I posted this video on Instagram last week, and I knew right away I had to dedicate a whole blog post to this topic: the best winter outerwear! I genuinely have a soft spot for a well-made jacket or coat—honestly, even if your layering underneath is already perfect, a standout winter outerwear piece can elevate your entire look. Okay, even if it doesn’t make you look better, at least it keeps you warm (which is what really matters!).
I finally feel like my jacket and coat collection perfectly covers every temperature you might encounter during a New York winter—or anywhere with a real winter, for that matter. So, let’s dive in!
Best Winter Coats for Women
Short Down Jacket
Let's start with the classic down jacket! It's practically a staple in every New Yorker's wardrobe (okay, I'm exaggerating a bit—but seriously, almost everyone owns one)... especially the black down jacket. If you know what I mean by the black down jacket? Then we're friends.
Seriously, if you live somewhere cold in winter, a puffer jacket is an absolute must-have. I snagged one last Black Friday (this is this year's new style), and I absolutely adore it—mainly because of its waist-cinching design. Finally, I won't look like a roasted marshmallow when I walk the dog! I'm also really into this metallic cropped puffer; if I'm still thinking about it this time next year, it's officially joining my collection.
Long Down Jacket
When it comes to that “roasted marshmallow” feeling—let's be real, warmth is what matters most in winter outerwear. So if temperatures drop below -20°C? This is the thermal wonder I reach for. I wasn't big on shopping at Aritzia before, but this jacket racked up such glowing reviews I had to try it myself. Spoiler alert: I ended up selling my Canada Goose jacket because this one is so much better. Three years later, it's still holding up strong (I swear I have a photo of me wearing it, but this 2021 shot will have to do—haha). Full disclosure: I ordered another Super Puff, this time in brown, to satisfy my recent obsession with chocolate brown.
Friendly reminder: I only recommend this jacket for those living in extremely cold winter regions. Temperatures above -7°C? It’s way too bulky. If it’s only 1.7°C, I’d be sweating buckets in it. That said, the cropped version works great for milder winter days.
Wool Coat
You've probably felt this before—you know your wardrobe is missing that one key piece, but you just haven't found the one? For years, that's how I felt about a long wool coat.
For some reason, wool coats always remind me of my dad and his classic workwear style. So when I stumbled upon this J.Crew coat last year, I knew instantly it was the one I'd been dreaming of. In fact, I hesitated for weeks before finally pulling the trigger—and now I'm so glad I did. I kept an eye on it as stock dwindled, snagged my size... only to see it sell out the very next day. (That was close!) If you're hunting for a similar coat, I highly recommend this one and this one. There's also one worth snagging that I'd practically trade my left pinky toe for (okay, kidding—but it's seriously amazing). In my book, a long wool coat is an absolute fall/winter essential: it epitomizes effortless elegance.
