Coat or down jacket?

Winter 2026 is a riot of coats and down jackets: staying warm is the priority in the cold season, and everyone chooses their outerwear based on their tastes and preferences.
Let's start with the coat. There are the versatile coats in generous lengths, black or gray, smooth with a belt or double-breasted with reinforced shoulders. There are the long, classic-cut ones in shades of brown, this season's key color. A leap into the past and into grandmothers' closets is the coat with fur inserts, strictly faux fur, adorning the collar and hem, adding a touch of warmth with a retro-chic twist. Finally, the fashion shows showcase coats in bright colors, long, short, or medium, but decidedly vibrant, matching or contrasting with outfits and accessories.

There's also a wide choice of down jackets; their potential is endless, and designers often use them as a blank canvas to best express trends and approaches. All warm and waterproof, borrowed from sportswear, they're revisited with a contemporary twist to suit every look and need. The strangest are the oversized ones with theatrical proportions, available in all-black or with colorful prints. Then there are the more classic down jackets, the short ones that graze the hips and the midi ones that reach mid-thigh, which embrace the practicality of everyday life, simple and extremely versatile. And finally, the ankle-length down jacket, a fashionable alternative to the coat, which revisits the trench coat cut with belts to be tied tightly at the waist to accentuate the figure.

Elisa D'Adamo
NP December 2025