Farm
LL Bean Maxi Hooded Puffer (also in petite)
Front Desk
Plus-Size
Lane Bryant Maxi Hooded Puffer
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Both Lands End and Eddie Bauer are having serious outerwear sales (50-60% off). As a fellow northerner with kids who play hockey–inside and out–I have found a long down coat absolutely necessary for survival. This year I am adding a truly waterproof version to my collection for walking in the neighborhood while it is snowing.
I have a long puffer from Lands End and it’s been great during my Michigan winters. It probably feels a bit bulkier than the Northface one many my friends have but it works for me and I bought it on their 50% off sale several years ago.
Land’s End is where it’s at for long coats. Always, and I mean always, on sale, very warm, and a good size range.
Have you tried any of the battery-operated warming vests/jackets on the market (like Ororo)? I don’t own one, but I know someone who swears by hers.
I have one, bought nearly 2 years ago in anticipation of freezing temperatures and having to sit long hours in the cold. It is a life saver. It works very well as a vest without the power on, and I usually start off that way and put the heat on later when I really need it. It keeps my core warm, which can save me friom getting chilled toi the bone. Mine is by Outcool; but there are many more on the market and prices have dropped significantly since I bought mine. I
YES to heated vests!! We live in Minnesota, daughter ski races, son plays hockey … I am never warm in the winter! My husband and I each bought a down Ororo vest early last winter and absolutely LOVE them. We’ve even been known to wear them around the house when we feel chilled. This summer, I bought the unisex fleece vest on major clearance and love it even more than the down. Wish they made kids sizes – our daughter is impatiently waiting to be big enough to fit into one herself to wear over her speed suit on practice nights and between race runs.
I should add, I invested in a stupid expensive Canada Goose jacket about 4 years ago and have no regrets. I wear it all the time for our outdoor lifestyle. The fleece Ororo vest will layer perfectly underneath it on the subzero days I have to be outside.
I just have to say, I really appreciate reading a fashion blogger that truly understands the same winter fashion conundrums that I have in Minnesota. I was getting sick of seeing winter outdoor fashion posts with lots of exposed skin, no hat, scarf, or mittens, and completely impractical footwear. Bring on the knee length puffer coats.
I’m surprised I haven’t seen more fashion sites talk about Mackage and Soia & Kyo. They are Canadian brands (Duchess of Sussex has worn both) and they are WARM while also being much prettier than just about any other puffers I’ve seen. The hoods are nice and deep and I personally like the interior bibs most of the Soia & Kyo puffers have (like a built in vest) so that if you heat up you can unzip the full coat but still leave the bib zipped to cover your core.