<p>Pea coats sound like they would be a Boston staple. I think you've got to let kids see what others are wearing and purchase their own coats. Son is fairly fashion-conscious and anything "puffy" is not cool and black is the hot color. He just bought a Spyder (brand) jacket from a ski-wear store. It was expensive, but most ski-wear is supposed to be warm, yet not bulky.</p>
<p>Wow! This thread is really making me chuckle. C'mon, guys! Boston isn't exactly the North Pole! It isn't even Buffalo or Duluth! I've lived in MA 30+ years; and I don't wear a down coat. (And I'm not particularly fond of the cold.) Yes, layers are important. Gloves are critical. Ditto hats (or hoods) when the temps drop below 0 a few days per year. OP's S will figure it out, and shop accordingly. Plenty of places to buy new or used in Boston-Cambridge.</p>
<p>Spyder stuff is very nice and does wear well. They are always changing styles so sometimes you can nab last year's at a bargin.
I agree that OP's S will do just fine. I believe he goes to Brandeis, which is in the burbs - various malls, assuming he knows somebody with a car, are very accessible. Lands End stuff is generally available at Sears, LLBean has a moderate-sized store in Burlington (about 15 minutes by car). I like to always have some gloves and a light hat.</p>