Utilitarian in nature, the puffer jacket has risen in the sartorial ranks over the past few years, becoming a viable fashion statement in addition to a cold climate staple. With cotton candy-like outerwear gaining traction, classic black puffer jackets are no longer the only option. From colour blocked cropped jackets to oversized vibrant varieties, there’s a colour and silhouette for every taste.
Overview of the best puffer jackets for women
- Best classic puffer jacket: The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket
- Warmest puffer jacket: Canada Goose Spessa Cropped Jacket
- Best puffer jacket to wear to the office: Nanushka Hide Vegan Leather Puffer Jacket
- Best unique luxury puffer jacket: La Double J St. Moritz Jacket
- Best streetstyle puffer jacket: H&M Puffer Jacket
History of the puffer jacket
Born out of a need for practicality rather than style, the puffer jacket originated in the late 1930s. In 1936, after nearly losing his life to hypothermia while on a fishing trip, American adventurer Eddie Bauer created a jacket with down feathers encased within quilted fabric and dubbed it ‘The Skyliner’. Patented in 1940, Bauer’s jacket was successful in regulating the wearer’s temperature. Since then, the puffer jacket has been coopted by various subsections of the fashion world, from Milanese youth to major fashion houses like Moncler (whose entire design DNA is centred around the down jacket), Balenciaga, Kenzo, and Prada.
How to wear a puffer jacket
No longer relegated to ski trips, these pillowy pieces are surprisingly versatile, able to be worn as street style pieces or even to work. To nail the puffer coat look, play with silhouettes in your outfit; whether that be by pairing your puffer with slim-fitting base layers or going all out with equally as voluminous pieces. Here are the best ways to style a puffer jacket.
Black puffer jackets
Sophisticated isn’t a word typically associated with puffer jackets, however black varieties come pretty close. If you’re a puffer coat novice, this dark hue is a pretty good place to start. Play with varying lengths and textures by pairing your black puffer jacket with a dress and blazer, or add interest to your outfit in the form of a statement colour. If you’re dressing for the office, stick to neutral, muted tones and simply swap out your usual outerwear of choice for a puffer jacket. Alternatively, try wearing your jacket with a midi dress and boots.
Related: Stay Warm With Our Guide To The Best Sweaters For Women
Colour pop puffer jackets
For the more sartorially adventurous, a puffer jacket in a vibrant shade is the way to go. As your colourful puffer jacket injects instant personality into your look, it’s best to pare back the rest of your outfit. Black cigarette-style pants give off a tapered, well put-together vibe, while jeans or greyscale colours are a safe bet. Or, opt for a tonal outfit and pair your colourful puffer with layers in similar shades.
Colour blocked puffer jackets
Colour blocked puffer jackets take contrasting or complementary colours and pair them together, creating funky, flamboyant pieces. Best reserved for street style looks, colour blocked puffer jackets play well with otherwise reserved outfits; think monochromatic black, double denim, or neutral shades of beige and cream.
The best puffer jackets for women in 2024
The beauty of the puffer jacket’s popularity lies in the various iterations produced. Whether you’re after a colourful jacket or a neutral, textured variation, there’s a puffer out there for you. Plus, the ubiquitous nature of the puffer coat means there’s one for every price point. Here are the puffer jackets for women we have our eyes on.
1. The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket
Price: $550AUD
Something of an urban uniform in Australian capital cities, you’re likely to see at least three The North Face puffers every time you enter the city during winter. The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket offers a streetwear ready take on the once-humble puffer jacket, with its oversized down baffles (i.e. quilting) and boxy silhouette contributing to its modern sporty aesthetic. The hood is able to be stowed in the collar allowing for optimal versatility, while the packable nature of the jacket makes it well suited to commuters and travellers.
Materials: nylon, down, feathers (RDS compliant) | Size range: XS-XXXL | Key details: stowable hood, classic length, two-tone options, chunky quilting, boxy silhouette
2. Canada Goose Spessa Cropped Jacket
Price: €1150 (approx. $1850AUD)
Canada Goose has long been a byword for puffer jackets, with the name synonymous with quality and warmth. Its material technology is so effective that even with its cropped length, this puffer guarantees warmth in temperatures from 0 to -15°C. Its baby pink hue (although it’s also available in black) coupled with its minimalist design, high collar (a welcome alternative to the numerous hooded options), and buttery soft fabric make it a fun yet functional choice for winter.
Materials: nylon, down, feathers (RDS compliant) | Size range: XXS-XL | Key details: high collar, minimal quilting/down baffles, cropped length
3. Nanushka Hide Vegan Leather Puffer Jacket
Price: $1225AUD
Blending functionality with luxury, the Nanushka Hide Vegan Leather Puffer Coat is soft and voluminous, with the lustorous fabric taking you to the office and on into the evening. Made without animal products, this puffer jacket uses Nanushka’s in-house developed Okobor alt-leather fabric, which is made from recycled polyester and polyurethane and produced using a GRS-certified dry process which reduced water consumption. It’s filled with a polyester-based down alternative and features a high collar with black snap-closure buttons.
Materials: polyurethane, polyester | Size range: XXS-XL | Key details: high collar, leather-look, slightly oversized
Related: These Cosy Vegan Puffer Jackets Marry Ethics With Sustainable Style
4. H&M Puffer Jacket
Price: $79.99AUD
This affordable two-tone puffer jacket puts a stylish twist on the winter staple. Its contemporary colour palette lends it to urban wear, with the H&M Puffer Jacket pairing well with casual ‘fits like jeans and a t-shirt as well as tailoring.
Materials: polyester | Size range: XXS-L | Key details: high collar, concealed zip and snap button closure, chunky quilting
5. Pangaia Flower-Warmth Recycled Nylon Cropped Puffer
Price: $740AUD
Environmentally minded brand Pangaia is always innovating on the materials front, and this puffer jacket is a testament to that. Made without animal products, its shell is crafted from recycled nylon while the filling uses in-house developed Flwrdwn, made with wildflowers and corn-derived polymers. If that all sounds a bit airy fairy, be assured that it’s indeed very warm and cosy, though not completely waterproof. Available in black and yellow, it comes with a detachable hood.
Materials: recycled polyamide, lyocell, cellulose fibre, polylactide | Size range: XS-XL | Key details: detachable hood, high collar, chunky quilting, exposed zip closure
6. Toast Society Corduroy Puffer/Vest
Price: $139AUD
Australian label Toast Society makes some of the most fashion-forward puffer jackets on the market and this number is no exception. Corduroy is an atypical material for a puffer jacket, with its non-shiny, textured nature reading as less sporty and outdoorsy than nylon options. With detachable sleeves, the Toast Society Corduroy Puffer/Vest can be worn as a puffer jacket or a vest, allowing it to be worn during the winter and as a transseasonal piece.
Materials: polyester (corduroy), eco sorona (corn and polyester) | Size range: XS-XL | Key details: detachable sleeves, vest or jacket option, chest pocket, high neck, corduroy finish
7. Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket
Price: $99.90AUD
Uniqlo never fails to make good basics at an affordable price and at just under the three-digit mark, the Japanese retailer doesn’t miss a beat with this puffer jacket. Lightweight yet warm, the Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket sees a slightly boxy silhouette crafted from water-repellent nylon and filled with premium down, working to keep out the chill on even the windiest winter days.
Materials: polyester, down, feathers | Size range: XXS-XXXL | Key details: concealed button closure, zipped pockets, medium neck rise
8. The North Face Velour Nuptse Jacket
Price: $420AUD
Blending sporty and urban design codes, The North Face Velour Nuptse Jacket could almost pass for an evening jacket. But not quite. Yet, the pairing of velour fabric with the traditionally technical silhouette makes for a striking juxtaposition, with this style equally at home worn over a slip dress and chunky moto boots as it is thrown over jeans and a t-shirt.
Materials: polyester, down | Size range: XXS-L | Key details: exposed zip closure, velour finish, elasticated sleeves
9. Burberry Corduroy-trimmed Shell Jacket
Price: $2550AUD
So this one isn’t technically a puffer jacket. Known as a shell or liner jacket, this style acts as an extra line of defence against wind and rain. Although originally designed to be worn underneath a field jacket, this Burberry iteration is too good to keep under wraps. While it doesn’t provide insulation, the shell does protect against the elements, making it a solid choice for transseasonal days when you only need a light layer. Lined with the British luxury fashion house’s signature checks and trimmed with corduroy, it represents a decidedly elevated take on the style.
Materials: polyamide | Size range: XXS-XL | Key details: checked lining, corduroy collar and trim, oversized pockets, exposed snap button closure and concealed zip fastening, hood
10. La Double J St. Moritz Jacket
Price: $2500AUD
So, this one is reversible so it’s kinda like getting two jackets for the price of one, right?? Right…#girlmath. Crafted from luxurious jacquard printed with a pattern inspired by ancient Egypt, the La Double J St. Moritz Jacket features extended ribbed wool sleeves which work to keep the heat in. The lining is patterned nylon, allowing you to wear it flipped inside out for a second unique look.
Materials: polyester, silk, nylon | Size range: XS-XL | Key details: reversible, jacquard outer and nylon lining, extended ribbed wool sleeves, exposed zip closure
Words by Arabella Johnson
