The Best Coat for Chicago Winters (That also works for petites!)
I found the best Chicago winter coat that costs way less than Canada Goose and looks cute on petites!
shop the look:
Jacket: Lole (I’m wearing an XS and I can still fit sweaters underneath!) | Beanie: Halogen | Leggings: c/o Everlane (Read more about them in this post!) | Booties: c/o Everlane (I am so in love with these booties – they’re so beautiful in real life!) | Bag: Everlane
Before we dive in, I thought I’d acknowledge what a sad, weird, confusing past few days it’s been. Even if you aren’t a huge basketball fan, the news about Kobe Bryant and his daughter is still shocking and heartbreaking. I can’t stop thinking about that beautiful 13-year-old girl, and what a tragic day yesterday was for the rest of their family, especially Vanessa. It’s such a stark reminder that life is precious and not to be taken for granted. As Lizzo said last night at the Grammys “All of my little problems that I thought were big as the world were gone, and I realized that there are people hurting right now.” I’m going to do my best to enter this next week with perspective and compassion.
Why is this the best coat for Chicago winters?
I wasn’t planning on writing a post solely dedicated to this coat, but I’ve gotten a ton of questions about it since I first showed you on my stories. Instead of relying on those saved stories in my Try-On Highlight, I thought it would be helpful to have all of the information in a blog post!
After all, shopping for a new winter jacket can be really overwhelming. There are SO many different brands, a huge range of price points, and so many different styles! When the temps dip really low, I’ve been wearing my J.Crew puffer which isn’t quite warm enough. So I realized that I really needed a really strong winter coat – one that is both warm and long enough (but not too long!) to make walks with Luna more bearable. Here’s why I decided it was the best choice for me…
Price
When it comes to winter coats, you want to make sure you’re getting a really quality coat that will actually keep you warm. And while higher prices don’t always mean more warmth, they do require a little bit of an investment. That being said, I just can’t stomach the price of Canada Goose coats. I just can’t. That $1000 is much more useful in my savings account! There had to be something in between crazy expensive and something cheap that won’t last! This Lole coat is originally over $400, but it’s marked down right now to $225.
Quality and Warmth
If you’re wondering what makes it worth the price, the quality and warmth are the biggest reasons. This coat doesn’t mess around. It’s made with responsibly-sourced down and the shell is water repellent. There’s also a detachable hood with faux-fur! In terms of warmth, it has 550 fill power and the insulation will protect against temperatures as low as -4 degrees! So impressive!
Fit
This is where I can be very picky. Because I’m only 5’2″, a lot of coats (especially puffy styles) are way too overwhelming on me. I either look like a marshmallow or it looks like I’m wearing a sleeping bag ? For example, North Face has a great reputation, but their warmest coats weren’t nearly as cute as this one. And even though it’s pretty long, it’s such a slimming silhouette that the extra length is kind of nice! I honestly didn’t think a super warm coat could be this flattering. It’s so good!
*In terms of sizing, I have an XS and there is still room underneath for sweaters. I’d recommend buying your usual size!
What do you think is the best coat for Chicago winters?
Let me know if you have any other favorite brands or styles! I’d love to hear about them!
PS. You might also like The Best of Chicago Restaurant Week 2020 and my Everlane Leggings Review.
January 27, 2020 @ 11:12 am
I have lived in the Chicago area for most of my life. I have had so many coats for the winter. This year I had one in mind because the coat that I had worn for quite some time was beginning to show wear. I do have a number of coats but I wanted one that would be considered a “ski” coat. That is what it would be replacing. I can not tell you how many places I went to and would get one arm in and would say to my husband -no. I am rather tall and have longer arms. Many of the coats in my size therefore ran small for that reason. We ended up at an outlet store and found a jacket. It fit. It wasn’t really my style but I bought it anyway. It also helped it was more on sale than we thought. Found out it was a man’s coat. While I am not in love with the coat, it will do for now. I am not frivolous with money but because I walk a lot even in the cold I needed something.
I appreciate your evaluation of coats and how they fit with and without sweaters. While right now it is not that cold (it has been worse), I am sure at some point it will be.
January 27, 2020 @ 11:24 am
Hi Maureen! I totally understand this struggle – it’s really hard to find the perfect one! I know it’s more expensive, but I have also heard RAVE reviews about Lole’s Marybeth Coat (http://bit.ly/2Z7sagP) and the only reason why I didn’t get it is because I’ve heard that the proportions are better for taller women… so that might be a great option for you! It is even warmer than the one I got (and warmer than Canada Goose coats too!), which is pretty cool. And it’s on sale!
February 5, 2020 @ 1:51 am
Whao, the bag looks so good and spacious!