A down coat is the one piece you wear almost every day for months, so it's worth choosing slowly. Four questions do most of the work: how long, which cut, which shell and which hood. Here's how to answer them, with the Monel Norway styles that fit each answer.
Quick answer: which coat for your winter
- Mostly car to door: a cropped jacket, the Val Cenis Short or Camille Short
- A mix of walking and driving: a mid-length coat, the Bobbie Tech or Lucie Boxy Mid
- Long waits outside or long walks: a long coat, the Camille Long, Noelia Long or Lucie Boxy Long
- As much length as possible: the ankle-length Val Cenis Long
- Wet commutes: the Val Cenis Long Tech or Bobbie Tech
- Room for chunky knits: the Lucie Boxy Mid or Lucie Boxy Long
See all women's down coats.
First, the length: long or cropped?
Cropped
A cropped puffer is the easy everyday choice. It works with jeans, wide trousers and skirts, doesn't get in the way on a bike or in the car, and is quick on and off.
- Val Cenis Short: fitted and minimal, in six colors
- Camille Short: slimmer, with a more feminine line, in Black and Olive
Mid-length
A mid-length coat covers more than a cropped jacket and stays easy to move in.
- Bobbie Tech: mid-length, with a detachable belt
- Lucie Boxy Mid: oversized and duvet-soft
Long and ankle-length
A long coat covers your hips and thighs, which is what you want on a windy platform, at a bus stop or on a long walk in a cold city. It also looks polished over work clothes.
- Camille Long: slim and full-length
- Noelia Long: A-line, flaring gently toward the hem
- Lucie Boxy Long: oversized, from shoulder to shin
- Val Cenis Long Tech: slim and long, with an adjustable hood
- Val Cenis Long: fitted and ankle-length
Whatever the length, look for a two-way front zipper. Every Monel coat has one, so you can open the hem to walk, sit or drive. See all cropped puffer jackets and long down coats.
Walking a lot in the cold? See what to wear in a Minnesota winter.
Then, the cut: slim, A-line, belted or oversized
Slim and fitted
Slim styles sit close and look sharp. The Camille Short and Camille Long have a slim, feminine line. The Val Cenis coats are fitted and minimal.
A-line or straight
A straight coat keeps a clean, close line from shoulder to hem. An A-line coat widens gently toward the hem, so it moves easily when you walk. The Noelia Long is our A-line style, in Titanium and Black.
Belted
A belt defines the waist, so a down coat looks tailored rather than puffy. The Bobbie Tech has a detachable belt, so you can wear it belted or loose. It comes in Black and Forest.
Oversized
An oversized coat layers over chunky knits without squeezing, and the boxy shape looks deliberate rather than bulky. Balance it with slim trousers or a straight skirt. The Lucie Boxy coats are cut big on purpose, so size down for a closer fit. The Lucie Boxy Mid comes in Crisp Champagne, Black and Ice Blue, and the Lucie Boxy Long in Black.
Next, the shell
Every Monel coat has a water-repellent shell, so snow and light rain bead off. Most are nylon. The Tech styles, the Val Cenis Long Tech and Bobbie Tech, use a four-way stretch polyester shell with a 10,000 mm water column, which suits wet commutes and moves with you. Monel coats are water-repellent, not waterproof: in heavy rain, Monel recommends a raincoat.
To keep the shell water-repellent, see our down coat care guide.
Finally, the hood
The Val Cenis Long Tech has an adjustable hood. Whatever you choose, a beanie keeps your head covered: see our beanies and mittens.
Getting the size right
Monel uses European sizing: women's XS to XL corresponds to US 4 to 12. Take your usual size in most styles. The Lucie Boxy coats run oversized, so size down for a closer fit. Each product page has a fit note, and our size guide has them all in one place.
If it isn't right, you can return it within 30 days of delivery, unworn with tags. See our return policy.
Questions about choosing a down coat
Should I get a long or short puffer coat?
Choose by how you spend winter. A cropped puffer suits car-to-door days and moves easily. A long coat covers your hips and thighs, which matters at bus stops, on platforms and on long walks.
How long should a puffer coat be?
Long enough for the time you spend outside. Cropped is easiest for driving and cycling, mid-length is a middle ground, and full-length or ankle-length coats cover the most for long waits outdoors.
What's the difference between an A-line and a straight puffer coat?
A straight coat keeps a clean, close line from shoulder to hem. An A-line coat widens gently toward the hem, so it moves more easily when you walk. At Monel Norway, the Camille and Val Cenis are slim or fitted, and the Noelia Long is A-line.
Should I size up in a down coat?
In most Monel Norway styles, take your usual size. The Lucie Boxy coats are oversized by design, so size down for a closer fit. Each product page has a fit note.
What is a two-way zipper for?
A two-way front zipper opens from the bottom as well as the top, so you can loosen the hem to walk, sit or drive while the coat stays closed at the collar. Every Monel coat has one.