Before walking into that store have a set budget in mind. Winter coats for women can range from as little as $30 for a simple wind cheater jacket to as high as into the thousands for a designer winter coat, such as the Burberry Brit double breasted trench coat. So, depending on how deep your pockets are, you need to be mentally prepared and disciplined. How much do you want to spend on a coat?
2. Decide on the level of warmth needed from the winter coat. This will be determined by the seasons extremes, the climactic changes, and function. Early winter may not require a goose down parka but, come mid January that parka might come in handy. If you are winter weather is mild compared to say the Yukon winter, you will not want a heavy jackets, you would probably prefer one that breathes and stabilizes the core temperature. The cold weather in Virginia is less extreme then in Maine or Alaska. Although cold a thinner jacket will usually suffice. If in the winter months it tends to rain more then snow in your area, you will want to choose a water resistant material over a cloth or canvas jacket.
