I think I’m alone here, but does anyone else actually not hate winter? There’s something about bundling up and not leaving my apartment because it’s too damn cold throwing on a pair of over-the-knee boots that just fills my icy heart with joy. Don’t get me wrong, one of my favorite fashion-related pastimes is pushing my company’s dress code with aggressively short sundresses in the summertime, but cold-weather clothes, specifically coats, are my favorite thing to wear. Ever since that episode of Gossip Girl when Blair whisper-yelled that she’s not pregnant on the steps of the Met while making a serious case for patent leather trenches, I decided it’s time to toss the tragic North Face I got for my effing bat mitzvah and up my coat game STAT.
If you, too, have a coat fetish (not judging) then you better believe I’m about to change your life in a minute. Now, before we go any further down this cozy and well-insulated rabbit hole, I would just like to say that having a gorgeous coat does not have to cost what you would spend on a new laptop. Another fun fact about me, aside from my addiction to outerwear, is that I have zero patience and refuse to wait five to seven business days for something I ordered online to make its way to my closet. Enter, Amazon. If you didn’t know, Amazon is a fashion hub. Shopbop even has its own storefront! So, if you’re in dire need of a new jacket, these are the best winter coats you can shop on Amazon for way less than you’d spend anywhere else.
Orolay Women’s Thickened Down Jacket, $140
Obviously, I have to start with the coat that put Amazon on fashion girls’ radar last winter. This coat was hands-down the midi-length leopard skirt of 2018, and after trying it on, I understand why. It’s really well-insulated and it’s obviously pretty chic, which is saying a lot since it’s a puffer. I am all for “beauty is pain,” and shivering my tits off in a coat that is cuter than it is functional, but after experiencing New York City winter, I am pro-puffer. Until I ordered this bad boy (in black), I used to associate thigh-length puffer coats with my middle-aged figure skating coach who, bless her Ukrainian heart, was not chic. Not anymore! There are two elements about the Orolay coat that make it stylish: the giant military-inspired pockets and the blunt shape that is longer in the back. Bottom line, this coat is really warm and will look cute with everything, whether you’re wearing skinny jeans and Red Wings or a shift dress and over-the-knee boots.
Tanming Double-Breasted Plaid Wool Blend Peacoat, $49
I love a good menswear-inspired piece, and this shapeless peacoat is giving me all of that. It reminds me of something Don Draper would pair with one of those weird cashmere turtlenecks he used to wear towards the end of the show, but honestly, I’m into it. The only downside is that it’s probably not the warmest coat you’ll own, but good thing climate change is eliminating that issue, right? This may just be a me thing, but I never buy coats in weird colors because they obviously don’t really go with anything. This coat is great because the base color is a neutral, but it’s layered with a bunch of other colors, so you can really pair it with almost everything. Toss this over jeans and a T-shirt, and you’re good to go. If you want to feel a little Parisian, throw on a pair of oversized sunglasses and a pair of ballet flats, et voilà! Can you tell I’m 110% American? Cool, cool, cool.
Apparis Women’s Jahaira Faux Fur Coat, $400
Apparis has quickly become my go-to for coats, because even though they neither look nor feel like real fur, they’re still really luxurious. I have a cropped forest green version of this coat and sometimes I just lay it across my lap at work when my space heater blows its fuse and pet it. Do my coworkers think I’m a little nuts? Maybe, but I don’t care because this coat is that soft.
Now, if you have working eyesight, you’ve probably noticed that camo is everywhere these days. Apparis took the trend to the next level, though, and added the bright orange accents, which I am absolutely loving. The orange adds a unique element that regular camo is obviously lacking. It’s also neutral enough that you can wear it with pretty much anything.
ECOWISH Faux Shearling Oversized Jacket, From $22
If you are a decent human being, you are anti-fur. Because I’m such a good person, I only wear faux fur that looks super duper fake because I don’t want my fake fur to look even a little bit real. Enter, this very fake-looking, Easter egg pink, oversize jacket. Obviously, this is not an everyday piece, but I’d wear it to a dinner with skinny white jeans, a gray oversized tee with a French tuck á la Tan France, and black booties. Basically, you can wear this with anything as long as the rest of the outfit is on the quieter side.
J.O.A. Shearling Jacket, $163
For those of you who think I just contradicted myself re: fur, this coat specifically is made using both faux shearling and faux leather, so two claps for J.O.A. for going vegan on this beautiful piece of clothing that is currently in my shopping cart and will soon be on my person. What makes this coat look of-the-moment, as opposed to something you’d find in a bargain bin at Forever21, is that the exterior leather looks a bit worn and weathered. In my opinion, this would look amazing over a crisp white button down tucked into a pair of straight leg jeans and white sneakers. I know I’ll definitely be wearing it with my favorite red blanket that Zara calls a scarf. You say tomato…you know how it goes.
S13 Emmy Midlength Down Puffer, From $109.20
We already know that I can’t resist a patent leather coat, so it’s no surprise that this S13 number really spoke to me. This coat is long enough that it covers your toosh, but short enough that you can still show off your legs in your Madewell High Risers, or whatever your skinny jean of choice may be. Because it’s black, the limit does not exist with regard to the things you can wear under this coat, but I love a shiny black coat with a cherry red scarf. There’s something very ‘90s about that color combo that I’m really feeling these days. If you want to drift away from the safety that is black, she also comes in silver and a very cool metallic navy. You really can’t lose with these options. Lastly, we need to address that if you buy a beautiful down-filled puffer for under $200, you’re basically stealing it.
Floerns Distressed Denim Jacket, $29.99
This recommendation is geared towards the Florida and California folks who don’t have to deal with the literal sh*t storm that are East Coast winters. It is my personal belief that the only acceptable denim jackets are oversize ones. The only thing you probably shouldn’t wear it with is, like, jeans, but everything else is fair game. Because it’s a little distressed, I’d wear something slightly more modern underneath so your outfit doesn’t look like a costume, ja feel?
Images: Amazon; Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash
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