It's hard to think about the days when we're not wearing layers of clothing like a good nacho dip. So, instead of longing for the Future, let's focus on the Right Now, and that involves puffer coats.
Just to get this out of the way: not all puffer coast are created equal. There are some that are all looks and no warmth. There are some that make you into Ralphie's brother from A Christmas Story. But we're going to ignore all of those and get into the puffer coats that are sleek, easy-to-wear, and ones you can store and still enjoy when winter rolls around again.
Short puffer coats may seem like an oxymoron of sorts, but they provide a nice, casual topper for a day out. Something like the Aer from The Arrivals has a classic puffer shape, a handful of go-with-everything shades, and plenty of pockets to stuff hands, gloves, cough drops, used tissues, and more into. Another option is to pump up the visual interest (without leaning too heavily into the trendy category). The plaid Alma coat from The Very Warm features a stand collar to keep the wind away from your neck and a pop of magenta in the inner collar made from gloss cire fabric to keep the 100% Italian wool outer from getting too itchy.
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Another way of looking at short puffer coats is to find ones you can layer under other coats. Pair my personal favorite, the Uniqlo Ultra Light Compact Down Jacket, with a topcoat like this one from Top Shop and you have a chic way of being a bit dressier even when it's below freezing. Everlane's Hooded Puffer has a couple more bells and whistles, like the aforementioned hood and the ability to be fully reversible.
The last option, and the one that gets the most flack, is the long puffer coat. Personally, I'm a fan of Everlane's first generation of puffer coats, but the new ones lack a bit of structure and I don't like that they got rid of the fleece-lined, in-seam pockets. But, a few friends and coworkers have it and love it. Instead, try out one from Amazon's in-house brand Lark & Ro. This has a stand collar that practically looks like a travel pillow, so you know you'll be both warm and comfortable on your commute.
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