Women's Burgundy Wool Peacoat – Double-Breasted

Packed it for four days away and it was the only outer layer I took, which was a gamble. It worked out. Folded into the case without coming out looking wrecked, and a night on a hanger sorted what creasing there was. Smart enough for dinner, warm enough for walking about in the morning. That is a lot to ask from one coat and it managed all of it.

The collar holds its shape when you turn it up instead of collapsing back down after two minutes. Makes a noticable difference on a windy day. I do it up and turn the collar and I do not need a scarf until it gets really cold.

There is proper shaping through the middle so it follows you rather than hanging off like a sack. I am not slim and I still look like I have a waist in it, which I cannot say about the last three I owned.

Bought this two winters ago and I am about to start a third in it, which is why I am only writing now. It has been dry cleaned twice, rained on more times than I can count, and shoved into the back of a car boot repeatedly. The shape is still there, the buttons are all original, and the only sign of age is a slight softening of the fabric which I actually prefer. That is a proper result.

I teach and I am in and out of a cold playground about four times a day, then back into a room with the heating on full. Most coats are wrong for one half of that. This one goes on and off easily, does not take up half the staffroom hook, and is warm enough for duty without cooking me the moment I come inside. It has also survived being landed on by small children more than once.

My niece was starting a new job and needed something decent to turn up in, so I got her this. She sent me a photo the first morning which I take as a good sign. Fit her without any altering and she tells me its been on every day since.

Picked it up out of the box and it has real weight to it. Nothing flimsy about the fabric or the way it is put together. That was the first good sign.

Warm for most of what I need it for but I would not call it a deep winter coat on its own. Below freezing I want a jumper under it. For everything else it has been plenty and I would rather that than something I overheat in.