Am traveling to Europe March 3rd and can't decide which type of coat to take. I will be in Munich, Salzburg, Zurich/Lucerne,Amsterdam, Brussels and London. It appears that the average temp will be in the 40s, however Munich is posting 36 high for the days I will be there. My question is, I have a wool stadium coat and a light down jacket. Which would you advise? Is wool warm enough, because that coat is less cumbersome to wear and to carry than the down jacket.
Any advise is appreciated. Thanks

I would advise a down duvet, you can wrap this around yourself, even covering your face if you so wish making it a perfectly practical accessory for the modern woman. If you find it's tog value too high simply cut a hole in it remove some down filling and sew it back up again. Perhaps take a wool blanket too which will complement the bedroom theme of your outfit.

I would think a wool coat is plenty for temps in the 30's - but then I don't mind the cold. If you're very sensitive to it (one of those people who put on a sweater when it hits 70) why not just layer under the coat? I wouldn;t drag down along on the trip - jacket or duvet (what a jerk! just ignore him and perhaps some day he'll go away!)

Thank you. I was starting to think that perhaps I wasn't supposed to ask a serious question here.

No dear, ignore m_kingdom, it has nothing of value to say.
Your question was perfectly fine.

Deciding between what style of coat is a serious travel question?

I'm travelling to X where the temperature is X and Y and Z, should I pack a Jil Sander, Miu Miu, Prada or Helmut Lang coat? Help, I'm in such a dilemma here. Forget accomodation or flight issues, just help me pack a coat.

It's a good question to ask. It's not about what style of coat the question is asking. It's the type of coat to carry. I understand because if you can avoid carrying a cumbersome coat unnecessarily that would really help.

Since I am quite capable of making my own travel arrangements, and have, I did not need to ask a question about those topics. However, having never been to a place with a climate such as these, and living in Arizona where coats are not needed often, I appealed to this forum for ADVICE. Sorry to have taken up your time.

luvsmacca-

Pack the wool coat and bring layers of cotton long tees or silk underwear to wear under your clothes..

I always layer- as if the temps warm up during the day, you just peel off an item and put in a shoulder bag...

I hate lugging heavy coats...In fact, the one coat I normally take is a microfiber coat with a light weight wool zip out line that also doubles as a raincoat..If it gets cold, in goes the liner--if it gets hot, out Zips the liner..It is car coat length..so eat to pack .....

How does one know how badly another feels the cold it's all subjective. Worrying about specific types of clothing to bring shows that you have too much time on your hands. Concentrate on the sights, the restaurants, the culture, the place. Pack too many clothes like I always do there's not problem in that, always better to have too much than too little!

I think the best thing to bring that time of year for the cities you mentioned is a gore-tex or similar type jacket with hood. Its windproof, rainproof and very light to pack. If you layer that over a synthetic fleece sweater, then over a long-sleeve shirt, that'll be it. I'd also bring capilene type long underwear, a pair of gloves and hat in case the temp plummets. In March, the weather in those cities is unpredictable...freezing or snowing one day...relatively mild the next. However, March is a great month to travel...lack of tourist crowds...and hot weather.

I read this message because I too live in a warm climate and need to know what kind of coat to bring for colder places. So, for me it's not a waste of time to think of these things and I'm glad you asked, lusmacca.
M_kingdom, you read and always to respond to wardrobe questions with the same sarcasm. This one you've tracked three times. I'm wondering if it is a "waste of time", why you do it?

M KINGDOM it didn't do wonders because it was a very good question to ask. If she knew the answer she wouldn't have posted the question. Fodors is all about travel, questions pertaining to it. So many people on this site have been wonderful. I feel as though a couple of times I have asked questions that to someone else might appear as foolish but I have gotten answers. So m-kingdom shut up and get a life.

I don't know the answer to this question: I am travelling to Barcelona and Bilbao this summer, as many of you who have helped me with my accomodation troubles may be aware. Should I take suits for the evening is it a dressy city? Will I be too hot? You should scorn such ridiculous questions. "Should I take a wool stadium coat" or a "light down jacket" . One tends to wear wool coats with heavier clothes underneath, an eskimo (i.e. one who lives in a permanently cold climate) would be happy to wear t-shirts in this relatively warm climate, you from "Arizona" would not. You know the temperatures, you decide what you are comfortable in, how can somebody else know how you feel, when warmth is so personal?

I've never figured out why people who are annoyed by a particular question don't just ignore it and go on to a question they feel merits their attention.

At any rate, we're from southern California and were in Paris in November. We don't own coats since we don't need them. (Yes, I do wear a sweater when the temps go down to 70.)

We dug our 20-year-old London Fogs out of the closet (unlined LFs) and wore those with various layers of sweaters underneath. I was quite comfortable with a turtleneck, a sweater and my LF on the chilliest days. I did purchase a wool neck scarf at a street vendor and when the wind and rain combined with the lower temps, that was all I needed.

Layer layer layer. Have a great trip and feel free to post any questions you like. Most of us enjoy trying to answer them!

m_kingdom,
You're right that warmth is personal and it is also relative.
Here's an example: A work friend from the East Coast was planning a trip to So. Cal. this winter. She asked me if it would be cold. "Yes," I replied. "It's winter bundle up!" She packed tons of sweaters and a good coat. All of which stayed in her hotel room while she wore her lightest sweater or cotton blouse the whole week. While I was bundled up.
If next year I decide to go to Zurich/Amsterdam/Brussels in March, lusmacca is the person I want to ask what coat I should take. She lives in a climate much like mine and can gauge how cold I might get.
Although, I wouldn't ask her about how hot Arizona might be because any self respecting "Zonie" will reply, "ah it's not that hot in June." Meaning, "That's nothing compared to say, August"

There are so many websites devoted to the weather and climate that it is easy to compare your climate with the area your visiting and dress accordingly. I know that if I leave Massachusetts and travel to Texas at the end of March, I'd better be prepared for much warmer weather and my son knows the opposite is true for his trips north.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/reso...e/worldcli.htm

http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/

Just a note to the fashion conscious; the three quarter length coat seem to be the rage in Europe recently.

Darling, we on the Board of Directors of the Fodors Inner Circle and Gin-sipping Society don't care what Mkingdom has to say. This forum is for the discussion of hem lengths, Jimmy Choo shoes, our pets, the latest Botox clinics, the effects of drugs and alcohol on middle-aged skin, and how much cough syrup to ladle down the throats of crying infants whilst sitting in first class.

If you don't like it, MKingdom, you can post on Thorntree with rest of the Great Unwashed and poorly shod.

If I were you, luvsmacca, I would wear my mink coat. You have one don't you? Cheers.

I would go for a Gore-tex Windstopper if you are up for the purchase. I just returned from US and Europe and found it was fine for snow through to temps of 18c. They pack down to a small bundle if you aren't going to waer it on planes etc and with layers are the best jackets around.