When I left warm and sunny Naples, FL for my Freshman year of college in the frozen tundra that is Minnesota, I was woefully unprepared for Winter. When I stepped out of my dorm to walk to class after the first snowfall that October, I realized my thin dress coat, while chic, simply wasn't going to cut it.
All around me, girls were walking to class in black, puffy, knee-length coats from The North Face. They paired them with some variation of Uggs and a matching knit mitten/headband set. It was the epitome of style at the University of St. Thomas in 2010, and I was not in on it. I got so sick of shivering on my walk to class, even as I stretched the seams of said dress coat to within an inch of its life shoving. my thickest sweaters into its arms, that I instead took to layering 3 sweatshirts over each other and pairing them (along with some truly heinous UST branded sweatpants) with my Uggs. The entire 2010-2011 school year was made up of questionable outfit choices (hello, American Apparel cotton body-con dresses) but that was without a doubt the worst.
Long story short, I finally got my very own black, puffy, knee-length coat from The North Face the following year. I only just threw it out this past winter as I was packing up my college house and preparing for the move to NYC. It saw me through the rest of college, first job, and grad school and was tattered beyond repair. Feathers continued to fall out of the holes at it seams as I shoved it into a trash bag feeling a massive wave of nostalgia.
(Note: if you have old/gently worn coats, please get them cleaned and donate to shelter/charity. There are thousands of people out there who are in dire need of coats during the freezing winter months! One charity in particular is One Warm Coat.)
Now that I'm living in NYC, I'm back in the exact same situation I was as an 18-year old college Freshman. I have plenty of dress coats (though I'm a sucker for dress coats, and will always make room for *one* more!) but I'm yet again on the hunt for a great everyday coat/jacket. Aiming for that sporty chic vibe. While the black, puffy, knee-length coat from the North Face is no longer my taste, I'm 100% on board with and coveting the black, puffy, cropped coat from Prada.
I've put together some of my favorite outerwear for the season. The styles range from sporty to sleek. There are trenches, crops, and even a few of the puff variety. The patterns, colors, and textures run the gambit. I love and want them all.
Shop all the picks HERE!
Winter is coming. Stay warm out there, loves!
XOXO, Paige
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