Girls' Jackets & Coats
Girls' jackets and coats at FlipBuy UK: fleece winter bodywarmers for layering, £14.99.
How to dress a child for British winter
Children run warmer than adults and move far more, so they generally need less than parents instinctively put on them. But they also stand still in playgrounds in February, which is the opposite problem.
- Three thin layers beat one thick coat. Warmth comes from air trapped between layers, and layers come off in an overheated classroom rather than being carried or lost.
- Waterproof matters more than warm for most of the British year. A wet child gets cold quickly whatever else they are wearing.
- Check the back of the neck, not the hands. Cold hands are normal; a hot, damp neck means too many layers, and sweat then chills them when they stop running.
- Bodywarmers and gilets are the useful middle layer. They keep the core warm while leaving arms free to move and climb, and they fit under a coat without bulk.
Why a gilet earns its place
- Works across three seasons. Over a t-shirt in autumn, over a jumper in winter, under a raincoat when it turns.
- No sleeve bulk means a child can move properly, sleeves are what make coats restrictive for climbing and playing.
- Easier to keep track of than a coat, which gets taken off and left behind. A gilet tends to stay on.
- Fits over a school jumper without the arms bunching.
How to size children's outerwear
- Size up one, not two. Outerwear needs room for layers underneath, so it is the one category where sizing up makes sense, but two sizes means sleeves over hands and a hem that trips.
- Go by height, not age. The measurement on the product page is more reliable than the label.
- Check it fits over a school jumper, which is what it will be worn over most days.
- Look for adjustable cuffs or hem if you want it to last more than one winter.
Safety points for children's outerwear
- Avoid drawstrings at the neck. Neck cords on children's outerwear are a strangulation hazard and are restricted under UK and EU safety standards for younger children, check any hood cords are the safe breakaway type or absent entirely.
- Reflective detail matters in British winter, when children walk to and from school in the dark at both ends of the day.
- Check zips have a chin guard: a fabric flap at the top. Zips catching the chin is a common complaint from small children.
- Remove coats in car seats. A bulky coat compresses under the harness in a collision, leaving the straps dangerously loose. Put the coat on backwards over the fastened harness, or use a blanket.
How to wash fleece so it stays soft
- Wash inside out, cool, gentle cycle
- Never use fabric conditioner. It coats the fleece pile and flattens it permanently, the most common reason fleece goes flat and scratchy
- Wash with similar fabrics only. Washing fleece with towels or denim causes most of the pilling
- Line dry or tumble low. High heat turns soft fleece scratchy and shrinks it
- A fabric shaver restores a bobbly gilet in five minutes
Common questions
What size should I buy for layering?
One size up from their measured size, so it fits over a school jumper.
Is a gilet warm enough for winter?
As a layer, yes, over a jumper and under a waterproof it works through winter. On its own in cold or wet weather, no.
Can children wear coats in car seats?
They should not. Bulky coats compress under the harness in a collision and leave the straps too loose. Fasten the harness first, then put the coat on backwards over the top.
Why has the fleece gone flat?
Almost always fabric conditioner, or washing with rough fabrics. A fabric shaver improves the look but the pile does not fully recover.
Related collections
For the full range, see girl's fashion. For knitwear, girls' knitwear. For tops, girls' tops.
