Puffer jackets

By Chidinma Promise

It’s easy to toss fashion out the window when temperatures plummet. It’s hard to deliver a look when the brisk air feels like knives against your skin! Generally, a giant puffer coat is the sign of fashionable defeat. It doesn’t matter how fabulous the outfit beneath is, a matte black, ankle-length puffer rarely has you feeling your most stylish. But, it turns out you can be both snuggly and formal this winter—at least, that’s what celebrities are proving. Stars like Rihanna, Irina Shayk, and Bad Bunny have all elevated their puffer coats by choosing styles in unexpected colourways or silhouettes.

Sure, we’ve seen high-fashion puffers on the runways for a few years now. Remember Balenciaga’s fall 2016 collection, where a red puffer was paired with a bejewelled turtleneck? Until now, though, that juxtaposition between formal and sport seemed more editorial than wearable, but today’s stars are bringing the idea to the streets. Earlier this month in New York, Rihanna emerged in a colour-blocked puffer coat with faux fur trim. It was a statement coat on its own, but she elevated it even further with a pair of metallic Balenciaga boots. Shayk offered a minimal take. Her long, voluminous puffer coat was offset by her more tailored pants and sleek, discreet sneakers.

Puffers in fun, unexpected colours have also been a hit with celebrities. Both Kim Kardashian and Billie Eilish have favoured long, puffy coats in a deep crimson colour. Bad Bunny wore a mint puffer coat to the American Music Awards this month, proving a pastel style can even be red carpet-ready. Lil Nas X, meanwhile, performed at the iHeart Jingle Ball wearing a metallic pink puffer coat and pleated skirt—giving it more of a theatrical twist.

It goes to show that the puffer really is this season’s pair-with-anything coat. It adds a more sporty, casual touch to virtually any ensemble—so just be sure to pair it with more high-fashion accessories or refined clothing, to replicate that true A-lister feel.