When I was a kid I hated wearing my winter coat. Sure, I’d probably get pneumonia, but I didn’t care. The puffiness, restricted-mobility, and downright ugliness of the children’s coats of the early ’00s was just too much for my heart to bear. Could you blame me? I wanted to run, play, and occasionally sneak looks at the older fifth-grade boys who were playing basketball on the playground without feeling like overstuffed poultry. Fast forward to high school, and I’d take a plump penguin over being cold any day of the week.
Thankfully, coats have evolved since my days as an immature grade-schooler who wouldn’t be caught dead in anything with the word “puffer” in it. Now, winter coats are more than a sensible piece of clothing—they’re a stylish and essential part of my cold-weather wardrobe.
Whether you’re looking to add a bit of drama to your closet or you’re only interested in keeping warm in the soon-to-be-fridged weather, here are a few winter coats that even my picky third-grade self would approve of.
The Untraditional Trench Coat
Speaking of the ever-evolving thing that is fashion, the oh-so-traditional cotton trench coat isn’t so traditional anymore. According to J.W. Anderson, trench coats can be supersized with have balloon sleeves, or thanks to Balenciaga and Valentino, all-leather and shiny.
Anything and Everything That’s Furry, Fluffy, and Warm
If there’s one thing I love, it’s a fuzzy coat. (Oh, how the times have changed.) Sweating or not, as soon as the first leaf falls, I’m decked out in faux fur.
The Cape-Trench Hybrid
Not all superheroes wear capes, huh? I beg to differ. This year, the cape has made its way back onto the runway. But this time, it brought a sidekick—the trench coat.