How to Style a Puffer Jacket: 6 GQ-Approved Ways to Avoid Looking Like a Sentient Sleeping Bag
StyleHere’s how to turn the practical winter staple into a serious flex.By Elly LevFebruary 24, 2025Photographs: Getty Images; Collage: Gabe ConteSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.For those of us foolish enough to live in colder climates, owning a puffer jacket is an obvious necessity. What’s less obvious, however, is knowing how to style a puffer jacket without looking like a sentient sleeping bag or the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Because while puffers have been a practical menswear staple for more than a century—the Australian inventor and mountaineer George Finch pulled up to a 1922 Mount Everest expedition in a homemade “eiderdown coat” prototype, fashioned from hot air balloon fabric stuffed with duck feathers—actually looking cool in the voluminous, shape-deficient silhouette hasn’t gotten all that much easier.It is, however, very much possible to stay toasty and stylish in a great puffer coat. Doing so simply requires a solid understanding of fit, proportions, and color—you gotta get playful and inventive with your wardrobe to overcome the frigid winter doldrums with flair. Here are six ways to do so correctly, courtesy of some of the best-dressed people to ever live.Lean Into GorpcoreFrank Ocean, 2019 Edward Berthelot/Getty ImagesLike any number of modern wardrobe essentials, the puffer jacket has its roots in outdoor adventuring—mountaineering, skiing, hiking, and the like. Complementing your technical zip-up with similarly rugged statement pieces, as Frank Ocean has done here with his beefy hiking boots and Arc'teryx beanie, makes all kind of sense. Just be sure to balance out all those campground classics with some street-ready counterparts—like Frank's perfect washed jeans and oversized It bag—to avoid looking like a full-on REI model.Prep OutJason Schwartzman and Wes Anderson, 1999 Boston Globe/Getty ImagesAlternatively, ignoring your puffer’s granola roots entirely is also an option. Wes Anderson rarely strays from his preferred trad-preppy aesthetic, which means that the unexpected contrast introduced by pulling this simple The North Face puffer over his typical Oxford shirt, Shetland sweater, and wide-wale cords hits all the harder.Layer BoundlesslyBrad Pitt, 2023 MEGAYou can’t always rely on your puffer alone, practically or aesthetically. Brad Pitt expertly undergirded his punchy jacket here with a hefty flannel shirt, a cozy sweatshirt, and a clean white tee. All of those extra layers help to add extra warmth and character, offsetting the coat’s vibrant sheen with matte tones and rich texture.Overdose on ColorA$AP Rocky, 2021 Robert KamauWinter is dark and interminable. Why not brighten things up where you can? There’s perhaps no duo more reliable in the off-duty playbook than a puffer over a hoodie, and Rocky brings his inimitable swag to the proceedings by going full LSD on the palette.Go CroppedJustin Bieber, 2022 MEGAThe cropped look isn’t just for tees anymore. A shorter puffer lets you play with proportion everywhere else—the Bieb’s long, flowy T-shirt and baggy trousers feel all the fresher with that waist-high jacket anchoring the ensemble.Let It RidePrincess Diana, 1994 Pascal J Le Segretain/Getty ImagesNot much of a practical lesson here, per se, other than to say that if you carry yourself with even a fraction of the confidence and unaffected grace possessed by Lady Di—tall order, of course—you can make anything, puffer jacket or not, look impossibly, sumptuously cool.Our Favorite Puffer JacketsOK, enough talking. It’s time to layer up right and shield yourself from the elements. Here are four puffers we believe in—and don't miss our full our full list of the best puffer jackets on the market for even more down-filled goodness.The North FaceHimalayan Down Parka$380 SSENSEUniqloUltra Light Down Parka$70 UniqloFrizmworksKarakoram Quilted Cotton-Blend Hooded Down Jacket$545 Mr PorterCrescent Down WorksClassico Down Parka$754 Crescent Down WorksHow to Style a Puffer Jacket FAQWhat are puffer jackets made of?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronPuffer jackets are generally made of a nylon or polyester outer shell and insulated with goose or duck down. The feathers used are from the bird’s undercoating, which is soft and fluffy. For those with sensitive skin or down allergies, there are still options. Some puffers are lined with synthetic materials, which tend to be lighter than down, but still quite warm.Are puffer jackets warm?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronYes, puffer jackets are very warm. The purpose of that insulated layer of down is to trap the body’s heat in and keep cold air out. When it comes to coverage, puffers come in all different lengths, so it’s up to you how much of your body you want to immerse in that protective barrier of warmth.Can you wash a puffer jacket?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronOver time, dirt, sweat and moisture can
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
For those of us foolish enough to live in colder climates, owning a puffer jacket is an obvious necessity. What’s less obvious, however, is knowing how to style a puffer jacket without looking like a sentient sleeping bag or the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Because while puffers have been a practical menswear staple for more than a century—the Australian inventor and mountaineer George Finch pulled up to a 1922 Mount Everest expedition in a homemade “eiderdown coat” prototype, fashioned from hot air balloon fabric stuffed with duck feathers—actually looking cool in the voluminous, shape-deficient silhouette hasn’t gotten all that much easier.
It is, however, very much possible to stay toasty and stylish in a great puffer coat. Doing so simply requires a solid understanding of fit, proportions, and color—you gotta get playful and inventive with your wardrobe to overcome the frigid winter doldrums with flair. Here are six ways to do so correctly, courtesy of some of the best-dressed people to ever live.
Lean Into Gorpcore
Like any number of modern wardrobe essentials, the puffer jacket has its roots in outdoor adventuring—mountaineering, skiing, hiking, and the like. Complementing your technical zip-up with similarly rugged statement pieces, as Frank Ocean has done here with his beefy hiking boots and Arc'teryx beanie, makes all kind of sense. Just be sure to balance out all those campground classics with some street-ready counterparts—like Frank's perfect washed jeans and oversized It bag—to avoid looking like a full-on REI model.
Prep Out
Alternatively, ignoring your puffer’s granola roots entirely is also an option. Wes Anderson rarely strays from his preferred trad-preppy aesthetic, which means that the unexpected contrast introduced by pulling this simple The North Face puffer over his typical Oxford shirt, Shetland sweater, and wide-wale cords hits all the harder.
Layer Boundlessly
You can’t always rely on your puffer alone, practically or aesthetically. Brad Pitt expertly undergirded his punchy jacket here with a hefty flannel shirt, a cozy sweatshirt, and a clean white tee. All of those extra layers help to add extra warmth and character, offsetting the coat’s vibrant sheen with matte tones and rich texture.
Overdose on Color
Winter is dark and interminable. Why not brighten things up where you can? There’s perhaps no duo more reliable in the off-duty playbook than a puffer over a hoodie, and Rocky brings his inimitable swag to the proceedings by going full LSD on the palette.
Go Cropped
The cropped look isn’t just for tees anymore. A shorter puffer lets you play with proportion everywhere else—the Bieb’s long, flowy T-shirt and baggy trousers feel all the fresher with that waist-high jacket anchoring the ensemble.
Let It Ride
Not much of a practical lesson here, per se, other than to say that if you carry yourself with even a fraction of the confidence and unaffected grace possessed by Lady Di—tall order, of course—you can make anything, puffer jacket or not, look impossibly, sumptuously cool.
Our Favorite Puffer Jackets
OK, enough talking. It’s time to layer up right and shield yourself from the elements. Here are four puffers we believe in—and don't miss our full our full list of the best puffer jackets on the market for even more down-filled goodness.
How to Style a Puffer Jacket FAQ
What are puffer jackets made of?
Puffer jackets are generally made of a nylon or polyester outer shell and insulated with goose or duck down. The feathers used are from the bird’s undercoating, which is soft and fluffy. For those with sensitive skin or down allergies, there are still options. Some puffers are lined with synthetic materials, which tend to be lighter than down, but still quite warm.
Are puffer jackets warm?
Yes, puffer jackets are very warm. The purpose of that insulated layer of down is to trap the body’s heat in and keep cold air out. When it comes to coverage, puffers come in all different lengths, so it’s up to you how much of your body you want to immerse in that protective barrier of warmth.
Can you wash a puffer jacket?
Over time, dirt, sweat and moisture can contaminate the down feathers through the outer jacket material and cause them to clump and lose their loft. A gentle wash and thorough dry will restore the jacket’s insulating performance. Most puffers can be washed at home, though it’s advised to set your machine to a gentle cycle and be sure not to use a fabric softener. To keep down even throughout the jacket, throw in a few clean tennis or dryer balls in your drying cycle. Otherwise you risk clumping, leading to a deflated, uneven jacket.
For puffer jackets with synthetic insulation, it’s recommended to regularly wash and care of your garment, as well as give it space to hang, to help maintain performance and extend its lifespan.
What's the best way to store a puffer jacket?
The best way to keep the shape of your puffer jacket is to hang it in a closet on a wide, cushioned coat hanger. That way, it helps keep the puffer’s shape even. If you plan to travel with a puffer jacket, some brands—like Eddie Bauer and Uniqlo—make lightweight, packable down jackets.
Who makes the best puffer jackets?
These days, brands from all across the style spectrum craft quality puffer jackets. We're especially fans of outdoors stalwarts like The North Face and Arc'teryx, heritage makers like Crescent Down Works and Goldwin, and luxury designers like Moncler and Canada Goose.
