Matching your shape and coordination. Choosing outerwear, your ally in winter

Outerwear is what keeps us warm even on the coldest of days. That sense of relief you feel when you put one on comes from both its warmth and how it feels to wear. Here are some points to keep in mind when choosing outerwear that will serve you from early autumn through early spring.

Outerwear comes in an almost endless variety, from materials to shapes to colors. When choosing for winter, warmth is naturally the top priority. But there are other points to consider too—the feel against your skin, how easily you can layer underneath, the silhouette it creates when worn, and how well it balances with the clothes you already own, among other things. Even material alone has a huge effect on both appearance and comfort, so it's worth understanding the characteristics of each before choosing what suits your taste.

Here are some of the main materials used in outerwear.

・Wool: Excellent heat retention. Tightly woven fabric blocks wind well. Relatively soft and fits close to the body.

・Cotton: Highly breathable, resists becoming stuffy. Layering increases its warmth. A crisp, structured fabric.

・Cupra: Often used for linings. Glossy with a smooth feel against the skin. Resistant to static electricity.

▲(Left) A softly knitted cotton fabric　(Right) Wool melton fabric

Another surprisingly important factor in outerwear is the details—the cuffs, the collar, the shoulders, and the length of the hem. Together, these elements determine the overall silhouette.

Take the cuffs, for example. The impression changes depending on whether they're tapered or wide, or whether they have a belt or a ribbed finish. If you want something warm and casual, a tapered ribbed cuff works well; if you'd also like to wear it in more formal settings, a slightly sharper style with a belt suits better. Paying attention to these details is an important part of choosing outerwear.

▲Even the cuffs alone can differ greatly from one piece of outerwear to another.

When warmth is the priority for winter outerwear, pieces tend to be thick and puffy, and layering underneath can make them look even bulkier. That said, you may still want to keep the silhouette clean while looking cozy and winter-ready. For that, we recommend a long coat. With a hem reaching down to the knee and a silhouette that falls straight from the shoulders, a long coat keeps the bulk in check and elongates the whole body.

This is the V-neck coat from john branigan. Based in Ireland, john branigan has long produced knitwear including Irish tweed, and is known for fabrics with distinctive color combinations and careful knitting. The V-neck coat has a rhythmic, basket-like knit and is made primarily from wool, giving it good heat retention. Since it has no lining, it isn't quite as warm as a typical thick coat, but the fabric is soft and light, so you can wear it almost like a cardigan.

Since the shoulders are cut generously wide, the coat drapes down naturally at the shoulder and falls into a clean line toward the knees. The V-shaped opening at the chest changes expression depending on what you layer underneath—a crewneck sweater, a turtleneck, or a scarf wrapped snugly around the neck. Because the overall design is so simple, the V-neck naturally draws the eye upward.

Next is the gabardine coat with a collar from HAVERSACK. With a shape close to a trench coat, this gabardine coat is the kind of piece that makes you want to throw it on and step out briskly. "Gabardine" refers to a densely woven fabric made from finely spun thread, originally devised by Thomas Burberry, founder of Burberry, as a material for all-weather coats prized for their durability and water resistance. Though the outer fabric is cotton, it has a supple firmness that clearly conveys its sturdiness.

The fly-front collar and the pale khaki-green lining along the front placket reveal the brand's attention to detail even around the face, giving it a refined look whether the buttons are fastened or left open. The lining is a warm-colored wool fabric that provides excellent heat retention and warmth. Beyond that, you'll find touches of high functionality throughout—ventilation eyelets under the arms for better airflow, a belt at the cuffs, and pockets accessible from both inside and outside. Since the shape flares out toward the hem, we recommend pairing it with slim silhouettes below, such as tights and heels.

The Check Coat, named for its eye-catching classic Black Watch check pattern, is an ao coat with a soft feel thanks to its interior lined in gauze. Gauze is a fabric woven from loosely twisted cotton thread, alternately crossed both vertically and horizontally with a gentle looseness. While gauze often brings to mind breathability, when layered two or three times over, it creates pockets of air between the layers, giving it excellent heat retention while still managing to stay light and soft.

Easy to throw on much like a long shirt, the Check Coat Black Watch is a raglan style with no fixed shoulder width, so it fits comfortably on anyone. For women, folding back the sleeves when worn can add a nice accent to a casual outfit. It pairs well with pants as well as long skirts.

If you want your bottoms to stand out, or you're looking for outerwear that blends seamlessly into your overall outfit, we recommend a compact jacket that falls to about hip length.

The padded, collarless jacket from ao (アオ), featuring a brushed fabric outer and cinched cuffs, is a piece designed with warmth and comfort as the utmost priority. The inner lining uses supima cotton double gauze, while the padding is made with the high-performance material Thinsulate. Thinsulate is a high-performance synthetic insulation made from a bundle of fine fibers similar to microfiber. The name combines "thin" and "insulate," and thanks to the way its fine fibers interlock to trap plenty of air, it offers outstanding insulation and warmth. In fact, it's said to have been adopted for official winter sports gear used by Himalayan expedition teams, the Winter Olympics, and the All Japan Ski Federation.

This hip-length, padded collarless jacket wraps you in fluffy warmth. The corozo buttons, made from palm nut, add an adorable touch of warmth as well. Wear it as a standalone jacket, of course, or layer it as an inner piece beneath a long coat. It's a wonderfully versatile jacket.

This is a knitwear brand named SKOOKUM, meaning "unlike any other." Having continued producing knitwear and stadium jumpers since 1939, SKOOKUM preserves the good old American style while paying close attention to materials and shape, creating jackets that are more wearable in a modern context.

When you hear "stadium jumper," you might picture American youths casually throwing one on, but SKOOKUM's all-melton award jacket uses smooth virgin wool, giving it a soft fit that hugs the body. The rib sections have a knit construction, so you can wear it as casually as you would a thick sweater. The pockets, meanwhile, are made with leather, giving them a sturdy construction that resists fraying.

Another wonderful thing about this all-melton award jacket is that, despite the excellent warmth that comes with densely woven melton fabric, it's surprisingly lightweight. Pair it with denim, of course, or with a flowing skirt and sneakers for a relaxed style, or with a dress and heels for a more polished look. Choose this jacket for its endless styling possibilities.

We've introduced easy-to-wear long coats and compact jackets so far, but when deep winter arrives, there's nothing quite as reassuring as a thick wool coat. Whether for your daily commute, a slightly dressed-up outing, or a relaxed day off, a classic wool coat is versatile enough for any occasion. Why not find one made with materials and construction that suit you, so you can enjoy wearing it season after season?

The duffle coat is one of those wool coats that never goes out of style, no matter how many years pass. LONDON Tradition is a coat brand committed to consistent production in the UK. In addition to the distinctive toggle buttons and generously sized pockets essential to any duffle coat, it features a relatively slim silhouette, giving it a beautiful shape when worn. The material is primarily wool, woven densely yet offering a soft, pleasant touch against the skin.

The lining features a check pattern that evokes a distinctly British feel, offering a charming glimpse when the hood is worn or the coat is put on and taken off. The pockets are generously deep and roomy, yet don't disrupt the overall silhouette, allowing you to wear it with a clean, streamlined look. This is a quintessential duffle coat that pairs easily with thick sweaters.

Available in the basic shades of gray, mushroom, and black, as well as a vividly colored royal blue, this piece offers a range of color options. As a winter outerwear piece you can continue wearing as the years go by, it will serve you well season after season.