“The 20.2 inches of snow that fell by midday in Chicago made the storm the city's third-largest on record, with still more coming down…” – Huffington Post
A Winter Wonderland in Chicago?
It Can Be if You Have A Warm Coat
They say when you know better, you do better. Fed up with losing the battle against the cold every winter in Chicago, I decided to put some winter coats to the test to see if they can hold up against common words used in a Chicago meteorologist’s weather report such as wind chill factor, below zero black ice and winter storm to name a few. Right after the weather report, I’m usually bombarded with coat manufacturers’ advertising claims of “weather proof,” “ice out, warmth in,”…etc.
I’m shivering just typing the words but my end goal is clear.
So what started off as something fun, I soon realized that there was a universe of real people who could benefit from this information. But would I sacrifice fashion for function? In 2012, call it what you want: Operation Winter Coat, Winter Coat Wars, etc. Better yet, call it my review that real people can use. But in the end, I’m just in search of a coat that can convince me that home (Chicago) is where the heart is, and not the sunshine. Let’s go!
BACKGROUND:
Lands End: After hearing the buzz words “can handle temps up to 30 below” and” half off,” during a segment on Good Morning America, I decided to order a coat from Lands End. Could it be? Would I be willing to stray off the beaten path for a brand that has no ranking in my wardrobe? I wasn’t sure if this was a brand that catered to bulk orders for those dreaded monogrammed shirts that employees are forced to wear, or where grandpas shop for a dozen shirts in the same color. I’ve never owned a Lands End product in my life because it’s not on the “cool” or “what’s hot” radar in my line of fashion brands. To say I was lukewarm on the prospects of owning one is an understatement.
The North Face: Who doesn’t know or want to own a North Face coat? Their brand is everywhere. I don’t know anyone between the ages of 15-45 who hasn't been North FaceD. it is the one brand in the coat arena that definitely has "swag." You walk taller with the coat on, and get instant street cred for rocking one.
Columbia: I know the name but no there’s no attachment to the brand. I don’t ski, snowboard, climb mountains or hike. I’m just trying to get through four months of cold weather in Chicago. While shopping on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago, I usually walk past their store but their window recently caught my eye. The mannequins had on my kind of clothes during a 20-degree day: coat, boots and snowpants. During my search, I also received a Tweet from @Columbia1938 to try their Omni-Heat line, so I did.
REVIEWS:
Lands End: During my test walk, I survived and with only a thin shirt. Granted, it wasn’t 30 below outside when I tested the jacket (thank God). The wind did not come through and I was not cold. Surprisingly, the styling of the jacket was cute and I looked good in it. The drawstring waist made for a finished look and the oversized hood was a bonus. Kudos for adding an inside pocket for handwarmer packets (nice touch and great research). Great price. Lands End is a contender in the heavyweight battle for winter warmth.
NorthFace: The coat was light (and cute) I must say. With 600 on the sleeve, I assumed that was the down feather weight, which was similar to the Lands End count. Determined not to walk alone, I grabbed my 18 year old cousin out for this one. Unfortunately, I had to do an About Face in North Face after the first block. It was just too cold. The winds ripped into me like the jacket had pores. I couldn’t take it. I wanted to go back out and give it another chance, but “that day” was not the day.
Columbia: Slimmer Fit than Lands End and North Face. It was also a little longer, which made a difference. I’m a sucker for hoods on a cold day, so this was another bonus. During my walk, I felt like hot coffee in a thermos mug. The Omni Heat technology felt good – real good. I’m not sure if the slim style and the Omni-Heat lining work with your body heat to keep things warm, but it felt good – real good. Columbia proves an investment in technology and your consumer can have long range benefits. The styling of the jacket I tried on could use a little help though–just straight up and down but they appear to have the hip, fashion conscious consumer in mind looking at other jackets in their store.
In this battle, I’m giving it to Columbia. I don’t know much about its history but the future is bright. For their next commercial, they need to cue LL Cool J’s opening line from his song “Mama Said Knock You Out, - “Don't call it a comeback/I've been here for years."
So do I love cold weather? Absolutely not. I just endure it but at some point in life, shouldn’t I enjoy it?
In New York, people rip the runway. In Los Angeles, they rip the red carpet but in Chicago, we rip the outdoors. It's good to know they we can now enjoy it.
Follow me on Twitter: @tashaharris12
Test Environment: 20-degrees with jeans and a thin turtleneck on.
Once I boarded my flight in the wee hour of the morning, the purple lights and purple plexiglass (to separate first class from coach) took me back to a night on a party bus.I could only imagine what life was like as Jimi Hendrix at that moment or was Branson's version an upgrade from Snoop Dogg's role in the movie, "Soul Plane." From that moment on, I knew this was not your grandmother's airplane and was glad about it. It is truly a new day and a new way to fly.
An hour into my flight, I woke up to a message on my screen which was embedded in a white lacquered (unlike the usual hospital matte) finish. An individual in a certain seat number wanted to chat with me. Wait a minute. Am I getting hit on mid flight? Could Virgin Airlines be not only an change agent in the aviation industry but in my dating life as well. Not sure I wanted to find out or turn around out of curiosity. The rest of the ride was as smooth as the landing. Between the countless movie/tv/game options and wi-fi accessibility, I was busy as I wanted to be. 
