Home Seasonal The 5 Coat Styles You Need To Get Through Winter

The 5 Coat Styles You Need To Get Through Winter

January 26, 2025

One of the many perks of our Team of Editors here at TME is the fact that we try out a lot of stuff. Another perk is the fact that we live kiiiind of all over the place (Philly/Vermont/California/Nashville/Portland/Arkansas/Michigan/New York/Ohio/Colorado… whew, did I miss any, Team?).

Why is this relevant? Oh, because winter gets serious in the majority of these places – so we pretty much know *exactly* what we’re doing in terms of dressing for it.

These 5 Coat Styles Will Get You Through Every Activity This Winter

A couple of Zoom calls ago we were discussing the coats that we need for winter and narrowed it down to five (!!!) trusty styles…

One for seriously cold temps (puffers/parkas)
One for errands (lightweight, shorter)
One for looking more put-together (tailored/wool)
One for mixing it up (fashion/fun)
One for outdoor activities (ski jackets)

Since we’re no strangers to below zero temps or piles of snow – we feel pretty darn good about this list. And while everyone’s needs are different (depending on climate and activities), over the years we’ve found that these five categories will keep us covered for any type of winter scenario.

1. One For Serious Warmth

For when the temps are well below freezing, or if you’ll be standing around outside for extended periods of time (playground, watching dog sled races, being a chilly winter sports fan, etc), coats like down-filled parkas or long puffers are the best choices. We like them for their somewhat longer length (not cropped – at least butt-covering) and significant warmth. These are the Winter Workhorses.

Top Pick (if you live in Chicago or similar): Lole Nora Winter Down Jacket
Editor tried-and-true: Adidas Velour Down Puffer Jacket
Forever classic: Patagonia Downdrift Parka

Shop more warm coats:

2. A Short, Lightweight Coat (For Quick Errands)

Packable puffers are our top pick for this everyday category. They’re light (but still warm – we like to layer, too), easy to throw on, work with any bottom (short/cropped ones are some of the best for closet versatility), and are overall usually just a dang cute piece. These are usually the most affordable styles of the bunch which makes updating them more regularly feel… not so bad.

Top pick for 2025: Orolay Cropped Puffer Jacket
Editor tried-and-true: Halfdays Nellie Packable Puffer
Forever classic: Free People’s Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket

Shop more short, lightweight coats:

3. A Tailored Wool Coat (For Looking More Put-Together)

A tailored wool coat can include maxi coats, cocoon coats, topcoats, and pea coats. These are go-tos for when a puffer isn’t really going to cut it & you still need some warmth; work, parties, events, etc. The fact that they’re one of the most timeless outwear styles to exist allows for choosing one that’s a bit of a heftier investment, imho. A perfect Forever Closet piece.

Top pick for 2025: Abercrombie Wool-Blend Belted Coat
Editor tried-and-true: J.Crew Palais Italian Wool-Blend Topcoat
Forever classic: Reiss Lucia Wool-Blend Belted Coat

Shop more tailored wool coats:

4. A Ski Jacket

This one kind of goes without saying – if you’re going to do any sort of chilly, snow-topped activity, get yourself a ski coat of sorts. They’re obviously great for skiing, but can come perfectly in handy for sledding, winter hiking, snowshoeing, or other outdoor winter adventures.

Top pick for 2025: Cottonwoods GORE-TEX Shell Jacket
Editor tried-and-true: Halfdays Georgie Puffer Jacket
Forever classic: Burton GORE-TEX Pro Jacket

Shop more ski jackets (picked by Shana, our resident skier):

5. A Fashion Coat (To Mix Things Up)

A “fashion” coat is one of my favorite things in life. They’re almost like a personality piece – you can go for faux fur, floor length, bright hues, fun prints, leather, quilted… the list goes on (and on and on). These are for adding a generous helping of style to your outfits (or, let’s be real, carrying your outfit entirely). I love winter for this easily-cool outfit hack. Who cares what’s underneath?