Dressing for the Weather With Lands’ End

One of the most liberating things to have happened to me in the last few years has been the sudden realisation that I can dress for the weather, rather than the season.

Now, I know, I know: this is, indeed, a very basic realisation to have come to at my advanced age, and it’s something most of you have probably known forever. I, however, am a recovering fashion blogger. I’ve spent years of my life thinking about how clothes will look in photos, as opposed to how they actually perform in real life, and, embarrassing though it is to admit it, it’s left me with some weirdly rigid ideas about how to dress.

For instance, until recently, it wouldn’t have occurred to me to wear a winter coat in summer – even though Scottish “summers” aren’t much warmer than our winters. Autumn, meanwhile, has always been trench coat season as far as I’m concerned, and, even in the depths of winter, I’d frequently be trying my best to make a smart wool coat seem like a better option than the wearable duvet that would’ve been a much better choice.

You’ll be pleased to know I’m over all of that now.

Yes, a few years ago – just before Max was born, in fact – I suddenly decided I was done with being cold all the time. So I bought me a padded puffer jacket, and I never looked back. This summer, I frequently wore my winter coat on the school run. I no longer bring “fancy” shoes with me on beach holidays. And last week, when I was packing for our trip to the Highlands, this Land’s End down coat was the first thing on my list:

This coat comes in no less than 6 different colours. I’m wearing ‘Forest Moss’ here, but it was a toss-up between this, “Warm Tawny Brown”, and good ol’ black, and let’s just say it was a long, angst-filled process of deliberation for me, because I know I’d have gotten a lot of wear out of all three of those options. (I have to admit, I was pretty pleased with my choice when I realised what a good match it was for this jumper, though…)

An easier choice for me was with the sizing. Because I’m short, coats tend to drown me, especially in the shoulders, which are always too wide, and the sleeves, which are normally much too long. This coat, however, is available in Petite, Regular and Plus sizes: I went for the Petite version, and it’s a perfect fit, which is something I don’t often get to say about outerwear.

I wore this several times during our week in the Highlands (I did take another coat with me, because I might like being warm, but I also like options. I mean, I’m not a martyr…), which I figured would be a pretty good test for it, given that the weather there is… not warm. Sure enough, it was cold and rainy all week, but I was nice and warm in my coat, which is also water resistant. I particularly like the hood, which really helped keep the rain off me, plus the fact that, although the coat is thick enough to keep you toasty, it’s actually really lightweight, so it doesn’t feel bulky or heavy to wear.

Want to try one for yourself? You’ll find it here, plus a wide selection of other coats and jackets.