BEAT WINTER WITH THESE TEN DESIGNER PUFFER JACKETS
With options stretching from Rick Owens to The North Face, puffer jackets are the people’s choice when it comes to winter coats.
The winter coat dilemma is a well-known and dreaded part of the season. For the lucky few who invested in the perfect winter jacket years ago, this decision is made before the cold sets in. For the rest, the choice between puffer jackets, wool overcoats, insulated liners, GORE-TEX shells, and an endless list of other possibilities can be stifling. Each of the options promises a balance of pros and cons—some lightweight but less protected while others cumbersome yet fully weatherproof—but designer puffer jackets cater to all requirements.
Writer Gaby Wilson touched on the wide-ranging nature of the puffer jacket in her piece for SSENSE entitled The Puffer Coat at the End of the World: “These days, the puffer’s meaning is elastic: cold-weather uniform to the everyman and the Everest set alike.” She notes that, “Despite the mainstream appeal and increased access, it is far from a utopian object. Like most things that are bought and sold, the puffer is stratified—in some cases, to the point of marking class divide—largely as a result of branding, but materials, too.”
From the experimental shapes of a Rick Owens jacket to the tried-and-tested utility of a The North Face puffer jacket, the category lends itself to every style, offering lightweight insulation across the spectrum. It’s worth taking into consideration the type of insulation you need. To reduce costs, synthetic insulation is a great option. For the full down jacket experience, opt for a feather-down mix, which is present in most designer puffer jackets and promises high-level insulation without any excess weight.
Featured In This Image: Dime jacket.
Dime’s Wave Jacket proves that puffer coats come in all shapes and sizes. Cut like an overshirt, the spacious silhouette features a collar and a button closure—unusual characteristics for a quilted jacket that make it a viable layering option. Beyond the overall shape, the waving quilt pattern is a defining visual aspect, bringing a sense of aesthetic value to the utilitarian grid.
Featured In This Image: Moncler jacket.
Moncler puffer jackets exist at the top end of the sliding scale, backed by more than 70 years of experience. Born in the mountains and designed for high-level skiing and mountaineering, Moncler jackets invariably boast premium linings; the Moncler Grenoble Printed Down Jacket looks to a goose down and goose feather mix for top-tier warmth while a graphic nylon ripstop shell steals attention.
Featured In This Image: The North Face jacket.
In the conversation about affordable winter coats, The North Face puffer jackets are a regular. In particular, the Nuptse Down Jacket is a perennial favorite of experts and amateurs alike thanks to its down and feather fill and range of style choices. Here, the Versa iteration features a fleece shell as a twist on the classic two-tone version.
Featured In This Image: and wander jacket.
Japanese label and wander’s diamond-quilted down jackets have become a signature aspect of the brand’s collections due not only to their appearance but also their performance. Combining a Pertex® Quantum ripstop shell with natural down and feather insulation makes for the golden triangle of winter coats: It looks good, it’s warm, and it’s waterproof.
Featured In This Image: Rick Owens jacket.
Who needs a scarf when you’ve got the Rick Owens Funnel Neck Down Jacket in the wardrobe? Fitted with one of the puffiest collars of the season, this jacket is all about proportions. Interplay between a cropped body and extended arms is only amplified by the wraparound collar which, when fastened, gives this designer puffer jacket a surreal, futuristic finish.
Featured In This Image: Goldwin jacket.
Goldwin’s extensive R&D department means that it’s one of the most impressive propositions on the market in terms of style and performance. Ergonomic cuts, super lightweight insulation, and protective shells are the foundational elements of Goldwin winter coats, and this packable down jacket proves all three of them while being compact enough to pack down when not in use.
Featured In This Image: GANNI coat.
Scandinavian brands rank as some of the most trustworthy when it comes to winter outerwear. GANNI’s playful persona is tempered by a respect for winter conditions that can only be gained by growing up in them. For FW23, the Paneled Coat perfectly embodies this balance. A head-turning two-tone finish is reinforced by a recycled polyester quilted lining and LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose-blend taffeta, which is a sustainable alternative to classic nylon ripstop.
Featured In This Image: Canada Goose jacket.
Canada Goose Black Label represents the brand’s recognition that much of its audience is based in urban environments. While Canada Goose parkas can and have been used for the most extreme expeditions, Canada Goose Black Label tones down the visuals for an urban environment. Sportier silhouettes like the Chilliwack Jacket lend themselves to the Black Label treatment, as they boast the brand’s top-tier insulation and protection in a lighter, more wieldy package.
Featured In This Image: HELIOT EMIL jacket.
Heliot Emil has existed for fewer than ten years but has made a strong imprint in this time. With memorable pieces like reflective, metallic trousers and sculptural jackets, the brand understands how to cause a stir. The Connective Down Jacket has a high-performing down and feather lining and a fastening more complex than almost anything else on the market to turn heads.
Featured In This Image: POST ARCHIVE FACTION (PAF) jacket.
Launched in 2018, POST ARCHIVE FACTION (PAF) is one of the young labels that has put South Korean fashion on the map. Combining experimental proportions with a level of technical specifications that even the top-tier outdoors brands would be proud of, PAF presents a range of designer puffer jackets that are ideal for the style-conscious wearer. The 5.1 Right Down Jacket has a ruched detail that adds characteristic texture to the seemingly classic black down jacket.
- Date: November 2, 2023
