Women's Plus Size Shimmer Down Parka
4.3
5
36
36
Warm, flattering coat with just a few irritating details
First of all, I love this coat! It's the warmest I've owned since I was a kid in a snow suit. It's soft, with fleece around the cuffs, fur around the collar, and satiny lining. I particularly love the puffy insulated hood - seriously the warmest, coziest hood possible. I bought it in "autumn brick" and have gotten many compliments on the color. I also love the two-way zipper, even though it's harder to zip up than a regular one.
I normally wear an 18, and I tried both this coat in 1X and the Cire down parka in XL. Both were a good fit, and the Cire was probably a bit more flattering in cut, but I went with this one because it had a more relaxed fit in the shoulders - really important for my wide shoulders in winter sweaters - and I loved the color.
But, sadly, it's not perfect. The pockets are really small for a winter coat. I'm used to big pockets that will fit my hat and gloves in one, or two bulky mittens, or my full-sized (8-inch) wallet. These pockets will fit one mitten each. My wallet falls out. Also, the fur trim around the collar - I just don't get it! The short-hair style doesn't match the wild furriness around the hood, and it's a bit scratchy on my face. I wish this part were the same soft fleece as the cuffs. Then there's the snap-on hood. Why snaps? They come apart pretty easily, like when you hang the coat by the hood, which you will do once the hanging chain breaks, which it will. Also, the snaps catch on my hair. Or maybe it's the buttons that hold the fur trim on. Either way, something that should have been a zipper is always catching my hair. Okay, one last little gripe. If you're going to put button tabs at the waist, why not add another couple of buttons and make those tabs functional? I would love to be able to adjust the waist a little.
Overall, an excellent coat. Maybe next year's version will be perfect!
April 16, 2013
A faux fur nightmare
My wonderful parka is a faux fur calling card. Whenever i wear or where ever I place my parka leaves a trail of fur. It can be an annoyance and even an embarrassment each day. I have been wearing Lands End outerwear for years and have never had a problem with the faux fur. It just seems like such a strange issue to have with a jacket, but I do. Are there any easy solutions to this issue? Does anyone else have it? I want to keep on wearing this coat, but it is shedding everywhere. Otherwise the parka is fabulous with a great fit, sharp look, and suitable warmth. Beware if you buy this, it is a mess.
February 16, 2013
A great winter parka
I was in need of a new winter parka, and as a plus size, it's often difficult to find one that fits, is warm, and is well-made. This parka fit the bill perfectly for me. I find the fit true to size. It is warm without being bulky. I like the fact that it is a bit longer than most because it is more flattering on me than a parka that stops at the waist or the hip. I admit I was not too sure about the shimmer fabric, but once I received my coat I I found that the shimmer was subtle. I bought the parka in Autumn Brick, and I think the color is very nice. I did get the parka on sale, which was an added bonus.
I do find the hood a bit large, but I have that problem with every parka. I haven't actually fastened it properly yet, so that may not really be an issue. Still, it does not deter me from recommending this parka.
Sine I purchased my parka, I have worn it in very cold weather and in a snow storm. I have been warm and dry in my coat.
I am very happy with my purchase, and highly recommend this parka.
February 14, 2013
True to size, excellent cut and fit.
This is my second Land's End down coat. I needed a warmer coat for Christmas in Saskatchewan. It was perfect for walking the dog. The temperature hit -39 on a couple of days. I was not sure about the faux fur but quickly learned to love it. The collar fur kept the lower half of my chin warm so I did not need a scarf. The fur trim on the hood helped to block the wind. Frozen eyelashes but the rest of me was toasty and warm.
January 22, 2013
Lovely warm coat
I really like the coat because it is warm and lightweight. I have had it since October and so far no sign of feathers poking out. But I wouldn't really mind, it is such a nice coat. I am short and the lenght of the sleeves is good. I wear a 22-24 and the 2X fits nice with a heavy sweater underneath.
January 17, 2013
Perfect Winter Coat
I was looking for a warm winter coat and knew that I wanted down filled and one that wasn't super long or stopped at my waist. After several days and reading many reviews about several different coats. I decided to purchase this coat in Deep Amethyst.
It does feel a bit tight in the shoulders to me (Its tight when I reach both arms out straight in front of me but I prefer loose clothing.) Otherwise it is true to size and quite comfortable with normal movement. The length is perfect as it hits me mid hip (I am 5'6") The coat is toasty warm and light weight and surprisingly not bulky for the type of coat it is. Driving in this is nice as well. the coat does not bunch up around my face and neck when driving but I wouldn't wear it to drive long periods of time as I would most likely be entirely too warm. (It is very easy to put this on in the car before exiting due to the lack of bulk)
The details put in this coat and very nice. The outer fabric is soft to the touch, sheds water and blocks wind. The fur trim is soft and fluffs up nicely after shipping. The fleece sleeve cuff is comfortable and not binding around the wrist but keep the wind and cold out. The fleece pocket lining is nice as well keeping my hands just as warm as my body. The adjustable belt tabs in back are a nice feature that gives the coat a nice shape without being tight. The interior pocket is deep yet is easy to access and reach into and works well for my iphone. The hood is very deep as described in previous reviews but this is a feature I love as it will allow for different hairstyles and protect my face and head from cold and wind. The hood also has a drawstring that allow you to tighten it up.
I was slightly hesitant about the color as it appears to be a bright purple online but wanted to get away from the typical black coats I wear. I was extremely please when the coat arrived and the coat is truly a deep dark amethyst color.
I absolutely love this coat and look forward to enjoying it for many seasons.
This was also my first time ordering from Land's End and I couldn't be happier with the shipping, packaging and customer service I have received.
January 10, 2013
Just what I needed
I am at a odd size between 1x and 2x. I ordered the 1x and it fit just right, a 2x would have been too baggy. It is a pretty, rich purple color that I love. It looks and feels well constructed, with nice finishing touches. And it got delivered on a very cold day. Happy girl!
January 4, 2013
Beautiful!
I love the material, very soft and smooth. The jacket is very light in weight, compact for travelling, especially for overseas when one needs to pack intelligently to avoid overweight fees and yet needs something very warm just in case. I love the way it fits, snug and comfortable when I wear a turtleneck and a fleece pullover underneath. The zipper seems to be a bit challenging to go up and down, will put some wax and see if it gets better. Overall, very good value and I love the stylish look. I definitely don't feel like I am wearing a comforter outdoor in the cold, as with other extreme weather parkas that I owned. The cuffs feel a bit wide, but they are fine when I wear gloves.
December 22, 2012
Best coat I've ever owned!
I bought this coat last winter and loved it so much I ordered another one this year in a different color.
I then ordered my daughter one and after last nights blizzard she called me this morning and was raving about how warm it was.
I also own a wool coat and a columbia coat and this is so much lighter and warmer, I would recommend this for anyone.
December 21, 2012
My Son Has a Teddy Bear - I Have This Coat!!!!
I love this coat. It is warm and soft and poofy. Initially I ordered the longer coat in gray in my normal size. The coat didn't fit well around my bust so I returned it for a bigger one. Besides the larger size I also changed the color and the length. I changed the colors as I thought the gray was too blah for me. I'm very outgoing so the red fit my personality -- and it just felt better to me. I do agree that the red is very shiny, much shinier than the gray. When I first opened the box I thought, "Wow. Shiny penny!". Although, again for me, I'm happier with shiny penny than the gray. I wear a jewel town pashmina-type scarf and it looks fab!
The shorter length also works better for driving. I'm 5'3" and when I sat in my car with the longer coat I felt like I was enshrouded in a big ball of down. With the shorter one, buckling my seat belt, shifting gears etc. are all easier. I removed the fur collar which also seemed to free up the poofy feeling of the coat, however, it's not as warm and the hood seems too big without it. The collar keeps the hood from falling over my eyes. It's starting to get cold in upstate NY so I'm going to reattach the collar. The fleece accents on the wrists and collar are absolutely HEAVENLY. They are the softest quality and it's so comfy that I usually notice how pleasant it is. When we're taking a long drive my son will ask to use it as a blanket because it just feels good.
There has been some feather leakage as noted in other reviews. However, I'm a fan of down and have other down household items. Down leaks. There's no more or less to it - It just does. Of course, it does decrease over time until you only have an occasional feather floating around but expect this to "shed" a little. Others have mentioned they owned other coats that didn't leak out feathers. If so then the coat's shell had to be sturdy and tightly woven (think of the material in Land's End's Squall Jacket). This is a winter coat for that fits plain old everyday life into a modern, pretty shell, so it's soft and lighter. It's more than adequate - but it's gonna leak a little. When it does (I'll see it in my car) I toss it in the dryer on low or no-heat fluff for a while. It fluffs beautifully and knocks out some loose feathers.
Overall, this coat is wonderful and makes me happy. When I grab it to go out I think, "Yaaay, my coat!".
December 1, 2012