Days are cold, nights are colder, and the haze of summer has well and truly faded into the distance. All’s not lost though, with the end of Summer comes a shift into warmer fits. It’s officially puffer season. From throwing one on with a pair of sweats to go to the shop, to investing in a statement piece that you’ll wear for years to come, puffers are a versatile piece that can elevate or cosy-fy any outfit. Originating in 1936, created out of necessity after designer Eddie Bauer nearly lost his life to hypothermia, the puffer has filtered through fashion and culture to become a major player in the coat game.
With such a versatile piece leading to countless styling options, we have chosen one each to style up. Check out the selection and where to buy them below.
PAVEL
Coats and jackets are always investment pieces, especially if you buy a timeless one like this Bottega Veneta bomber/puffer jacket. The bomber style will always be a timeless silhouette for me. I have jackets similar to this one that I bought over seven years ago and still wear whenever winter comes round.
With it being “parakeet” green, this puffer is definitely a statement piece, so I paired it with an all-black outfit. But an all-black outfit doesn’t need to be simple. The Y/PROJECT trousers have a unique feature on the waist which will be nicely exposed below the short cut waistline of the jacket. I don’t tend to tuck my top into my trousers, but I will definitely do it for this look.
The hand-crochet Valentino sneakers finish the look nicely as they add some texture to the look. It would be too predictable to wear this look with leather boots. Oh, and to finish the look off – a cross body bag is crucial.
BOTTEGA VENETA COAT PARAKEET – £1,615
SOPHIE
As I searched the depths of Google for the perfect winter coat, which BTW is one of the hardest things to choose when you struggle to make any kind of decision, I came across this beige Ganni puffer. I’m a big fan of the oversized fit, the high neck and the fact it’s a sustainable item. Not to mention it looks warm AF; all boxes are ticked as far as I’m concerned. Due to this being such a steal at £375, I went all out on the accessories (hello Bottega). The little pop of bright green is all this outfit needed, the pièce de résistance if you will, to compliment the rest of the minimal look of black pants, a roll neck and a subtle monogrammed Burberry cardigan. Chunky boots are non-negotiable when it comes to the ultimate AW21 fit, and it just makes sense to go with a pair of trusty Docs. Winter, I’m ready for yah.
GANNI RECYCLED POLYESTER OVERSIZED PUFFER MIDI JACKET – £375
SAM
Today I learned that choosing a puffer jacket for winter is an absolute nightmare. After sieving through countless puffers and finding it impossible to decide, I finally settled on this stunning, bold, (almost bottega) green, graffiti printed jacket by none other than McQueen. I’ve explained in previous shopping guides that I need a jacket with a hood, yet to this day I STILL haven’t bought one, so that was definitely the deciding factor for me (plus it’s pretty). As usual I didn’t hold back on the price, I figured if I was spending a nice 1.5k on a puffer I should also treat myself to some wide leg Bottega Veneta trousers and.. um.. some Prada monoliths too – it’s nearly Christmas right? So why not?
Sprinkle an infamous Telfar bag and some cool Loewe shades on top to accessorise and you have a fit guaranteed to keep you warm this winter – let’s hope, because you won’t be able to pay your heating bill.
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN GRAFFITI PRINTED PUFFER JACKET – £1,540
STELLA
Puffers are a staple, and there were so many to choose from when making this selection that I had to channel the iconic metallic puffer worn by none other than Victoria Beckham in her early WAG era. I chose a silver Moncler offering to update Posh Spice’s look, a brand that goes hand in hand with puffers and winterwear. With such a plush puffer, I opted for a sheer knit by weekday to keep the temperature (and overall price) bearable. Style with whichever black trousers you already have – suit trousers to elevate the look, or sweatpants à la Becks.
The OG Airmax 97 silver bullets were added to match the puffer and pay homage to Victoria’s black pair, and the Yankees cap switched out for a Palm Angels cap of the same colour. Completing the look, I’ve added the new LED-Balenciaga shades (to hide from the paps, duh), and you could also add a monogram dog leash to fully channel Victoria. Spice up your life with the Moncler 1952 puffer, retailing at £1405.
2 MONCLER 1952 PUFFER – £1,450
LIAM
To be honest, cozy yet practical is my philosophy for most things in life; and that’s what this outfit is built upon. I’m a big fan of heavy oversized zip hoodies, and I think Rhude have made some great strides in perfecting the overall fit. I love the emerald green colour because it gives your outfit a bit of vibrance yet still keeps you slightly low key, plus it matches up nicely with the crisp white Cole Buxton t-shirt and the khaki green Jacquemus cargo pants which have a great colour tone and fall nicely on the Jordan 4 retros. To spice up the outfit I’ve added the White Gold buckle bracelet with its embezzled nano crown stones. Whether I’m going out for lunch or heading to the photo studio, this outfit will get me to where I need to be whilst keeping me calm and cozy.
The ALYX puffer is a perfect low-key addition to this outfit. Its slim padded design with it’s bright silver zips make the jacket stand out whilst remaining complimentary to the other items; and the detachable hood is perfect for those clear skied evenings that require a more slim fit.
1017 ALYX 9SM HOODED PUFFER – £645
CHRIS
Okay, before the tutting and eye-rolling commence, I’m totally aware that this Mki Miyuki Zoku puffer is in the no-mans-land of puffer/bomber jacket fusion. However, I can’t help the fact that I have a disproportionally small neck and traditional puffer jackets make me look like Lil Pump in the ‘I Love It’ music video. Now that’s out the way, I chose this puffer because the clean lines synonymous with Japanese streetwear make for a perfect accompaniment to the bold Surimanese traditional prints painted across these ‘Patta Got Love’ edition trousers. Add a crisp white Daily Paper t-shirt and a classic pair of white Jordan 1’s and I’ll feel ready to put the memory of those summers spent inside wearing questionably dirty sweatpants in the past!
MKI MIYUKI-ZOKU PADDED QUILTED JACKET – £135
JACK
If you are looking for the ultimate smart-casual puffer ‘fit for the winter months, then this is it for me. A classic pair of Levis 501s will never look out of place, paired with a pair of Blackstock and Webers Mason Horse Bit Loafer in Walnut Croc. Jason Dill’s obsession with retro knits is ever more evident with the latest Fucking Awesome Zip Knit cardigan, which is truly unbeatable paired with a Pro Club heavyweight tee. This entire outfit is pulled together thanks to the frosted poplin puffer by Bottega Veneta. The cream colourway compliments the cardigan layer perfectly and guarantees to elevate any item in your wardrobe. If you want an outfit for both Christmas markets as well as dinner and drinks, this is it.
BOTTEGA VENETA PUFFER IN TOILE – £2,135
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See also: GO BIG OR GO SMALL WITH TRUNKS & LUGGAGE
See also: CULTED CURATES: WE STYLE PRADA’S PADDED NYLON SLIPPERS
