The Soft Freeze
Baby, it's cold outside. And that jeans jacket ain't gonna cut it in the face of windy, 45-degree nights. But then again, this is the land of Endless Summer, and a North Face puffer might send you to hospital with heat exhaustion, Martin Lawrence-style.
Here at Style Section L.A., we've all been preoccupied with coat (or heavy jacket) shopping—and figured you might be in a similar state of mind. Here's the covetable outerwear we're sinking our green into this season.
THE NEW TRENCH
DARK WAVE: KZO's louche Saunter coat.
Men’s outerwear typically offers two choices: Either commiserate with foul weather or openly flout it. If you prefer the former category, local brand KZO has evolved its outdoorsman-meets-Junya Watanabe offerings since its founding in 2006, and now counts Odin, Aloha Rag and Remix in Osaka among the rarified boutiques that carry the brand (seems like only yesterday that founder and designer Joel K. was showing his wares at Gen Art in L.A.). For fall, the mid-length Saunter jacket is a stand-out ($555, available at blackbirdballard.com), made of fully-lined waxed cotton with novel details. It’s dreary aesthetic to be sure—try not to pair it with a charcoal gray knit sweater and black skinny jeans unless you’re really trying to work the ennui angle while hitting all your East Side haunts. —Andrew Harmon
THE RETRO PARKA
SCHOOL CHIC: APC's retro plaid parka.
Ah, to channel Ally Sheedy in Love Story. Or even Karen Allen in Animal House. I'm talking early 60s East Coast prep—which can only mean wide plaid paired with itchy, itchy wool. It's a look French brand APC has perfected over the years. And this season the label has topped itself. I love this classic parka, (above, $530) featuring a fit-and-flair silhouette, oversized hood, Pendleton-style plaid and a vaguely Red-Riding-Hood vibe (only there's a pack of Galois ciggies in the basket this time). The capey coat is poised to work beautifully with straight-leg jeans, mini-skirts with opaque tights and even swishy wide-leg work trousers. Best of all, there's no age cap on a coat like this; it makes younger gals look sophisticated and more mature ladies look like they might be hip to all sorts of magical and secret things.
—Emili Vesilind
THE LIGHT PUFFER
SPORTY SPICE: Tory Burch's lightweight puffer jacket.
As a born-and-bred Chicago girl, I’m no stranger to frigid temps and outerwear that makes me look like the Octomom before birthing her litter. And upon moving to sunny SoCal nearly three years ago, I was just fine sporting tank tops and cut-offs despite December’s 60-degree chill. But now that my blood has finally thinned, I find myself shivering in jeans and flannel tops but sweating while wearing the same puffy down parka I once wore during harsh Midwestern winters (more commonly known as hell).
In my quest for the perfect California coat, I chanced upon a light nylon-and-polyester puffer jacket ($495) from Tory Burch that's heavy enough for crisp 45-degree evenings but light enough for daytime’s slightly warmer rays, too. No, this coat isn’t bulky enough to save me if I pay my hometown a visit in mid-January. But like I always say, drink until you’re warm. Or just layer a cute sweater underneath. Either way. —Erin Weinger