Fashionably Late

When I first got to the University of Michigan, I noticed that the main concern amongst the freshman was the weather. We all know that the state of Michigan gets cold. Not cold as in brrrr it’s chilly, I need to grab scarf on my way out. But cold as in, if I am outside and not wearing four pairs of socks, three sweaters, and the warmest coat in existence I will get frostbite and/or die. Now, I am no stranger to cold weather. I grew up in the city of Chicago, about four hours from Ann Arbor, and along with wind so strong it can lift you off your feet, we have plenty of days so cold it’s dangerous to go out doors.

The thing about winters in Ann Arbor that makes them seem so much colder than they are is the amount of time spent outside in the cold. The time I spent outside during my adolescent winters in Chicago was minimal. I went directly from my house to the car and directly from the car into my school, followed by the reverse process to get home. Therefore, my coat did not need to be the most practical piece of equipment.

When talking to older students about how people deal with the winter, all replied the same way. “Ever girl in Ann Arbor looks the same in the winter, they wear those long black North Face coats and a pair of Uggs. We can never tell who any one is!”
After hearing this, I thought, Okay I can get a long coat, that seems practical. But look like everyone else? Not okay with me. Thus I embarked on a mission to find a long, warm winter coat that was not only different, but one that did not empty my wallet.

DKNY "Bethany Circe" Down Coat
The classic long North Face “Metropolis” coat hits just at the knee—depending on your height—and boasts a very warm 600 fill down insulation and costs about $280. Working within this price point, Bloomingdales.com offers two great coats that meet all your needs for winter. The first is the DKNY “Bethany Cire” Down Coat that costs $278. This coat not only has a hood, but an extremely warm knit collar to keep any wind or snow from sneaking inside and cooling you down. In addition to the warm down fill, there is an inside zipper that keeps your coat close and snug to your body for extra warmth.

Laundry by Shelli Seagal Coat
The second is a coat from Laundry by Shelli Segal and costs $286. This coat is as long as the DKNY coat and it has great angled stitching so even thought you are covered in puffy material your figure doesn’t get lost and you don’t look larger than you actually are—a common problem with puffy down filled jackets. Along with warm down fill this coat has a hood lined with faux fur, which is great for blocking snow from your face and keeping those cheeks warm.

 L.L.Bean Coat

For those who want to spend a little less, L.L.Bean makes the coat for you. At $149 this coat keeps all the bang for way less buck without losing a bit of style. With 650 fill down you’re going to be warm wherever you walk in this coat. It also has a faux fur hood, quilted stitching and a boxy fit. If you find yourself getting tired of buying a basic black coat winter after winter, this one comes in five different colors including a soft periwinkle blue and a vibrant red.


Marc New York Coat

The final and cheapest option is a Marc New York coat, sold by the Burlington Coat Factory for $99. This coat is filled with 60% duck down and while it is definitely a warm coat, it’s probably not the warmest option out of all the choices. It has a faux fur hood for keeping your face warm and vertical stitching to elongate your frame and keep you from looking too big in a puffy jacket.


 Mukluks
Now, what is just as important as your coat are the accessories you wear with it.  If you are looking for an alternative to Uggs, endless.com sells knockoffs of the very stylish and very warm boots called Mukluks.  They have furry insulation and are covered in faux rabbit fur on the outside.  However, the prices range on the high side (around $200) but the original Mukluks cost about $400 and to me it’s worth it to keep those toes warm.  I’ve found that Urban Outfitters always has very cute and moderately priced hats and gloves. Urban Outfitters has several great knit beanie hats for keeping you warm. My two favorites are the BDG Cable Knit Beanie for $20 and the BDG Ribbed Slouchy Beanie for $28 both of which come in five different colors. These hats are thick knits and they are offered in a wide variety of colors so you can match them with whichever coat you choose.

Another accessory I would not face the winter without are convertible gloves. I hate mittens because I always find myself needing take them off in the cold to pick something up or use my fingers. With convertible gloves there is a pocket that you can cover the tips of your fingers with, creating a mitten, but if you ever need to use your hands you can take off the mitten part without completely removing the glove. Genius! Urban Outfitters sells the Solid Convertible Glove for $16 and it comes in four great colors, my favorite being the red. To add just a little more individuality to your look, check out forever21.com for a huge assortment of cheap scarves in many different fabrics and patterns.

I am fully confident that with a little careful shopping we can all face this winter with a minimum risk of frostbite or blending in with the crowd.