I was talking with a bunch of mom’s on the playground the other day after school. We were talking about the usual. How cold it is. How our kids don’t want to wear any or all of the following: mitts, snow pants, hats.
One mom was talking about how she needed a new winter coat because her old down coat wasn’t as warm as it once was. Somehow Canada Goose came up. And then everyone said how expensive they were and how many more affordable options for down coats are out there (like here, here and here).
I had said that if I was actually going to spend that kind of money on a coat I would much rather go with a designer coat that had some style not something trendy, sporty and not overly stylish. I dropped the “I would rather have Helmut Lang” because I knew their coats were roughly the same price.
Where do you stand? Do you covet Canada Goose? Do you feel they are overkill (ie do you need Artic weather protection in southern Ontario or wherever you are?) or are you always cold? Or are you like me and would rather have something that looks more stylish and deserving of the $700 ++ price tag?
Shop Canada Goose and Helmut Lang:
Now if I only had an extra $700 lying around 🙂
Liana
Thursday 12th of December 2013
Well... I live in Calgary (recently the coldest spot on earth) and spend a lot of time outdoors so if I had to choose one, I would probably go with the Canada Goose coat. I like the Whistler or Mystique better than the one you posted.
What I've typically done in the past is split the difference: bought a good quality down jacket (I'm wearing the Patagonia Tres Down Parka. It has an outer shell that's water and wind resistant, and a down liner inside that can be zipped out and worn separately) and also bought a nice winter coat (the Pearce from Aritzia). If it's really cold, I layer the down liner from the Patagonia parker under the Pearce.
Side note: I just checked out the coats on the Bay and there are some really beautiful ones online.
Jane the torontoShopoholic
Thursday 12th of December 2013
That is so smart! Love that you could layer a down coat under a more stylish but likely less warm coat. And that down liner would last for years to amortize the cost.
Iva
Thursday 12th of December 2013
I have a Canada Goose. I love mine and I bought it because with kids I'm outside a lot. Plus my long arms make it nearly impossible to find a coat that fits and Canada Goose does.
Jane the torontoShopoholic
Thursday 12th of December 2013
Fit issues definitely make items a buy or pass and for you Canada Goose works which is awesome.
Florence
Thursday 12th of December 2013
I had no idea they were that expensive! Do arctic researchers wear these coats, b/c then it must be b/c of the brand.
Jane the torontoShopoholic
Thursday 12th of December 2013
Yes the Canada Goose is one of those parkas that is used in the Arctic. I believe that is where the brand was born from but the fact that they are so popular here is just savvy marketing and a trend.
Emma Finlayson
Thursday 12th of December 2013
I would much rather spend the money on a nice designer coat like a Mackage or something rather then an $800 parka! xo Emma http://strollingthecityinheels.com
Jane the torontoShopoholic
Thursday 12th of December 2013
I know right?! My $40 Joe Fresh down coat and my new parka ($120) are all I need for our weather here.
Mindy
Thursday 12th of December 2013
Hmmm, whilst I'm not "pro" Canada Goose, none of the links for similar coats, including the Helmut Lang would be remotely similar in warmth and wind protection, so I don't think it is a valid comparison. A better one would be to a Moose Knuckles or even The North Face or Land's End coat. Having said that, there are certainly days in southern Ontario...like today that I wish I had a warmer coat!
Jane the torontoShopoholic
Thursday 12th of December 2013
The comparison wasn't for coats that are the same, merely what I would rather spend my money on. Everything you mentioned is really just the same thing with a different name. I personally wouldn't want to spend $800 or even $400 on a parka. If I was going to spend that kind of money on a coat I would want a beautiful coat (ie the Helmut Lang coats in my opinion). The coats I chose were similar in PRICE alone. Not in their ability to shield you from -40 weather.