Hello Function—Meet Style: 5 Best Winter Coats for Women

January 6th, 2015 • BY Hilary Oliver

Have you ever spent more time than you’d like to admit picking out the perfect party dress and acing your glamorous eye shadow just to open your coat closet and, sigh, grab the same battered puffy you wore out climbing for your Saturday night on the town? I’m certainly guilty.

I used to be a die-hard technical jacket fan. But lately, several outdoor brands have focused their efforts on combining functional fabrics and performance features with a deeper sense of style. The results are jackets that can handle a slushy bike ride to the office or a high-intensity dog walk just as easily as a glam party. We tested out this season’s picks and came up with 5 of the best winter coats for women. Now we’re ready to party—toasty, warm and dry.

Nau x Snow Peak Synfill Kimono Trench

The hands-down best marriage of utility and beauty, the Kimono Trench jacket ($435) from Nau boasts just about all the qualities of your tech-y synthetic puffy, except its inability to coordinate with your little black dress. It sheds water but still breathes, the shape is flattering but surprisingly warm for its low profile, and every detail from snap and pocket placements to the sheltering hood are thoughtful and intuitive. Plus, it’s made from recycled polyester and filled with Cocona, a down alternative made from sustainable coconut husks and recycled poly.

 

Patagonia Better Sweater Fleece Peacoat

Partial to the classic maritime peacoat style? The Better Sweater Fleece Peacoat ($149)combines what you love from your most comfortable athletic fleece with a style that transitions into the office or cocktail hour. It’s a little less wind-proof than the others in this list, but perfect for layering. The soft, sweater-like knit moves with your body, the polyester fleece wicks away moisture and the oversized pockets can even take over if you don’t feel like carrying a purse for the evening. Pop the collar to fend off biting breezes, whether you’re taking the wheel of your yacht or just dropping the kids off at school.

 

Horny Toad Swingout Jacket

The perfect layering piece, the Swingout Jacket ($145) is cut athletically—no binding under the arms when you’re reaching for your bike handlebars—but finished with casual style. The funnel collar blocks out chilly breezes and the waxed canvas sheds light moisture surprisingly well. With its cozy kangaroo pockets and flannel lining, we didn’t want to take this one off when we walked inside. The lining makes it comfy even over a sleeveless dress, but layer in a sweater when the temps dip dramatically.

 

Lole Masella 2

Waterproof, windproof and insulated, Lole’s Masella 2 jacket ($280) has a feminine cut and comes in subtle colors that won’t make locals stare in a cosmopolitan city. Long enough to warm your bum in yoga pants, the Masella 2 will shelter your neck and head with its fuzzy-lined hood, complete with a snap-out brim for keeping pesky sleet or snow off your face. This jacket runs a touch smaller than the others we tried, making it less ideal for layering. But its Thermaglow Mid insulation kept us from needing to add in a sweater, anyway.

 

Icebreaker MerinoLOFT Helix 3/4 Jacket

Ultra lightweight and warm with a sleek, urban cut, the Helix 3/4 Jacket ($349.99) was also a winner in our best winter coats for women review. The Helix employs Icebreaker’s new MerinoLOFT, a down alternative that is surprisingly lightweight and warm, even in the most biting cold. It’s no wonder this coat delivers pure warmth—its 3/4 length cuts the cold and its body is lined in wool and the interior baffled MerinoLOFT fill is crafted of 88% wool and 12% polylactide. The polyester exterior easily repels light precip, too, making the Helix our got-to jacket for both the evening and the everyday.

MerinoLOFT’s light weight also makes this jacket sleek and form-fitting—definitely a better pair for your LBD than that marshmallow-like puffy. This breakthrough insulating material is also made for the real world—it’s machine washable (keep it out of the dryer, though), odor resistant, and breathable. Bonus: MerinoLOFT is made with repurposed materials. — Erinn Morgan

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