I think brand is less helpful than just looking at what it's made of. Generally, wool is going to be warmer than polyester, and down is going to be super warm. Some synthetic materials can be really warm too though, just do some googling to figure it out. Like puffer jackets are often synthetic, but warm. Canada Goose is the gold standard in warmness, but they're also super expensive, and not really necessary for most climates. I personally have a wool jacket from Roots (a Canadian brand), and a puffer jacket from Guess. More on reddit.com

If you buy better quality, you should get many more years of use out of it. If you're looking for a true functional jacket for outdoor activities, get yourself something North Face, Mountain Hardwear, or Patagonia. Should last a decade. Or get a Carhartt that'll last you a lifetime. More on reddit.com

I’m still rocking my Uniqlo ultra light down jacket from a decade ago 🙈 Hits right at my hips, matte black. More on reddit.com

To me, the most important winter coat in Chicago is one that goes at least to you knees or lower. The full body coat vibes are must. With a hood. I feel like I have to buy a new one every few years due to fast fashion from any big name store, but I have a super amazing vintage Evan Picone wool red trench I found at the thrift that is my workhorse. Stay cozy! More on reddit.com