Heck, I got a lot of use out of an army field jacket with the removable lining. Get one roomy enough for a thick sweater underneath it. It may not be the most stylish thing around, but it’ll keep you warm and fairly dry.
I have that same jacket and got it for $50 at a Salvation Army in an upper class neighborhood. Also got my cold weather Columbia jacket there for $75. I know many people are adverse to doing this but it is an option many don’t even think about. I just love a deal and look over things very well. Never know when someone ex just decides to toss out his stuff out. 
My recommendation, whatever you get, is that it should be a coat. It should cover your butt and thighs when you sit down. If you ever sit on things outside, benches in transit areas for instance, you can do it in a coat. Plus, no one looks dumber in heavy snowfall than the dude only covered to his waist. Well, aside from the guy with no outerwear at all. Or the tool with a sweater, hat, gloves, and scarf.
For men, I vote for layers and a peacoat style coat. Goes with everything.
Navy pea coat (looks like you can get them for $100-$150)
over a heavy, wool turtleneck sweater (about $100)
over a long-sleeved t-shirt (about $10).
-25 with wind and snow during the winter. Don’t buy one coat, buy several lighter ones, it gives you more flexibility and insulates you better.
I wear a thermal undershirt (~$35); then a fleece jacket (~$50), then a wind proof rain jacket shell (~$80).
Get a warm wool hat and earmuffs, trust me…an exposed head is where you’ll lose most of your heat.
and mittens.
I thought I heard that this was actually false, and that you lose equal amount everywhere, but it just looks like you lose a lot of heat through your head
I swear by Columbia Omni-Heat jackets. The lining is made up of little silver dots that reflect your body heat back to you. I have one that is so light yet so warm. I handed it to my mom one day and she said “What the hell? How is this even warm??” because it’s so lightweight. But yeah, keeps me toasty warm and I live in mid-Ontario, Canada.
Yep.
I’ve also heard that we lose somewhat more heat from the places where we sweat, or where the blood vessels are closer to the surface (like the neck and groin), so if you’re going out into weather above freezing, you should be somewhat better off with a down vest & a scarf, rather than a hat. Below freezing, you want at least a little something everywhere you can afford to wear something, lest frostbite ensues.
I thought someone would bring this up. The report you mention is misleading. The importance of hats should not be discounted. Note the study indicated the original myth resulted because the original work used uncovered heads Of course, it makes sense if you are fully clothed, that you lose most of your heat through an uncovered head.
Also note my (intentional) wording takes that into account: “Get a warm wool hat and earmuffs, trust me…an** exposed head** is where you’ll lose most of your heat”
Thanks again for all the advice. I think I’m going to go with LL Bean but I’m also going to check out Columbia. I’ve had Carhartts before and liked them, so I’ll look at them as well.
I take the point about layers, but this is mostly for city living, so I want something I can take off quickly and be comfortable in a heated environment, though I do walk a lot. Back in another life I spent a winter in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, where the importance of layering was stressed in no uncertain terms, but I’m not looking at any winter survival situations here in DC.
I am totally aware of the importance of headgear, as I shave my head. (Well, God shaves it, I just help out along the sides.)
Thanks again all.
I’d suggest one of the Columbia or other 3-in-one type jackets, with Gore-tex or whatever their breathable and waterproof lining is.
That way, you can wear it all together when it’s really cold, or wear just the liner or shell if it’s moderately cool, or layer the shell with other insulation to tailor it to your conditions.
I’ve had a Columbia 3-in-1 parka for 4 years now- it’s been great.
I have one of them as well for in-between weather (too cold for my sweatjacket but too warm for my parka). Got it from the surplus store at 0 Prince in Old Town; looks like they’ve moved to 2379 S. Dove (near Duke & Telegraph).
You can also get nice wollen office-type coats with a zip or button-in bodywarmer for when it’s extra cold. In fact if you shop around, for 300 notes you can probably get one of those plus one of the hiking-style jackiets with a zip-in fleece, then you are set for anything.
Oh and a knitted hat with fleece lining and thinsulate in the middle - mmmmm toasty.
Last year I decided I was going to spend some serious money and get a really nice winter coat. After checking out a few, I ended up getting a cheapy at Target, and it’s actually pretty nice- a shell which can be worn alone as a windbreaker, and a zip out liner. Plenty warm, and low tech.