It’s as if the moment I flip the calendar’s page to November, the weather snaps. The remaining leaves fall off the maple trees, and a frigid gust whips through the air. Winter is here, at least in Toronto, Canada, and it’s time to gear up and prepare for the worst. Besides a pair of cute winter boots, the number one item on my list is a new parka. I’m keeping my eye out for one that is equally stylish, timeless and above all, toasty. Here are my top ten parka picks.
10. Via Spiga Quilted Down Filled Fur Trim Coat, $229. This down jacket is elegant and feminine with its quilted chevron pattern and fur cuffs. I like the shiny black fabric, which would hopefully repel any dirt or hot chocolate spills!
9. Forever 21 favourite parka, $65. This parka is simple and would be perfect for a casual day-to-day look. The price is hard to beat, and I like the elbow patches and army style pockets.
8. Soia & Kyo Reina fur trim hooded coat, $227. I love this coat because at first glance, it looks like a wool pea coat, but it actually has a warm down lining on the inside. I also love that it has a hood (similar styles like this often don’t have one), and the real fur trim is also a nice touch. Most of all, I love that you can also wear the wool outer coat on its own for warmer weather, making it a versatile winter piece, completely worth the investment! Soia & Kyo is designed and based in Canada, some of their line is also produced here as well.
7. Moncler Celsie short quilted fur trim, $1650. Let’s just say this one is a bit of an aspirational piece. The short parka has pretty quilting and luxurious fur hood. If you wear this coat while on the slopes, be prepared to draw comparisons to a Russian villain.
6. Michael Kors puffer, $113. This parka has a simple puffer shape, but I’ve fallen in love with the rich red wine colour.
5. Rudsak Adelyna, $645. This jacket is a beautiful piece, one that is so pretty, you might not want to get out of it when warmer weather comes. With its badass leather sleeves and details and shawl fur hood, the coat is feminine yet still edgy. If only the fur was black, I might bite the bullet and buy it right away!
4. Betsey Johnson quilted down filled puffer, $169. Leave it to Betsey Johnson to create a flirty and feminine down coat featuring a ruffled collar. I love the horseshoe zipper pull!
3. Canada Goose Kensington Parka, $842. This parka is a mainstay on the streets of Toronto and Montreal, with its coyote fur trim and crest. I have always been indifferent to the brand, thinking it should be reserved for the brave people that live on a latitude north of Montreal, but after the harsh winter we had last year, I’m thinking of investing in this new Canadian classic. The parka comes in a range of colours, but I’m partial to the olive green and burgundy iterations. I couldn’t imagine going to a coat check in Toronto if I had a black Goose coat, if I lost my ticket, I wouldn’t be able to discern my coat from dozens of others!
2. Uniqlo Ultra Light down jacket, $70. This is one the cheapest options on my list, yet packs the most value. I purchased this coat in NYC, after having borrowed one from a friend last year who swears by it. He manages to wear a wool coat in Montreal all winter long thanks to one of these underneath. It’s thin enough to layer under your pretty wool peacoat, or you can wear it on its own for a sporty look. I love how light this coat is, and it is truly undetectable under another coat as well. The jacket also comes with a little sack, so you can fold it and pack it away for easy travel or storage.
1. Mackage Adali fur trim down coat, $572.54. Mackage’s parka, featuring a shawl fur trim has become almost as popular as the Canada Goose Kensington parka on city streets. This style is more style, less sporty; with an hourglass silhouette, leather trim and details and a feminine hood. I’m also so sick of black parkas, so the more cheerful (yet still neutral) khaki green would be a welcome change.
Disclaimer: I tried to create a list of coats that had fur and non fur options. While nearly all of the coats I featured are down filled, and there can be ethical concerns pertaining to that as well, I truly believe that if you’re shopping for -30C temperatures, down is without a doubt your best defence against the cold. If I were lucky enough to live in a slightly more temperate climate, a polyfill or classic pea coat would suffice, but I wanted to share options I was personally interested in purchasing this year.
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