With winter just around the corner, the down jacket that’s been sitting in the back of your closet is about to be put to good use. Much as we appreciate the warmth those puffy things provide, we have to admit, we are kind of bored with their unimaginative aesthetics of vertical and horizontal puffy sections. Yes, we’re totally ready for something else this winter. Lucky for us, we found a few that deliver the same cold weather utility while offering a reprieve with somewhat more novel designs.
Aether Structure Jacket
Billed as the “ultimate statement-making winter coat,” Aether’s cold weather city jacket distributes its 800-fill power goose down insulation into dozens upon dozens of small rectangular pockets across the garment. The pockets are arranged together in even rows and columns, with smaller pockets connecting them on the corners, creating an arresting sight that’s guaranteed to set itself apart from the puffy jackets everyone else is rocking on the chilliest days of the year.
Resistant to both wind and water, it should handle the harshest elements winter can send its way, making it a great way to shield yourself from the cold during those snow-filled commutes, while the four-way stretch dual-layer twill fabric lets you move comfortably, no matter how many layers you have underneath. It has a brushed cotton flannel at the interior collar that’s gentle on the face and chin, while multiple zippered pockets let you keep important items within easy reach.
Snowbee Nivalis Down Jacket
Arguably the nicest-looking down jacket we’ve seen all year, the Nivalis uses hidden internal stitching to create pockets for the 700-fill power down filling, which is made up of 90 percent duck-down and 10 percent feathers. Similar to the Aether, it uses those pockets to give the jacket a unique aesthetic, with an arrangement that lines the pockets up in alternating heights, making the resulting garment even more attractive.
It has an outer shell made from woven micro-fiber polyester fabric with a water-resistance treatment, so it shrugs any water right off the surface, while a waterproof membrane underneath further reinforces protection from the elements, so this thing will continue to keep you perfectly dry even when the water-resistant coating eventually gives out. Other features include a fully-adjustable three-panel hood, woven polyester lining, waterproof zippers, adjustable elasticated cuffs, and internal bottom hem adjusters.
Moncleir Breitman Quilted Shell Biker Jacket
A down-insulated and water-resistant version of the classic biker jacket, Moncler’s stylish Breitman coat decks you in rugged motorcycle threads without the leather shell. Instead of those boring down squares, it stuffs the insulation inside familiar biker jacket elements, like the diamond quilting and paddings on the shoulders and elbows, making for one of the most unique winter jackets we’ve seen. This thing looks so good, in fact, we’d recommend everybody get one and a second for backup, if only it weren’t so expensive.