I have been looking for a winter coat…
In fact, I have been looking for one for years… It’s not as if I didn’t have a coat, I have several. But since it’s been 3 years since I last bought a winter coat, I’m a bit tired of the coats I have (and most of them are much older than 3 years…), and some of them are starting to show some wear and tear…
So what do I look for in a winter coat?
I share my time between two countries: Finland and the U.K. The climate in the U.K is quite similar to Finland most of the year, except in winter. So, it is obvious that I need more than one winter coat. in fact, I think I need no less than 4:
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| 1: Brora Tweed Coat / Creenstone Parka 2: Max Mara Weekend Parka 3: Joutsen down coat |
Winter in the U.K is mild, so not very cold
(my British readers may feel like protesting now, but please hear me out: my definition of cold is based on personal experience of a climate much, much colder…) However, it rains a lot. So, a rain-proof coat with a hood is a must (and this type of coat is the current number one on my wish list). But I’m not too fond of parkas, and would prefer something a bit less sporty and more chic. A tall order…
On a sunny day a wool coat is the perfect choice. Which is great as I love lightweight wool coats, and wouldn’t mind getting a new one. It should be long enough to wear over dresses but not too bulky. And it should travel well, i.e. it should emerge from the airplane overhead locker looking pristine.
And then there’s Finland, where I spend most of my time.
The above-mentioned coats would be perfect, but only for late autumn or early spring. Winter is a different matter altogether. Let me give you an example of a typical work day: there I am, standing on the platform waiting for the train / at the bus stop cursing at the bus that I just missed, it’s snowing, it’s freezing cold and I just want to get home. Or move to Australia (if it’s February and I’m fed up with the cold weather and the snow and just feel like burning all my winter clothes…). Or it’s zero degrees celsius, sleet everywhere and I just slipped on ice…
A lightweight, water-proof down coat is the only sensible choice for 0°C / 32°F. And if it doesn’t have a hood, forget it. You need something to cover your head when you have something wet that barely resembles snow raining on you from all directions…
And then there’s the mid-winter freeze… a few days or weeks, maybe a month, when it gets really, really cold: from -10°C / 14°F to -20°C / -4°F. Some of my readers live in warm countries and may find it difficult to imagine how cold that is. Let me put it this way: the temperature inside your fridge is only about +6°C / 42.8°F… and yes, we do go out, the trains are on time, and everyone is expected to get to work on time… So, I need a heavy-duty (but lightweight), super warm down coat, with a hood.
So, now I just have to decide which type of coat to get
as I can’t afford to replace all 4 types of coats at the same time. As I said, I was hoping to find something for the rainy British weather, but so far I haven’t seen anything I like. And I’m a bit tired of my old cold-weather down coat, too, as it must be at least 7 years old… but then again, if you wear something every single day for weeks on end, you’re bound to want to burn it by April, anyway…
And I have to confess: I have been ogling wool coats… I know, I probably won’t get much use out of it, except on my weekend visits to Homebase 2, if it turns out to be a nice, mild winter in Britain, that is…
So, I haven’t quite decided yet which type of a coat to get, but I’ll keep you posted…
Any suggestions?
Tiina