Buying a winter coat with Tommy Hilfiger

The options on the winter coat rack seem endless: wool blends, puffy downs, tweeds, leathers, dark, bright, short, long.

But for those who have trouble knowing where to begin their search, designer Tommy Hilfiger has plenty of tips as shoppers head into the winter-coat buying season.

"The first thing you want is great quality, because when you invest in a coat you want it to last a long time," said Hilfiger, in Boston recently to promote his new luxury clothing line.

As clothing goes, a winter coat is probably one of the larger purchases a consumer will make. Nationwide, men and women spent a combined $6.2 billion on coats and jackets in 2003, according to the NPD Group, a New York marketing-information company.

While the fashion conscious may splurge on a new coat every year, Hilfiger said once every five years is a reasonable time frame. Although he noted that the price of a coat depends in part on fabric, a consumer who is willing to spend between $195 and $250, he said, should be able to find something that combines style and comfort.

Not to mention versatility. Because coats can be costly, Hilfiger said, you may want one that you can wear for more than three months of the year. Lighter coats in fabrics like twill will stand up to cold weather if worn over layers, he said.

Wool, naturally, is a popular winter material, and one that hangs in Hilfiger's own closet. The self-taught designer, who launched his first menswear collection 20 years ago, gravitates toward traditional camel-hair coats and double-breasted styles -- what he describes as a "Savile Row" look.

But Hilfiger has his eye out for functional details as well.

"People cannot live without pockets," he said. And many customers still want down jackets, a style Hilfiger describes as a cold-weather staple. A women's version that he has sold this fall is more tailored, and comes in colors like white, black, and bright pink.

While he favors traditional overcoats for men, Hilfiger also pointed to a black leather jacket as a useful addition to the closet.

"Every guy needs at least one great leather," he said.

Leather, while not usually bought for warmth, can be a good winter choice if it is lined, said Ed Meisel, merchandise manager for Burlington Coat Factory. Those seeking warmth above all else should probably choose a coat made with down, fake shearling, or fake fur. The warmth of a wool coat depends on its thickness. Cashmere, a fine luxurious wool, is generally less durable -- and more expensive.

As for surviving New England snowstorms, you may want to consider something water-repellent, which is intended to keep you dry for seven minutes during a downpour, according to Burlington Coat Factory. Waterproof coats keep you totally dry, but the fabrics are less breathable.

Hilfiger, too, believes the region's erratic weather patterns are worth considering when looking for a new coat.

"In the Boston area, something for storms," he said.

Emily Shartin can be reached at eshartin@globe.com.