It is interesting that the posts on this thread are dated 2010, as the problem of the fashion industry making coats and jackets with too-tight sleeves dates from around 2008, from my observation, and anything made before this time doesn't seem to have this problem. I have coats and jackets that are ten, twenty years old or more and they fit me perfectly. For instance, I have a UK size 12 Per Una denim jacket that I bought in 2006 that has ample room in the sleeves and isn't too big in the body. I have UK size 10 coats that I bought in the 1990's that have plenty of room in the sleeves without being baggy in the waist. (My waist is about 27 inches, which is a UK size 10, and when I buy a size 12 I find it is mostly the sleeves that won't fit, and most of my clothes aren't as fitted around the waist as I would like). As somebody said, it is particularly coats that are supposed to keep you warm that are unwearable when the arms are tight. I haven't been able to buy a coat in the current fashion of puffa coats, because the sleeves are all made excruciatingly tight, and they only look nice if they are fitted around the waist so I don't want to get a size 16 just so the arms are a bit less tight. In the cold weather I mostly wear a huge wool coat I got from a charity shop, beautifully made bargain but whoever gave it away probably did so because it is so big; its sleeves don't cause me any problem but it is probably something like a UK size 18, which drowns me; most people are between UK size 10 and UK size 14. Lovely warm coat, great colour and it does suit me except for being so unfitted. Most people I know just won't wear a coat that isn't fitted around the waist.
I have pretty much given up buying coats and jackets because of this tight sleeves problem, and wear older coats and jackets mostly that were made pre-2008. I would happily spend the money on a puffa coat if it fitted me round the waist without having tight sleeves, because it is a big fashion trend and everyone is wearing them and I like to fit in and not look different, but it is a lot of money for something that is going to be too uncomfortable and ill-fitting to wear.
So the OP, if he is still around, might want to look around for jackets and coats that were made before about 2008, when this ridiculous fashion diktat seemed to happen of making coats and jackets with tight sleeves and armholes that cut into you, and also baggy waists.
I have pretty much given up buying coats and jackets because of this tight sleeves problem, and wear older coats and jackets mostly that were made pre-2008. I would happily spend the money on a puffa coat if it fitted me round the waist without having tight sleeves, because it is a big fashion trend and everyone is wearing them and I like to fit in and not look different, but it is a lot of money for something that is going to be too uncomfortable and ill-fitting to wear.
So the OP, if he is still around, might want to look around for jackets and coats that were made before about 2008, when this ridiculous fashion diktat seemed to happen of making coats and jackets with tight sleeves and armholes that cut into you, and also baggy waists.