Things didn’t take long to hit bottom after the season’s first snow. This week, temperatures fell into the teens, bringing with it general misery. I gave serious thought to wearing snow pants to the office, but by the end of the morning’s first hot chocolate, I was able to talk myself down to just wearing fleece-lined tights under wool trousers.
Speaking of fleece-lined tights, I hope all of you near me in latitude and continentality (or north of me; *shiver*) picked up dozens of those UO ones that I kept pushing on you over the years. I now have some 50 unopened pairs just sitting in my closet waiting to be called to duty.
One category of apparel I start to order in bulk when it gets cold is coats. Today I want to share some photos and my thoughts on J. Crew’s Perfect Winter Parka, which is a stylish yet functional option. It will not replace that full-length down-filled puffer for especially biting winter days (if it’s below 20°F, you will need stronger defenses), but should be adequate, with its sherpa-lined hood, water-resistant insulation, and quilted inner layer, for most winters, when equipped with the right base layers (like pieces from Uniqlo’s HEATTECH collection).
Most reviewers found the style to run a size big, but I personally thought my normal size fit true to size, and the drawstrings on the inside also allow the wearer to create a waistline and moderate the bulkiness of the coat. If you are on the tall end of petite (5’3″+), you may want to order the style in regular sizes, as the sleeves on the petite are barely long enough on 5’2 me.
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| J. Crew Perfect Winter Parka in Wild Olive (size XXSP) || J. Crew Ribbed Beanie with Faux-Fur Pom-Pom in Black (matching scarf here) || Salvatore Ferragamo Ginny Score Medium Leather Shoulder Bag in Lipstick Red (reviewed here) || Acne Studios Canada Scarf in Caramel Brown (reviewed here) || LOFT Petite Seamed Ponte Leggings || Sorel Joan of Arctic™ Boot (also here and here) |
This parka retails for $298, and is often excluded from J. Crew’s storewide sales. Sizes have more or less sold out online, so you may want to check your local store if you are interested.
Here are a few more parkas that caught my eye:
For those of you battling truly cold winters, I will review some Canada Goose options in the coming weeks (specifically the Trillium Parka and the Mystique Parka, which I “borrowed” from my mom’s closet).
