Unless the composition of this coat has changed over the past five years, this coat is ideal for NE. I have owned it for several years and have washed it many, many times as I have one in white. I live in an area where the temps drop to below zero most of the winter. There is also snow, sleet, and ice that I have to deal with. The coat performed as expected. I didn't have to wear long johns with it. I do wear corduroy pants and a sweater underneath; however, that is just standard procedure for this area of the country. I will be buying another just as soon as the white is restocked.
I spent an hour trying on a few different styles of down winter coats in LLBean this weekend, and finally decided that the Ultrawarm 3/4 length would suit my needs, even though the cut is not flattering, as others have mentioned. I live in New England and walk outside a lot in the winter, so I wanted something that would keep me warm in the cold and wind, and was willing to sacrifice fashion for the sake of being warm. I tested the coat for the first time yesterday, when the morning temp was 19 deg F and lunch time temp was 30 deg F, gentle wind at 10mph during both times. Sad to say, that the cold actually penetrated this coat at 30 deg F!! Needless to say, my morning walk to the bus was brutal. Underneath the coat I wore corduroys and a long sleeve cotton shirt. After watching the video that describes the winter jacket rating system, I now realize that typical street clothes will not cut it with LL Bean outerwear. You must add LLBean thermals underneath your clothes, which I likely will not be doing for work. Will be returning.
I bought this coat last year to keep me warm during freezing winters in Central Ohio. It's not terribly stylish, but it blocks the wind and keeps me toasty warm during early-morning walks with my dog.
It was perfect for this 18-degree morning.
Two improvements I suggest:
1. Make the interior cuffs longer. Even better would be to include a hole where you could loop the cuff around your thumb.
2. Some of the feathers come through the fabric. Is there a way to stop that?
I am 5'4, 120 pounds, and the XS in Petite is great. I have seen previous reviews where people complain of sleeve length being too short, but I do not have this problem. If this may be a concern, maybe opt for a size in Misses. Anyway, the fit is perfect, there is just enough room underneath the jacket for me to wear a sweater and several layers without the coat looking bulky. I wish the waist had some definition, as it is very roomy in this area, although the coat does give me a little bit of shape regardless. The pockets are quite small and cannot hold too many things. I use them to warm up my hands (they have warm fabric on the inside), or to put my phone inside. They can fit more than a cellphone, although the way the pockets are placed on the waist of the coat makes it appear as though I am pregnant, and it is not really a look I plan on achieving. I am a very thin and small person, and I get cold very easily. I am very sensitive to the cold, and have recently moved to an area where the winters are much harsher than what I am used to. I feel cold at 60 degrees. However, this coat has kept me perfectly warm without problems in 30 degree weather. It has not gotten colder than that yet, although I do believe I will need to wear layers for weather under 30 degrees. For people who are not as sensitive to temperature as I, may not feel the need to layer up and this coat will be sufficient. I LOVE the quality of this coat. I bought it in the purple color, and it is a coat that I feel I can wear to any occasion and look nice. The purple hue is not at all overpowering it is quite a beautiful shade that I feel I can wear with most colors. It appears very durable, it is thick in warmth but light in weight. This was a wonderful price for this coat, worth every penny and even more. I am looking forward to wearing it this winter, I believe it is exactly what I need to stay warm. I am new to LLBean, and this will not be my only purchase! I am very happy with this coat!
