The Best Outerwear from Lands’ End for a DC Winter: My Picks
I have been a fan of Lands' End outerwear for decades. I still own a Lands' End Squall Parka that I purchased in my 20's and have reviewed Lands' End outerwear in the past but haven't bought a coat from them in a bit. Lands' End invited me to check out their outerwear selection for this season and below I share my picks for the most practical and stylish outerwear from Lands' End. This post is sponsored by Lands' End.
Details on My Size for Lands' End Outerwear
I am a 40-something with soft curves and a large bust. I usually wear a size 14 or XL. Since I am 5'3″ I love when I can find petite outerwear so the sleeves aren't too long, the waist hits at the right place, and the look is more polished.
I find Lands' End has a generous fit, but I still am usually a Large in this retailer. However, I find a petite is needed to get a truly great fit. I am so glad that Lands' End carries such an extensive selection of petite apparel and outerwear and while many brands end their petites at size 10, Lands' End offers petites up to size XL/18.
You may also like: The best stores that offer petite over size 10 (Lands' End is included!)
My Picks from Lands' End Outerwear for a DC Winter
I chose three different types of outerwear from Lands' End to cover the three stages of winter in the DC area: warm wet fall, medium cold early winter, and what I call True Winter which is later in the season but far colder while still having a lot of precipitation.
Lands' End Women's Waterproof Hooded Packable Raincoat for Warm and Wet Falls and Early Winters
Living in the DC area, we are used to having a warm but wet fall and early winter. While there are a few days where a heavy coat is needed, I find that a water-repellant jacket over layers is best for this climate. While I own a more classic trench, I desired a proper raincoat for everything from morning walks to afternoon Target runs to weekend hikes and camping trips. I also wanted a jacket that would fit over a thick fleece or sweater without making me look like a box.
The Waterproof Hooded Packable Raincoat from Lands' End is a perfect choice. I owned a packable raincoat in the past but it felt like wearing Saran wrap, especially when it was warm. This one is a non-cling fabric that feels soft and is comfortable even in humidity.
Available in Misses, Petite, Tall, and Plus Sizes, this packable rain jacket has an adjustable hood, an interior drawstring to give shape at the waist, and a high-low hem to cover all my curves. A zipper and snaps keeps me dry even in a windy rainstorm, and I love the zipper-close pockets.
I am wearing a Petite Large, which is plenty roomy over this Lands' End striped long-sleeve shirt, but would also be comfortable over a sweater or sweatshirt. If yellow isn't your jam, this raincoat comes in four other colors.
Lands' End Women's Down Winter Puffer Jacket for Early Winter Casual Situations
Come late November and December, this is when I take advantage of my outerwear wardrobe and often my coats coordinate with my outfits. I love a short puffer jacket to throw on over my casual looks. Nothing too heavy, I am in the DC area, but warm enough for chilly evenings and a stand collar to keep my neck and lower face warm. I prefer no hood, usually wearing such a coat with a beanie or beret. I was drawn to the elegance of the Lands' End Down Winter Puffer Jacket in ivory. It is more elevated than any other casual winter coats in my closet.
Also available in Misses, Petite, Tall, and Plus Sizes, this midweight puffer jacket from Lands' End is available in five great colors. I am wearing a Petite Large and as you see it fits over this thick turtleneck sweater which is also from Lands' End (wearing Petite Large). And I love to see that all the ivory items from Lands' End match – the hat is also Lands' End!
I appreciate the details of this jacket which set Lands' End outerwear above the rest: a storm flap, soft fleece-lined pockets, Responsible Down Standard (RDS) down, and strategic quilting to make the most of a woman's curves. This fit great over my shoulders, arms, bust, and rear showing it is designed for a grown woman.
Lands' End Women's Insulated Cozy Fleece Lined Primaloft Coat for Style with Warmth
True winter arrives in the DC area at the end of January. We usually get our snow between Superbowl Sunday and St. Patrick's Day and when we get snow, it's often heavy, wet, cold, and causes some power failures and days away from the office and school. It's time for a longer coat with a hood and more insulation to stay cozy even when the wind is biting. Perfect weather for the Insulated Cozy Fleece Lined Primaloft Coat from Lands' End.
Again, I went with a Petite Large; this coat also comes in Misses, Petite, Tall, and Plus Sizes. It comes in seven different colors and I really struggled with which color to choose but picked black because it's the easiest to dress up. Because once True Winter arrives, I am not trying to look cute in faux furs and wool, I want to be warm and dry and protected. And I think the faux fur trim on the hood of this coat and the subtle shine of the fabric elevates this coat to look more polished for work and for evenings out.
Temperature rated -5 to +24 degrees Fahrenheit, this coat has a water-resistant exterior and is filled with recycled primaloft and will continue to keep you warm even if the coat gets wet. The faux fur trim is removable and the coat is machine washable. A two-way zipper means you can keep your coat on but opened for comfort while sitting and driving.
An interior chest pocket deep enough for your phone and keys and exterior zipper pockets can hold all your essentials. And the plush lining in the pockets, collar, and upper torso is so soft and cozy! This is a coat that offers everything I could need for the coldest winter months where I live.
Lands' End Promo Code
Lands' End is offering a promo code to help you face winter in style. Use promo code PARKA at checkout to get 40% off full-price styles! This is a fantastic deal, and it's not limited to just outerwear!
The small print: Receive 40% off full-price styles online or by phone (excludes buy more and save pricing, monogramming, gift boxing, gift cards, shipping, taxes, duties, Lands' End Business Outfitters purchases, and excluded items as marked). Promotions and products may vary in-store. Prices as marked in-store. Excludes clearance in-store. Discount will be applied at checkout. This offer has no cash value. Promotional savings may be deducted from returns. 5-7 business day delivery to most addresses. Free standard shipping is valid on orders of $99 or more (after promotions and discounts are applied) shipped to US and Canada addresses only. Offer valid through 11:59 p.m. Central, November 30, 2022. Not valid on previous purchases or when combined with any other promotional offers.
Shop My Picks of Lands' End Outerwear:
Thank you Lands' End for partnering with me on this post. I am a true fan of your outerwear, recommend it regularly, and was thrilled to receive these coats for winter. Do know you'll see me rocking these Lands' End coats and jackets all season long. Great fit, great function, and great style all in one!
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Thank you! Another great site for petite winter parkas is Eddie Bauer. I have a longer coat from them that I wear when walking the dog in our cold Boston winters
I pretty much live in the Lands End fleeces for the winter. I’m going to go look for the raincoat now to go over them. Thank you!
Don’t forget to check the sale items. I needed everything after a size change and got a real haul, including a lighter down jacket with its own packing pouch and pockets that button closed.
And I wore it today in South Texas where it was 54 degrees and raining, ugh.
I have a spare bedroom closet filled with LE coats! I took the packable raincoat to Europe late May, and it performed beautifully for temps in 60’s. This year I bought the blackberry, but I also have it in black and pink (in PS for warm weather and PM for layering with bulky knits). LE petite coats are truly proportioned for a petite figure, with the waist being in the right place, and the sleeves the correct length. I just used your affiliate link to order the puffer jacket in fuchsia plum. My excuse is I am phasing out black…
Your timing, as usual, is impeccable. I JUST got a packable down Ultralight Coat (it’s my Christmas gift from my mother, so I can’t have it until then, dagnabit) – it’s probably my fourth LE coat, give or take. I STILL have my Extreme Squall Parka from 2004 or 5, but it’s old school bulky and I wanted something lighter and more up-to-date. I have an old LE raincoat, and a short down jacket that’s also well over 12 years old. Everything is still in great shape, and I get a little guilt ordering new ones, but hey, I have an obsession.
Your posts are always thoughtful, well done, and timely. I don’t know how you do it!
Like you, my first coat purchase with Land’s End was a Squall Parka…in 1983…40 years ago. I still have it. It is in perfect condition and it looks great! It is perfect for the winter nor’easters we have in Northeast Florida.
I really like the length of the rain coat you’re modeling. That looks like something I need to check out.
I’m a fan of Lands’ End too. Although I don’t need this particular item as I live in Florida, I’ve got many LE items. One of the reasons I’m a fan is that they provide garment measurements and I’m not sure if most people know that. Where you select your size is a button called Size Charts. Click that on and in the top left corner is an Item Dimensions (.png) button, choose it and you’ll find the garment measurements. This saves so much time with returns. I wish all clothiers offered this feature. Plus they offer a really decent selection of Petites.
All these years of ordering from Lands End and I didn’t know about the link to garment specs! Thanks for the tip!
Great post! How did you know I was looking for a decent raincoat made for curves that didn’t feel so plastic?? 🙂
After living in DC for a few years, I remember one cold January day, standing around waiting for the Metro, when I decided I was SICK of being cold and turned to Lands End to order a down parka with a faux fur hood. I still have it and love it. And now, thanks to you, I just ordered the middle one you’ve showcased! It appears to fill the bill for that midwinter weather that’s so unpredictable around here. It’s very reasonably priced and I like the navy blue color. Yay!
The same happened to me! I started working in DC and waiting for the Metro and walking to and from the office from my Metro stop, I was sick of being cold and headed to Lands’ End. Not my first Lands’ End coat, not my last, but the first one where it truly changed my life for the better!
I didn’t realize how being cold was stressing me out all over. I swear, once I got into my new LE coat and felt warm for the first time in weeks, my anxiety levels went down a notch or two. Seriously!
Hah I had the opposite problem. Moving to DC from Boston for several years I had to “downgrade” the warmth factor from OMG cold to simply cold!
What an informative post! Living in Minneapolis, where we have 4 winters, I own 4 Lands’ End coats. I have the packable raincoat in blue, the down puffer in a leopard print, and the parka in black. My fourth coat, for the first six weeks or so of arctic winter, is a teal commuter coat. It looks like it’s what they now call the down maxi coat. It’s fantastic when it’s well below zero. The oldest coat is probably 10 years old, the newest is three.
My parka is in a 1X petite plus, and it’s the only coat I’ve ever had where I can wear a thick sweater and not feel like the little brother in A Christmas Story. All of the rest are 14 Petites. My other winter staple is Lands’ End Thermaskins, which I discovered based on your recommendation. Thanks for all you do!
I like your taste in coats, twinsies!! I bought one of their commuter coats in 2007 or 2008 when I started commuting into DC and was so cold walking to and from the Metro. That was a fantastic coat; I donated it to a coat drive when I got a replacement but it remains one of my favorite coats of all time! https://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/review-lands-end-outerwear-2/
I love your description of the little brother in A Christmas Story. I feel ya girl!
Great review! Lands End is ALWAYS on my radar because they were an early adopter of size inclusion, offering many more choices in 1-3x than any other company, including in swim and outerwear. And their quality is for real.
True confession, LLBean is BACK on my radar because they have really stepped up their game in Plus (and these days seem to have styles that work better for me– mountain winter, rather than city winter, maybe?) but they are late to the party.
Same. I remember when I wrote a post about what to wear for a protest march in winter, everything I recommended was Lands’ End because it was the only place in 2017 that offered performance outerwear in plus sizes. And for outerwear, I really appreciate the petite and tall options. While so many retailers have dropped their plus lines, Lands’ End is not just keeping their size range, they also use models in a range of sizes and ages.
I agree about LLBean, but especially the rainwear is too tight in the hips and I look like a box. I ordered the Lands End one featured in this post. It will be so much better.
Agree about Bean’s fit! I had to call their customer service to get a rain shell that would fit over my hips but not be huge up top! Lands’ End has a better fit and more talls
These pictures of you are great…especially in the yellow jacket! Your makeup is spot on, and your hair is adorable!
Thanks! Karl really rocked the photography, and we’re so lucky to have such woods behind our home!
Thank you!! Another detailed, thorough review.
I’m so glad you found it helpful!
Thank you so much for this! I find outerwear particularly hard as a Petite with hips. I’ll definitely try these.
I feel my shortest when shopping for coats and jackets! It’s when it really matters, and it’s why I always rely on Lands’ End!
Thank you for the informative review. The depth & detail you go into is one of the hallmarks of Wardrobe Oxygen & one of the reasons I stay. I find that it makes buying decisions easier, rather than not buying due to uncertainy. Your True Winter coat review is the info I need to help make my own True Winter coat purchase.
Thank you so much! I hope for Wardrobe Oxygen to be a trusted resource so I am very discerning with what brands I partner with and I want the post to offer all the info I know I’d want before making a purchase! <3