If you’re still clinging to the idea that your trusty bomber jacket is all you need to leave the house, quick reminder here: It’s officially winter, and that means its time to break out the heavy artillery when it comes to outerwear. Rather than resign yourself to the same old black parka from here till spring, though, let this be the season you buy a new coat that you’re actually excited to wear—a puffer jacket, more specifically. It doesn’t need to be a big investment. There are actually plenty of puffer jacket styles you can buy for less than $150, and even more if you can manage $250.
After a few seasons of seeing a sea of supersize puffer jackets outside the shows at New York Fashion Week, chances are you finally see puffers as a winter wardrobe essential you need and not just something your mom used to make you wear. Luckily they’ve never been more on trend and the current selection of puffer jackets aren’t just warm but cool. From plaid to rainbow to floral, shop the 10 best puffer jackets under $250 below.
A couple months ago Ariana Grande wore an oversize white puffer jacket after calling off her engagement, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. This is the first time I’ve ever thought about a puffer jacket multiple times, and it’s the only time I’ve wished I owned one.
The reality is that I’ve always had a complicated relationship with puffer jackets, and by that I mean I’ve always hated them. They’re clunky, they can be too warm, and if you get one with shoddy construction, you end up with faux feathers all over you when you take off your coat. Not cute.
But here I am now, wishing I owned a oversize white puffer jacket because Ariana Grande looks so unbothered and badass in hers. Some might say that look had to do with her massive Chanel shopping bags, but I think it was all about the puff. While some go off the grid after a bad breakup, there was Grande, wearing a jacket you couldn’t help but notice. She was combatting Pete Davidson’s big dick energy with her own big coat energy. Not only did the large white puffer jacket call attention to her, but it also looked like the clothing equivalent of comfort food. I suddenly really wanted to have one and it wasn’t hard to rationalize why.
A white puffer jacket like Grande’s is obviously great for the cold—it’s basically a very expensive duvet you can wear out of bed. The color means it’ll match with everything in your closet, and the size makes anything you’re wearing seem like a statement outfit (Ariana paired hers with sweatpants). Puffer jackets are notorious for being hard to navigate in, but oversize white puffer coats aren’t ashamed to resemble the Michelin man. Instead they say, “I know you’re looking at me, but I don’t care.” In other words, they’re perfect to keep the warmth in and the haters out. White puffer jackets also look like Ariana Grande’s favorite cloud emoji, and just like that emoji, they work in every possible scenario whether that be calling off a celebrity engagement or ordering a breakfast sandwich from your local diner. The softness is also great for resting bags worth thousands of dollars on your arms, which is an issue I’ll admittedly never have—but it’s nice to be prepared, just in case.
Even better, once I opened my heart to puffers, I found that 2019’s iterations have gotten a serious upgrade, whether that’s temperature control insulation or a variety of lengths so you can find your best fit. Shop the the best white puffer jackets ahead.
I recently went through my closet and moved all of my summer clothes to the very back, replacing them with heavier pieces for the cold weather ahead. As I was bringing out my jackets, I remembered something funny: A few years ago, during Fashion Week in February, I was waiting for a car with a fellow Glamour editor, out in the freezing cold, when she looked at me up and down and asked, “Is that coat actually warm, or is that a fashion coat?” The coat in question appeared to be thick and substantial—but she was questioning my warmth level because I was shivering, jumping up and down in an attempt at warmth. But she was onto something: It might have looked great, but my coat wasn’t actually doing its job. It was a “fashion coat.”
There comes a point every winter when it gets so cold style is thrown out the window—whether you’re in New York or in Canada, where I grew up. Everyone ends up relying on puffer jackets, which might not always feel chic but get the job done. I could never find one that checked off all the boxes for me: extreme warmth, polish, and style. I would reluctantly buy my outerwear from active brands, which were great, but made me feel like I was going skiing every time I put on a puffer jacket.
Fast-forward to yet another freezing winter morning—this time I was meeting my friend for breakfast, and she arrived wearing a bold, red puffer jacket from Aritzia’s TNA brand. Then, like my colleague had done to me, I asked her: “Are you even warm?” It was probably just a “fashion coat”—it looked way too good to be functional. But she made me try on her Super Puff…and I immediately took it back.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Aritzia
Soon enough I was a Super Puff evangelist. (I now own it in three colors.) The first time I wore it to the office, my coworkers immediately perked up—since we see each other so often, we pretty much know everyone else’s wardrobes, and new additions don’t often go unnoticed. I hadn’t even sat down before our accessories director started asking questions, assuming my puffer jacket was made by some expensive designer. I gave her the spiel—and not long after, she, the market director, and the accessories editor had all bought their own Super Puffs.
TNA’s signature Super Puff retails for $228. This year, the brand introduced a bunch of varieties on the style—mid- and long-length, vest, light, and extremely oversize—which widened the price range: They start at $88 for The Little Puff and go up to $298 for The Super Puff Long.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Aritzia
These puffer jackets are filled with responsibly sourced goose down and made with a water-repellent fabric and engineered to provide warmth down to minus-20°F. They’re the perfect marriage of function and design—from the oversize fit and removable hood to the monochromatic snap buttons, thick zipper, and my favorite: supersoft sleeves with a thumb hole. Plus, they now come in 15 matte colors, six metallic colors, and even a floral print, so there’s truly a style for everyone.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Aritzia
With the Super Puff, I no longer have to choose between what I want to wear and what I have to wear. It looks just as good during February Fashion Week as it does when I’m walking my dog in the snow—in other words: It’s definitely not just a “fashion coat.”
