LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION OF THE COAT
The first thing to do is to look at the composition of a coat. A thick fabric is not necessarily warmer than a thin one, it is important to choose a raw material that does not let the cold through and acts as a real barrier.
Wool is a very well known fiber for winter coats. Many coats are made with a wool sheet but not all are 100% wool. To reduce manufacturing costs, brands offer blended wool sheets, which is wool with other fibers. You can find cotton or polyester. Below 60% wool, the coat loses much of its insulating capacity, so always prefer a coat with a higher wool content.
Alpaca, mohair or cashmere compositions are even warmer than wool. Note that cashmere also brings a lot of softness to the coat, but is very expensive.
For down jackets, stuffing with duck down is preferable to simple feathers and synthetic materials.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE LINING
In addition to the composition of the coat, it is essential to inspect the interior. The more layers it has, the more the cold will be stopped. So check that a lining is present. Usually the lining is made of cotton or silk on high-end models. Coats with a fleece lining are very fashionable, it makes the coat very soft to wear and warmer.
When you order a coat online it is sometimes difficult to appreciate the presence or not of a lining. Therefore, it is necessary to look at the photos carefully, do not rush, read the descriptions well and rely on guides to the best coats.
AVOID THAT THE AIR DOES NOT CIRCULATE
A coat where the air can circulate will protect less from the cold, so we must pay attention to 2 aspects in particular:
The width of the sleeves: Prefer a coat with sleeves not too wide and especially with the wrist slightly tightened. This can be elasticated cuffs, ribbed cuffs or tightening system present on the sleeves.
High collar: At the level of the collar the air can generally easily rush under the coat, to protect itself well we advise to turn to a coat with a high collar, or provided with a hood with tabs of closings. Some hoods have a lining and fur to reinforce the thermal barrier. This way, you can protect yourself even more and avoid getting cold in case of rain or snow.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT LENGTH
In the heart of winter, when the cold reaches the lowest temperatures, it is better to go for a long coat or a 3/4 coat rather than a jacket. With such a length, the coat comes down at least below the buttocks to mid-thighs.
THINK ABOUT MULTI-LAYERED COATS
Finally, some coats are well thought out to adapt to the intensity of the cold. They have a removable underlayer that looks like a very thin quilted down jacket. You can put on or take off this underlayer that you attach with a simple zipper. It is therefore easy to wear the same coat in the fall and winter without ever being too hot or too cold.