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Fall 2009 Trend Report: The New Puffy Jacket

Warm Up Jacket

If this winter was all about the practical puffy down jacket, here’s a hint for what next fall’s puffy coat should be, should you want to scour the sale racks now: Short, “chubby” fur.

For those averse to the real deal for ethical reasons, or if your pocketbook simply won’t allow it, faux fur is always an option, and its quality has improved immensely so you don’t have to worry about looking shabby.

The key to keeping this look contemporary and fashion-forward is to remember to look for a shorter length, not floor-length. Also look for a funky color to take this look from traditional to trendy. At Michael Kors, he brightened the runway with fur in fluorescent orange and yellow, a perfect antidote to winter’s dull backdrop.

And if you prefer to avoid fur completely - faux or otherwise - knitwear designer Tom Scott said at his recent Fall 2009 presentation that he hates fur but wanted to come up with a more creative way to achieve a similar look. His solution was to knit a shaggy black sweater. At Rodarte as well, nubby knits gave the illusion of fur.

With the cost of energy perpetually on the rise, these coats offer something in the way of function beyond just form. If the heating bill gets to be too expensive, you’ll always have your coat.

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