All photos: Yunus Tuğ
Something has shifted in how women are thinking about jackets. Not dramatically, not overnight, but there's been a gradual drift away from fashion-first pieces that look great on a hanger and fall apart after two winters, towards outerwear that actually does what outerwear is supposed to do. Keep you warm. Keep you dry. Survive a walk to the car park in horizontal rain without looking like you've swum there.
It's a sensible shift, honestly. The obsession with fast fashion cycling through trends every six weeks has left a lot of people with wardrobes full of things they barely wear, and a growing suspicion that spending a bit more on something practical and well-made is the better call. Not a radical idea, but one that seems to have taken a while to land properly.
The Problem With "Stylish" Outerwear
A lot of what gets marketed as stylish outerwear to women is genuinely not built for the British climate. Thin wool-blend coats that soak through in a drizzle. Cropped jackets that leave a six-inch gap between hem and waistband the second you reach for anything. Quilted gilets that look the part but don't actually keep the wind out. Anyone who's stood on a train platform in February in something that cost £120 and offered the thermal protection of a light cardigan will know exactly what I mean.
Real warmth, decent coverage, and pockets that fit actual hands rather than decorative finger slots, these things have started mattering to people again. Which is probably why brands that have always prioritised function are seeing a fresh wave of interest from shoppers who've grown tired of the alternatives.
What Chums Actually Gets Right
Chums has been doing practical clothing for a long time, and their approach to outerwear reflects that. The ladies jackets from Chums cover a decent range of styles, from padded and fleece-lined options built for colder months, to lighter shower-resistant designs that work well into spring. Nothing is trying particularly hard to be on-trend in the Instagram sense, and that's actually part of the appeal.
The sizing runs generously, which matters more than it probably should but absolutely does. Anyone who's ordered a jacket in their usual size only to discover it won't do up over a jumper in December will appreciate that Chums tends to account for actual human proportions and layering. They also stock a wide size range as standard, which isn't something every retailer gets right.
Prices are reasonable without being suspiciously cheap. Most of their jackets sit in the £40 to £80 bracket, with a few warmer or more technical pieces going a bit higher. That's not bargain-bin territory, but it's honest pricing for what you're getting, and the construction quality tends to hold up through repeat washing and regular use better than some of the trendier alternatives at similar price points.
Who This Actually Suits
There's no single type of woman who buys from Chums, despite what you might assume. Yes, the brand has a strong following among older customers who've long since decided comfort outranks trend-chasing. But there's also a growing number of younger shoppers who've come round to the same conclusion and just want a jacket that works, doesn't cost a fortune, and isn't made from something that'll disintegrate after a year.
If you spend time outdoors, do a lot of driving, live somewhere genuinely cold (Scotland, the north, anywhere with a wind that comes off the sea with serious intent), or you've just had enough of beautiful but useless outerwear, it's worth a look. The waterproof and water-resistant options in particular hold up well in the kind of grey, damp, persistently unpleasant weather that the UK specialises in from roughly October to April.
A Small But Relevant Point About Buying Online
Chums operates primarily as a catalogue and online retailer, which means the sizing guides and product descriptions are more detailed than you'd typically get from a high street brand. That's useful when you're buying something without trying it on first. Returns are straightforward too, which removes a lot of the risk that usually comes with buying outerwear without setting foot in a shop.
None of this is groundbreaking. But sometimes what you actually need is a jacket that does its job, not a statement piece that needs careful weather monitoring before you wear it outside.
