Smart, classy apparel for the chilliest time of year.
Voormi Variant II Vest ($349)
If core heat is a concern, consider Voormi’s reversible Variant II. Its thick layer of warmth-trapping merino wool is more than we’re used to seeing on a vest. Plus Voormi’s weather-resistant Core Construction is sewn right into the fabric. But you need to feel comfortable making a bold statement: the Variant is a bit of a Ducati for your torso.
Strafe Drifter Jacket ($210)
The versatile Drifter is both technical midlayer for the hill and street-smart everyday jacket for what comes after. The ripstop nylon shell and PrimaLoft Silver insulation both perform nobly while keeping things subtle. Like Strafe’s heavy-duty backcountry jackets, the Drifter is made to deal with harsh conditions, but it has more après chops.
Outdoor Research Revy Shirt ($145)
The Revy is the layer we gravitate to most often: soft, inviting, and warm enough for enjoying your morning brew on the back stoop. What you might call a shirt-jacket-cardigan (a shajardigan?), it’s DWR-coated, so it can serve as an outer layer in a pinch. Best of all is the cut, which is stylish enough for a date.
Sierra Designs Women’s Whitney Hoodie ($169)
Call the Whitney your better-safe-than-sorry jacket. It’s stuffed with 800-fill DriDown yet compresses to not much bigger than a grapefruit, and insulation runs continuously through the mummy-bag-like hood. The orange ripstop polyester seen here stands up to sharp edges and means your friends will have no trouble spotting you at the brewpub.
Arc’teryx Women’s Nila Trench ($475)
The Nila, like its men’s counterpart, the Keppel, is a thigh-length jacket that’s part The Third Man and part Blade Runner, with Gore-Tex Performance membrane and rain-shunning sealed zippers. Stretch in the body and reflective panels on the collar signal its bike-commuter intentions, but you’ll want to wear it whenever the weather turns foul.
Aether Sequence Jacket ($265)
A true 21st-century garment, the Sequence blew us away with its variety of uses: a stretchy Polartec soft shell with great ease of movement for schussing through powder or running on brisk mornings and a sleekly cut urban jacket for work. It’s breathable and weather-resistant. So what if it doesn’t look all that warm? Looks are deceiving.