We get in the minus 20's every winter.  

Is this any good?   Men's UA ArmourStorm® ColdGear® Infrared Fractle Jacket

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clothing/Mens-Casual-Clothing/Mens-Outerwear/Mens-Insulated-Outerwear%7C/pc/104797080/c/104746680/sc/105548580/i/104172480/Under-Armour174-ColdGear174-Infrared-Fractile-Jacket/1856058.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fmens-insulated-outerwear%2Funder-armour%2F_%2FN-1102393%2B1000005041%2B4294389092%2FNe-1000005041%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104172480%3FWTz_l%3DUnknown%253Bcat105548580%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=Unknown%3Bcat105548580%3Bcat104172480

It looks good, but look at North Face Mcmerdo Bay parka, I have one and love it.
 

Carhartt artic.

This, never be cold again. Mills Fleet Farm usually hàs good deals on Carhartt.

For work or play?

I would go synthetic for anything to do with sports.

I wear all Charhartt outer wear for work and layer up. The stuff wears like iron, great for laying block and other abrasive tasks.

This is casual--I won't be cutting wood or doing construction.

So...fashion/appearance is a concern.  I don't want to look like a lumberjack--that's actually my current look/style, an older work parka with name tag.  

Go with down then, warm as hell.

Dude don't fuck around
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/60850?productId=1016122&attrValue_0=Charcoal%20Heather&mr:trackingCode=D68A648D-090F-E311-A497-90E2BA285E75&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla_with_promotion&mkwid=2JHUIKZL_dc&pcrid=62960387840&qs=3091372_google&product=0HMP512002&cvosrc=cse.google.0HMP512002&cvo_crid=62960387840

This is my third winter with this parka and it's the best I've had.  650-fill goose down keeps you warm

I went to Cabela's last night to try on some of their parkas and jackets, but they don't carry the majority of them in store.

I did really like the ice fishing parkas--lots of pockets and good features.  But too bulky and NASCAR-ish.

I've got to buy from Cabela's because I have a plethora of bucks to use there.

They had free shipping too so I'm going to go out on a limb and just order the UA Fractle linked above.  It gets great reviews on the UA site.  

For really cold weather low energy work I'll use my carhart-ish work parka.

I'll post up a review after I have used it some.

BTW:  I did look at or into all of the things y'all recommended.

In the -20s I wouldn't be counting on just 1 layer to do it. Every year we get days where the wind chill might be as low as -40F, and as a Ground Support Equipment mechanic at an airport I spend a good part of those days outside changing starters and batteries, getting diesels running, etc. On those days I'll wear heavy polypro as a base layer, my work pants and T-shirt, a Carhartt thermal zip-up hoodie, the Aramark arctic coveralls I got when working as a ski lift mechanic 9 years ago, and on really bad days my Carhartt arctic coat over that. A USGI Nomex CVC hood goes on my head, Sorel Conquests on my feet, and knit thermal gloves without the rubberized palms & fingers go on my hands. They're thin enough that I can thread all but the smallest nuts & bolts on while wearing them, and by keeping the rest of my body very warm I'm good going without gloves for 20-30 minutes at -20F. And that's while handling cold metal on a wide-open airport ramp. Yeah, I'm pushing the edge of frostbite, but I can always just pull my hands into my sleeves for a minute or 2.

When I'm outside in those temps but not working, I'll wear silkweight polypro, merino top & bottoms over that, regular pants, my Mountain Hardwear fleece, my Marmot Odin 800-fill down jacket (more a down sweater, not a big puffy jacket), and a windproof, waterproof shell on top. Appropriate headwear and handwear as well. When I go inside or get in the truck, I'll at least unzip all layers to keep from overheating, and sometimes remove 1 or 2.

http://www.eddiebauer.com/product/bc-downlight-reg-stormdown-trade-jacket/38832174/_/A-ebSku_0880728100000060__38832174_catalog10002_en__US?backToCat=Outerwear-First Ascent&color=907&tab=men&previousPage=FNAV&isRedirect=true

The week of Thanksgiving I picked it up for $270 in the Eddie Bauer store.

It is the only down coat I have ever seen with pit zips.