One of the benefits of Sam’s new school is that he has a school uniform, which is incredibly handy and convenient in my view. It also comes with a very good school coat, just the right level of warm and waterproof.
Writing that makes me realise afresh that when you’ve got children you start to appreciate things you never noticed before, like a really good 7 year old’s coat. I also recall marvelling, when Sam was about four years old and deep in his “wheels” phase, at a really good toy truck. “Wow, that’s a nice one,” I said – in genuine appreciation of the form, colour and heft of the vehicle.
“Yeah,” nodded Sam, and we stood there silently as he turned it in his hands, regarding it with as much knowledge and respect as if we were a pair of antiquarian book dealers.
I digress. Kitty is still at a school with no uniform, which is fine, but for some reason I really struggle finding her a coat. Kitty has zero – and I mean ZERO – interest in clothes. She doesn’t want to wear tights or anything too hot or itchy or anything that she suspects I think is cool.
This means it is very easy for me to dress her in a really random, hideous collection of things and not notice for ages that she has grown out of her joggers and is wandering about with three inches of spotty sock showing.
Anyway, the coat thing. Obviously it has to be warm and waterproof and not girly but not dorky and I suddenly remembered about DIDRIKSONS, which is a Scandinavian brand – those Scandis do outerwear very well and I ordered her this parka, which is great. Not too stiff, nice and warm, dry. Not girly, not dorky.
The hours I spent deliberating at this time of year over a Bruder forklift, or should I go for the cement mixer? Or maybe just a really good digger? I was quite the connoisseur. Coats are such a pain, mine both still fit their ones from last year just about and I was so happy I didn’t have to try and replace them. Too stiff, too itchy, broken zips, collar too high, sleeves too short, hood not big enough…I have seen it all. They have soft puffy ones from an outdoors shop that I bought spur of the moment for extra warmth on a camping trip and they seem to be finally content like walking marshmallows. The least effort I ever put into choosing them. A lesson I will forget.
Have recently discovered Regatta for a cheaper version that does essentially the same thing. I’ve outgrown my Didriksons for the moment 😬 But I got myself a bargainous warm and properly waterproof red coat when Regatta were discounting recently and bought my daughter an excellent cagoule and coat too.
Didriksons rock. I have a near identical adult version of this coat called the Thea and it is excellent. I can recommend Lands End for similar kids coats, well worth buying when they have their 60% offers.
*Adult version is the Freda, good Nordic style names
Just bought my 9 yr old eldest a khaki parka with fluffy lining from John Lewis. Her choice. I have to admit, she looks v cool… a bit Press Gang (no higher compliment). She’s a right bugger to dress though. *extremely* opinionated and very sensitive to rough/ itchy/ annoying fabric. Sigh. Her sister is much easier, although does go mental if sleeves or leggings bunch up around her wrists/ ankles. Double sigh. OH for boys who do not give a toss.
Riffing on a theme here. Walking boots – why is it so hard to find walking boots for a tweenager??! It took 3 tries and both me and husband looking. Gah!
Where did you find decent boots? Any tips?
After a faff with Regatta – too narrow for her feet, rubbish returns system – and no stock in size available at Blacks, we bought Merrell on sale, online at Cotswolds Outdoors. They haven’t arrived yet so can’t comment on fit etc.
I’m still struggling to find a decent waterproof coat for my 10 yr old son who has suddenly become quietly (but very determined) picky about clothes. It has to be black, not branded on the outside or a sport/football waterproof coat, not too thin or too thick. 😩😩
Didriksons is very good – and plenty for boys there too. the branding is very discreet
This might also work:
https://www.landsend.co.uk/Boys_Waterproof_Squall_Coat/pp/P_40644.html?cgid=11420&dwvar_P__40644_color=%203K4
The thing with school coats is that you then need to get them a weekend coat as well … because NO ONE will wear their school uniform coat in the holidays or at the weekend.
I love Didriksons but I bear them a grudge. They used to do a marvellous, thin fleece called the Monte fleece for kids. This was exactly right in all sorts of ways but either they’ve stopped doing it or my son is now in the maximum size that it comes in. Leaving me trying to find an exact copy of the thing I really like.
Anyway, lovely coat.