Raise Your Arms for These Slimmer, Trimmer Puffer Jackets

For 60 years, the puffer has remained true to the coat that George Finch, an Australian chemist and mountaineer, designed for Edmund Hillary’s ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. Sometimes called quilted jackets, they’re filled with down insulation between rows of stitching that give them the look—and, crucially, the warmth—of sleeping bags with arms.

But today the winter staple can be just as fashionable as a tailored suit. This season, Moncler collaborated with the Queen of England’s favorite designer, Richard Quinn, on a lively collection with leopard and daisy prints. Perfect Moment, a ski brand born in Chamonix, France, adds a chic houndstooth pattern to its colorful, retro-inspired lineup. “With the advancement of ‘faux down’ and new breathable tech fabrics,” says the brand’s creative director Jane Gottschalk, “we are able to create the same degree of warmth in a slimmer-fit jacket.”