Growing up in the Chicago tundra as I did, one automatically becomes an expert at buying and wearing winter gear. Procuring the warmest coat was a necessity when you had to walk a mere four city-blocks to school in the winter and that meant combatting frozen eyelashes and a numb face. This year, with so much time spent outdoors in an effort to make life indoors feel less claustrophobic, I’m constantly reminded of my bundled-up winters of yore. Braving the elements for brisk outdoor dining, or socially-distanced gatherings with friends and family, or even to stretch my legs after a long day spent crouched over a computer requires the warmest winter coat to shield yourself from the freezing temps.
Luckily, there are plenty of brands on the market that prioritize warmth. Tried and true outerwear brand Canada Goose offers a temperature range for each coat on their site, making it easy to find the option that best suits your hometown climate. Newcomer PANGAIA has recently released a range of environmentally-conscious puffer coats that transform biodegradable material made from natural wildflowers into durable and cozy coats. Aritzia’s latest from their popular line of puffer coats is also waterproof, so you’ll stay comfortable and dry even in frigid rain or sleet.
When I was a teenager, I developed a tactic to help my warmest winter coats live up to their full potential. I coined it “the pre-toast” where you deck yourself out in a coat, hat, scarf, and gloves, and relax inside your house for several minutes right before stepping foot outside. It’s like the sartorial version of those car commercials where a forlorn person becomes happy when they discover that their new snow-covered car has remote start, creating a warm safe haven for them to calmly ride off to wherever car commercial folk go.
Here, the warmest winter coats to invest in now.
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