Hmm, I reserve judgement on women's harnesses. They're definitely worth a look if you're going for a less adjustable type of harness, but generally the main difference is in the leg loop girth (wider) and the waist/leg connection, or rise (longer), so if these are adjustable, you can make a unisex harness fit most shapes. I've found the odd women's harness I've tried is too big in the leg and so has actually fitted worse than the male version. So have other women I know, so it's worth trying both types.
I wouldn't go for a heavily padded harness for winter or foul weather use. The padding will soak up water, making it heavier, less comfortable and harder to manipulate. And, depending on your body shape, padded legs can cause chafing if you do much walking in them. Padding only helps if you do a lot of hanging, falling or fall-catching, so it's preferable for indoor or sports use, less so for general mountain wear. Ideally, most climbers would benefit from having two harnesses, but if you can only justify one, then a lightweight one is more multipurpose.
