<p>Wnp, yes, it does depend on the kid and the location. My East Coaster girl is not into trends; the NF coats just happened to be on sale, so that’s what she got (big girl’s XL since she wears S/M). The MK coat was my great find at Costsco (it is very similar to the coat in your link) for $50. D said it was too hot and bulky for pretty much anything (even running to and from her water polo practices). Some kids are too warm blooded, I guess. Plus it never gets too cold in Boston compared to some other places further north and inland. </p>
<p>Just some heads up: Nordstrom’s sale will begin next week. I think they are doing “presselling” again.</p>
<p>This is interesting. Our son was all about having a Northface fleece in high school which he saved for and promptly lost. Then the long endeavor to replace it for college. My goodness. Life was all about NF back then. He came home from Boston for first Thanksgiving wearing an army surplus olive green sort of heavy cotton canvas thing. I asked about the NF and he looked at me as if I were crazy. Then somewhere along the line he acquired quite a nice Tumi down jacket, very European looking and sleek. Apparently, that was under the guidance of the GF with good fashion taste. He wore that until all the down leaked out . . . when I visited him on campus in winter I rarely saw NF. I would see girls in great big oversized university hooded sweatshirts and lots of scarves, or under a jacket with the hood out.</p>
<p>DD – a hs senior in the NE – longed for a J Crew wool walking coat last winter, which I broke down and got for her on sale in February. She adores it. It’s teal and seems to work with all colors, including jeans. She never liked NF.</p>
<p>The majority of students wear NF at D2’s university but the fashionistas have made the switch to Patagonia around here also. D2 has NF, Burberry and Michael Kors and now wants a new Patagonia. I told her she has no more room in her school closet! ;)</p>
<p>For years, DH wore a cheap jacket that he got at Costco. It was OK, but not really nice looking. Then one year he was sent to a conference in Europe where he was supposed to wear a suit. Bomber style jacket over a suit… Not a pretty sight. Especially in one of the fashion capitals of the world! Believe it or not, my Mr Never Shops went shopping with me to three different malls looking for a coat that would be durable, waterproof, not a budget killer, and look good over a suit. Thank goodness for the Burberry outlet! :)</p>
<p>I have that Eddie Bauer long, down coat–bought it two years ago before I lost weight. It’s incredibly comfortable and very, very warm. I live in a small town outside of the Boston metro area that gets much more snow and is colder than the metro area. So staying warm is key, for me. The coat is big on me now and I’m going to donate it along with other clothing to a local charity. Debating about replacing it with a smaller size because it’s so warm. </p>
<p>I didn’t think the quality was much different than the Eddie Bauer puffer, but it probably is more stylish. Not sure if that’s the reason for the big price difference. I see lot of the local high school kids wearing NF and Patagonia.</p>
<p>Bromfield- your D must be doing well. It is a beautiful coat.
My D is at school in the Midwest and NF and college hoodies are what must kids wear. She has something similar to the NF Thunder jacket. It is super lightweight but really warm. She also has another NF. The switch to Patagonia is interesting since D wore Patagonia when she was younger. Patagonia is from our neck of the woods and we all wore Patagonia before Patagonia became cool.
My youngest wants to go to school in a cold climate so she can buy an assortment of warm weather wear.
I need a new fleece. I love my Horny Toad fleece jacket. It is super soft and warm and a bit stylish. My problem is a good one to have. Since Weight Loss for Dummies I have lost some weight and my Horny Toad fleece favorites are now way tooooo large.</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads up for Nordstroms, I rarely ever go to the malls or downtown anymore, but D2 does need a coat- it gets really cold in Bellingham- but I also cannot predict her taste at all.
I am going to suggest the Nordstrom link.</p>
<p>It’s interesting how hard it is to find the ideal winter coat. I’m still looking for the faux fur on the inside, water resistant on the outside, longish, sleek coat . . . that I can afford.</p>
<p>In terms of salary, she’s not making much, but she’s doing what she loves. My H indulges his kids–so when she was visiting and said she needed a fall jacket and a winter jacket, he gave her his credit card. She’s got great taste and always buys the right stuff. Her sister and I are just the opposite.</p>
<p>I’m getting even with DH. While he was enjoying great food, museums, and the whole nine yards in Europe, I treated myself to a leather skirt (NOT made in China; Italy, I think). Way cheaper than my would be airfare to Europe, so I still have money left Now my inner biker girl is craving leather pants… Am I crazy to even think of leather pants? Are these reserved for under-30 and/or biker/rocker crowd?</p>
<p>^Good thing I didn’t see that zebra cardigan before the soiree - of course mine cost about 1/10th the amount of that one. I had a leather skirt before babies - it was so comfortable…</p>
<p>interesting comments about the long down coat…my D’s both attend college in PA, one in a city that gets cold but not as cold as we expect my freshman in the middle of the state will experience. D1 did want a longer down jacket and, freshman year, splurged (for her) and bought a NF Metro down jacket and had it all of 3 days…when it was stolen during a fraternity party. On another thread, I posted that tale of woe (D was so upset!) and learned about the need for a ‘fracket’ – an inexpensive jacket to wear to fraternity parties. My D definitely learned the hard way. I do think D2 is in for a surprise with regard to the weather, since we’re from the west coast. She also joined the crew team and I can’t imagine how cold it’s going to be in February on the water!</p>
<p>Patagonia is very popular on my son’s campus (NF is so high school ). They call it ‘Fratagonia’ as it is particular popular with the fraternities.</p>
<p>I have to smile reading about all the down coat posts. Here in the south, if I wear a lightweight wool coat more than six times in a year it’s considered to be a particularly cold winter. Mostly you see unlined trench coats.</p>
<p>MomLive - ^^^^^ I will be thinking of you as I freeze in the FB stands in November. </p>
<p>BB, I understand your attraction to leather pants. I really do. And, I have a hunch you could pull it off. I think leather pants send a “look at me” message that is best saved for our girls or maybe while on vacation where we will not run into people we know in our everyday lives. On the other hand, you are probably a decade younger than me, so what the heck?</p>
<p>BB, I always wanted a leather skirt, but I could never quite work up the confidence to wear one, so I never did actually buy one. And now I’m probably too old. Ah, another dream unlived I think you could probably pull off the pants.</p>
<p>If you have good legs I would go for the leather pants - not really as much age appropriate as figure appropriate IMO. Suede pants are more subtle and more forgiving of figure flaws than shiny leather, which leaves little to the imagination.</p>
<p>My D has a full length Burberry velvet coat (Christmas present from grandma). Quite chic and warm.</p>
<p>SewHappy, you must be looking for the same coat I am. My favorited coat of all time was purchased approx. 10 years ago, heavy fleece, reversible, brown/black print on one side, black on the other, so soft and so warm. Was made by “Denali”, it was machine washable as well. The nylon lining in most winter coats drives me crazy for some reason…slippery, staticy, ewww. I still have the coat, but it now resembles the Velveteen rabbit, it’s gone way above and beyond the call of duty. If any of you shoppers out there come across something like this, I’d be eternally grateful.</p>
Plus it never gets too cold in Boston compared to some other places further north and inland. </p>
(NOT made in China; Italy, I think). Way cheaper than my would be airfare to Europe, so I still have money left 
Now my inner biker girl is craving leather pants… Am I crazy to even think of leather pants? Are these reserved for under-30 and/or biker/rocker crowd?</p>