On the lookout for a new winter coat? Beauty editor Laura Mulley thinks she’s found it with this duvet-style puffer coat that keeps you so warm even when temperatures plummet
Living in the north of England, a warm and practical winter coat is an essential item in my wardrobe, having to practically live in it throughout the autumn and winter months. Thick, duvet-like puffer coats are hugely popular at the moment, and if you’re looking for a recommendation for an excellent one, I’ve found it – and it’s better than my old one that was double the price.
I recently swapped my old The North Face puffer coat – which cost at least £400 when bought new a few years ago, and which still retails for around this price – for a similar style coat but which costs around half the price: Columbia’s Amaze Puff Long Hooded Down Puffer – and I’m super impressed by how warm and snuggly it is.
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The long one that I’ve got costs £270, and while the exact long black style I’ve got is now only available in limited sizes online, you can find various other colours and sizes both on the Columbia website and on ASOS. And if you’re willing to sacrifice a little length, the midi version of the black is still available in all sizes on the brand’s website for £235.
There are a number of reasons why I think it outperforms my previous coat in terms of warmth, comfort and fit. Firstly – and perhaps my old coat had gone a little flat over time – but it just feels softer, puffier and more cloud-like, really cocooning the body.
Unlike my North Face one, is also has adjustable elastic ties around the waist on the inside, which not only adds a little shape but also pulls the coat closer to your body. Additionally there are also cuffs with thumbholes on the sleeves, stopping gusts of wind from creeping up your coat sleeves.
Other practical features include a removable hood, fleece-lined pockets and straps for carrying the coat on your back if you get too hot – something that I didn’t realise was a thing until I saw my friend make use of those in her coat on an unexpectedly warm day.
One minor downside is that I do find that the zip occasionally gets stuck and needs some wiggling to get free, and it is a little bit closer fitting to the body than my old one; if you’re between sizes and planning on wearing it over lots of thick layers, you may want to go up a size.
If £270 (or £235) is out of your budget, I’ve also found some cheaper options: this French Connection coat in this season’s must-have shade, chocolate brown, is now reduced from £159.99 to an impressive £39.99 here, while for something a little trendier, this shiny berry-coloured Feather & Down Stormwear Diamond Quilted Padded Coat from M&S is £115.
