<p>My S (from Florida) will be going to school in a colder climate and will need a coat. Although stating the obvious, living in FL we have absolutely no ideas what is in style. I was hoping to pick up a coat at the end of the season and save some money but have no idea what to buy. Add to that my S is a self proclaimed prep. Any recommendations?</p>
<p>I’m a big fan of peacoats, especially if your son is a prep. Black wool is the best. Otherwise, if your son wants something just for every day activities, that he doesn’t mind getting dirty, try a down puffer jacket- you can get one of those anywhere. I got a great one in Wal-mart in Vermont that I’ve had for three years.</p>
<p>Down coats are timeless, practical, warm, and comforting. I think they cross all “style” lines for students. And can also be water resistant/proof. Sierra Trading Post, Eastern Mountain Sports, Eddie Bauer, LLBean, Overstock—put a “dot com” after any of those, and you should be able to find some high quality bargains right about now.</p>
<p>There was a thread on a similar theme posted back when the cold weather first hit. Your S may want to consider the layering method–thermal knit shirts, sweater, vest, and jacket. Eddie Bauer also has an outlet attached to its main site.</p>
<p>For my kids, light was the key. Bulky coats just didn’t cut it and they would wear a light spring coat instead in freezing weather. If you want to go ultra light, extravagant, Northface has a special light down jacket that is ever so warm and truly light as a feather. Mine would not be able to take care of a pea coat or anything with the wool. But then, different kids do well with different attire.</p>
<p>It’s kind of late to buy a winter coat. I am in PA and the winter coat clearance has been over for several weeks. You may be better off to wait until August or September. However, some online places you can try are:
American Eagle Outfitters (common looking styles here)
Abercrombie and Fitch or Hollister or Aeropostale…cool, but not sure if they have outerwear!
LLBean
Lands End
Eddie Bauer
The kids here don’t wear wool much. They usually wear fleece or sweatshirts for moderate weather (30 to 50 degrees). For colder weather (less than 30 degrees), many kids wear coats that are a fabric such as supplex nylon on the exterior and fleece on the inside, which is more wind resistant than fleece, but not much warmer. The next warmer material is a synthetic down, which is a layer sandwiched inbetween the inside and outside…it is sometimes called Thinsulate. I think that down (650 fill) is the warmest…it is pretty lightweight, too, but bulkier feeling, and a problem if it gets soaking wet. If you are in a rainy area, Gortex is helpful for waterproofing, but expensive. Note, that usually a “jacket” is about waist-length and a “parka” covers down to the hip. Personally, I would suggest the Supplex nylon/Thinsulate/fleece type with a hood for a student (heaven forbid that they use an umbrella!). It can easily be machine washed and dried, and is lightweight. How far north are you going? Don’t forget sturdy, winter-worthy footwear!</p>
<p>JCPenney.com has an outlet attached to their website as well. It is onthe right side of the page, its says online outlet. Every weds. they have their Wednesday Deals and sometimes jackets are on the list, last week it was XL twin size sheets for 5.99. But they have deals all week long as well. I do know they carry Columbia and some other heavy duty brands.</p>
<p>For right now when you go to check out if you put in the promotional code:
WEL5FEB shipping and handling is free!!</p>
<p>I purchased my youngest son’s winter jacket from there a month or so ago. I think I paid about $25 with free shipping. The jacket was reg. $160 or so. They also had a good deal on waterproof boots for women and men as well.</p>
<p>Eddiebauer.com also has an outlet and does landends end…they have a mark down counter that lowers the price on Mondays 25%, Weds 50% and Fridays 75% off the outlet sale price. I purchased son’s dress shirts, and slacks from there. The shirts ended up being $3.50 and $4.00. Shipping is about 3.95-6.95 depending on the amount of purchase.</p>
<p>Items purchased at the online stores at JCPenney’s can be returned to the store and those from LandsEnd can be returned to a Sears store. Same with eddie bauer and REI. If you ship to an REI store from purchasing online at the REI outlet than shipping is also free.</p>
<p>Hope this helps, can you tell I have 5 kids!!!</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>Thank you all for the advice. I ordered an Eddie Bauer packable goose down jacket, (half price) but it may be overkill. I think he would like a pea coat(S would like a jacket he can were over a blazer if necessary) but I haven’t found one yet. The advice about thinner makes sense. He is only going to Nashville, which I am sure to some of you is warmer weather. Thanks again.
Knowing things will be expensive next year, trying to get ahead of things.</p>
<p>Nashville! Yes, my daughter would consider that a tropical vacation! Packable goose down should be fine there. For a fine English pea coat that any preppy would love–one that would easily double as a handsome overcoat–hugely marked down, (but still over $100), see the first company I listed in post #3. Search “pea coat” at their website, and you’ll find it. (If he needs smaller than a 40R it won’t work for you.) We buy most of our outerwear there, some really great deals.</p>
<p>Thanks for the JCPenny tip. Sheets unfortunately are sold out - but I will check back. I also have a return to go to Landsend. I didn’t know that I could return to Sears. Thanks for the valuable tips.</p>
<p>Down may indeed be too much. I think a fleece that can zip into a water-proof and windproof shell makes more sense because it provides more flexibility and is likely to be more widely worn by his peers. (Example: The North Face Denali fleece jacket, which zips into a variety of TNF Summit Series shells. Other manufaccturers make similar combinations.)</p>
<p>If my son went to TN, he would wear shorts all year long! You may be able to find a knee-length men’s dress coat on sale at a department store that would be appropriate for dress occasions. I just got a long dress coat for my son a couple of weeks ago marked down from $400 to $150! For a suit or blazer, there is really no other good choice.</p>
<p>How north is he going? </p>
<p>My winter essentials are: Northface fleece jacket, a waterproof puffy down jacket (believe me, when the snow and ice come…), and a nice long black jacket.</p>
<p>Ok, maybe he won’t go for this BUT my (male) cousin just bought a cashmere sweater and he’s in LOVE with it. I know he secretly loves how soft it is, how nice it makes him look, and how WARM it is. It just snowed recently and he was warm enough to walk to lunch from work in his sweater, a scarf, and a hat. </p>
<p>Don’t forget the other parts of the winter attire: boots, gloves, hats, scarves! For scarves I’d choose something in a good fabric that isn’t too clunky. Oh! And check out gap.com. They have sale on winter items and their spring line is coming in. 
They have a nice lambswool scarf.</p>
<p>A prep? Hands down there is but one source: The Northface. The thin microfiber jackets, nothing bulky is cool.</p>
<p>I concur…North Face is the only way to go if he is a “self proclaimed prep.”</p>
<p>I just ordered a North Face vest for my daughter at the REI outlet.</p>
<p>I would recommend a fleece and a shell. The shell can be used as a raincoat.</p>
<p>We live in Chicago and have the fleece, the shell, the puffy/Nuptse and the vest for each girl. My senior has had the shell and the puffy for four years. </p>
<p>They may be a little more money, but they are worth it.</p>
<p>One of the other suggestions is to wait until your son gets to the college, but it sounds like you already went for the down fluffy. Hate to say it, but that’s what I, a Mom, wear. My 17 year old son wears a hooded sweatshirt with a thin jacket everyday. My daughter wears one of those Columbia layered jackets - she’s in College in IL. There are always sales! : ) It’s not going to get cold weather coat weather until after Thanksgiving, maybe you can get another one then. I’m a planner and saver myself but sometimes it’s better to wait…</p>
<p>You will not need a down coat Nashville. If you can take it back I would. My parents live in Knoxville and they don’t need their heavy winter coats. I second the recommendation of a North Face Denali, very popular here. I have a REI One jacket. It is thin but is water resistant and has a wind blocker. It is very warm and would be perfect in Nashville. Other brands that are popular are Mountain Hardware and Marmot.</p>
<p>I used to buy gorgeous winter coats at the thrift stores in Florida–if your son likes the prep style, he might be able to find an old camel hair overcoat.</p>
<p>The Bowdoin kids are all wearing LL Bean, North Face, and Columbia.</p>
<p>I suggest getting a medium-weight coat + several sweaters & sweatshirts + knit hat + scarf + gloves. Then wait, and let your son either purchase what he wants on campus, or tell you what he wants to order from an online outlet. Also, be sure your son has raingear. </p>
<p>I’ve been throught this before, and the problem is that each campus has its own style. I favored buying a down parka (the rustic, outdoorsy look) - but my son came back after the first semester wanting a full length, wool dress coat (the rich preppie look). The kid will be warm enough with layering through mid-October, at least. Also, heavy coats take out an inordinate amount of space in luggage- another reason to wait, & buy locally. </p>
<p>And as to the raingear? The first thing my California kids learned when wintering for the first time in cold climates, is that it is rain, not snow, that makes for true misery. Frigid + dry is not nearly as bad as moderately cold + soaking wet.</p>