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Lands’ End Ciré Down Parka – My New Winter Coat {+ Giveaway}

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Last Winter, I participated in a Coat Challenge where I did a blind review of four coats from four different companies. I looked at each coat with nit-picky detail and told the sponsor (not knowing which company was sponsoring the blind review) everything I loved about each of the coats, as well as the things I didn’t like about each of them. I felt like I had hit the jackpot (or the jacket pot…) and stayed incredibly warm – and stylish – all Winter.

Last month, I was offered a chance to review this season’s newest Lands End parka – the new Lands’ End Ciré Down Parka. I chose the Dark Wine color, though it also comes in black, classic navy, currant, alpine forest, and silver frost.

Lands end parka cire down 2012

About the new Ciré Down Parka from Lands’ End:

  • 600 fill power down adds warmth without weight
  • Ciré finish creates a shiny appearance
  • DriOff™ finish sheds rain, snow and other wet stuff
  • Detachable hood with removable faux fur trim
  • Hidden zip closure with snap storm flap
  • Belt can be buckled or tied (or removed completely)
  • Princess seams lend a more feminine shape
  • Two-way zipper for venting, moving room
  • Mid thigh length
  • TEMPERATURE RATING – WARMEST: -30° to 0° Fahrenheit. Use this as a comfort range for the type of climate you’ll be wearing this Ciré Down Parka in with a typical winter wardrobe
  • Comes in regular, petite, tall, and plus sizes.

My Lands’ End Ciré Down Parka Review:

Before I even put the new coat on, I could see that Lands’ End had implemented so many of the things I had praised on last year’s jackets – I swear it was like they had taken all of my suggestions and made a custom coat just for me.

What I love: I adore the knit sweater-style collar and wrist cuffs – two of the most important features in a coat for me. I can’t stand wearing a Winter coat only to have the cold air sneaking in through my sleeves.

Lands end parka cire down 2012

Lands end parka cire down 2012

The length of the coat is perfect for me. Although a shorter coat is nice for Fall chills, I really do prefer to keep my bottom covered and warm when I’m dealing with temperatures below freezing. This coat is rated to -30° Fahrenheit (which is really cold. Yikes!) but I still felt comfortable wearing it this week in temperatures in the 40s.

I am not a huge fan of faux fur around the hood, but in this case the faux fur is not a problem because I can easily unzip it for a more traditional hood. Actually, I usually just remove the hood altogether and wear one of my crocheted hats, since that’s more my style for day-to-day coat wearing.

Lands end parka cire down 2012

The pockets in the new Ciré Down Parka are great (although I would be even happier if there were a breast pocket). There are two large pockets on each side of the lower front of the jacket – one pocket is deep and has a buttoned flap (perfect for stowing keys or a phone or even a full-sized wallet. These pockets are big! The second pocket is lined with an exquisitely comfortable and warm fleece, perfect for keeping my hands toasty in the cold.

Lands end parka cire down 2012

What I didn’t love: I’m not a fan of belted jackets, but luckily, the belt is easily removable. I had a hard time zipping it up the first time (though my husband helped and got it zipped on first try). Like I mentioned above, I missed having breast pockets (see the black Lands’ End and the tan Nautica coats that I reviewed last year), but I was consoled by the presence of a hidden pocket in the inner lining. My last semi-complaint: my neck gets chilled every time I put the coat on because of the chain above the tag in the collar. Of course, this warms up almost right away, it IS helpful for hanging my coat on the coat rack, AND it’s easy to cut it out if needed, but I still think it’s an unnecessary annoyance. Really? The things that I don’t love are very minor and don’t stop me from loving this.

Lands end parka cire down 2012

Win a Lands’ End Ciré Down Parka!

Enter the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win a Lands’ End Ciré Down Parka ($159 value) – you chose the color and size. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and will end on November 14, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Lands’ End sent me a Lands End Parka to review and they are providing another coat to give away to a Better in Bulk reader. No other compensation was received, and all thoughts are my own. Note – if you’re wondering what I’ve done with so many coats, I’ve been able to share coats with my daughters and friends in need of Winter warmth.

© 2012, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

About Lolli

Lolli has written 3740 post in this blog.

I became a mom in 1996, and in 2005 I had my fifth. Yes, 5 kids. In 2007, this blog was born (my 6th baby that will never grow up) and I've been sharing recipes, photography tricks, parenting tips, and everything in between. (Formerly Better in Bulk)

Comments

  2. My mom needs a new coat because she has been wearing the same one for years because she is always buying us stuff instead. This looks like an awesome coat, thanks!

  22. I’ve had the same winter coat for over 10 years & it is getting very thin, not to mention tight (oopsie!)
    I hate the frigid cold snowy weather we get here in WI, but I am stuck here. Help! & thanks for a get giveaway.

  30. i moved to florida 2 months ago.. got rid of almost all my winter things… My heart is broken and I just want to move back to NJ. I need a new coat to keep warm

  45. My mom really needs a new coat. She has been wearing the same winter coat for 5 years. Its in pretty bad shape and Id love to win this coat for her birthday which is nov 21 thank you!

  50. Thank you so much for offering such a lovely and generous giveaway. I need this coat because my current one just isn’t cutting it anymore. I’m tired of wearing “fashion” coats… I want to be warm!

  54. I could really use a new coat. I think mine is at least 5 years old and it was bought at Goodwill so I’m not really sure how old it is.The Lands End coat looks really nice and warmer than mine:)

  66. I’m such a wimp in the cold, must be my many living in CA. Now that I’m in VA, I’m constantly cold. I need to be able to stay outside with the kids when they’re playing in the snow. Today we went to the park–it was 50 degrees–and I was shivering and miserable the whole time!

  67. This is a beautiful coat. My daughter needs this. She really doesn’t have any heavy coats since we live in California, but she is going to college in Rhode Island, so she will definitely need something like this real soon.

  69. I need a new winter coat because I haven’t bought myself a new coat in ages. My daughter needs a new coat almost every year so she comes first

  73. My sister needs a new coat. Hers is getting worn out so it would be great if I could win this for her!
    cjnedrow at gmail dot com

  75. My daughter could really use a new coat especially since it looks like it is going to be a very bad winter. She has lost quite a bit of weight and the old coat no longer fits.

  78. I have had tough couple years and cannot afford a new coat so this would be a blessing for me here in the Northeast for the winter.

  81. Thanks for the awesome giveaway! I really need a new coat this winter because my old heavy coat is just tattered and old looking.

  86. I need one because I’m visiting my Mom up North, and being from FL I don’t have anything warm enough for the super cold weather

  87. My oldest daughter really needs a new coat. She grows so much each year, the sleeves are always too short from the year before. I would love to be able to give her a really nice coat such as this.

  88. My oldest daughter really needs a new coat. She grows so much each year, the sleeves are always too short om the year before. I would love to be able to give her a really nice coat such as this.

  90. I haven’t purchased a new coat for myself in about 7 years. The sleeves on the one I own now have dirt stains that I can’t seem to get out and there’s a small tear on the side from catching it on a nail. I think everyone would be shocked to see me in such a pretty coat.

  94. I would love a coat. The past 5 years or so, I just wear my summer jacket with a hooded sweatshirt on under it. Winter is coming soon again and snow will be flying, and I would love a warm coat!

  106. I’d love to get this coat for my niece. She’s a college student away from home and since I’m her closest-living relative I get to be her “family”. I know she could use a nice coat this winter. Thanks for the opportunity!

  108. Being a teacher, in the upper Midwest, who has recess duty 6 times a week…winters can be quite chilly. Downright FREEZING actually! Therefore, being able to wear this warm coat would be awesome and I’d love to try it out!

  111. I’d give this to my sister if I win — she was just commenting to me the other day that she would like a new winter coat. (:

  113. I too like a coat that does not allow any cold air to slip up my sleeves and pockets lined in fleece sure will keep the fingers toasty. I would love to win to give to my sister that just moved in with her family. They are getting back on their feet after losing her job this past sept.

  114. Last new coat I bought was about 3 years ago and honestly, it is too short. The coat itself is nice but I want something that is just a bit longer. It get cold up here in the northern plains!!

  116. I need a new coat this winter because I am just getting tired of wearing my coat from 2 winters ago. I want a new pretty one!

  117. Love the style and thanks for the honest evaluation of the coat. A bit of metal chain on the back of the collar would annoy me too. I love Land’s End coats, they last so well.
    Thanks for running a giveaway

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