Puffers are brilliant for the cold. They can also swallow you. If you want to know how to style a puffer jacket so it looks sharp rather than shapeless, a few choices fix it.
Pick the right length
Waist length suits most people and keeps your proportions balanced. Longer puffers suit taller frames and deep winter. If you are shorter, a hem that stops at the hip is usually the safest.
Mind the volume
The bigger the jacket, the slimmer everything else should be. Tapered trousers help. Think straight or slim jeans, or tapered joggers, rather than wide cargos with a big puffer on top.
Layer underneath wisely
A thin hoodie or knit works better than a heavy hoodie. Too much bulk under the jacket makes you look boxed in and leaves no room to move. If it is truly cold, use a thin base layer rather than a thicker top.
Choose a colour
Black, olive and navy are safe. Cream looks great but marks easily. If you pick a brighter colour, keep everything else dark and simple.
How to style a puffer jacket: three easy outfits
- Black puffer, grey hoodie, dark jeans, white trainers.
- Olive puffer, cream knit, black tapered trousers, boots.
- Navy puffer, plain tee, charcoal joggers, clean black trainers.
Add a finishing touch
A beanie, a scarf or clean trainers pull the outfit together. Keep the hat and scarf in colours that sit close together so the top half looks calm.
Common puffer mistakes
- Zipping it right up with a huge hoodie hood inside. It bunches at the neck.
- Wearing it too tight, which makes the baffles look squeezed.
- Pairing it with very wide trousers and chunky shoes. Too much shape everywhere.
Should a puffer be oversized?
A little room is good, but you do not need to go huge. Make sure you can lift your arms and layer a thin knit underneath. If the shoulders sit way past your own, go down a size.
Can I wear a puffer in the rain?
Many puffers shrug off light drizzle, but heavy rain is a different story. Check the care label and consider a hood or a waterproof layer on top for a proper soaking.
More winter ideas in How to Layer for a UK Winter, and black hoodie outfit ideas for what to wear underneath.
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