The 7 Types of Coats Every Woman Should Own

The Puffer Coat

Puffer coats are traditionally filled with down insulation to keep you warm and toasty. However, with a variety on the market, some variations are suitable for balmy fall weather, while others are more heavy-duty and designed to withstand extreme winter temps.

The North Face Nuptse 1996 Packable Quilted 700 Fill Power Down Jacket

If you don't already own a puffer by The North Face, it's high time you add one to your collection. The outdoorsy label has mastered durable and utilitarian outerwear—and sleek styles like its Nuptse 1996 showcase that it's also adept at merging function with fashion.  Plus, the brand offers a variety of lengths if you're more of a cropped or maxi puff type.

GANNI Ripstop Quilt Coat

You can recognize a GANNI anywhere, thanks to the Scandi brand's unique use of collars and fabrication. This season, the label takes its DNA and channels it into this quilted puffer that's quirky but also practical.

Canada Goose Rhoda Hooded Puffer Jacket

Canada Goose's Rhoda will become a favorite, hard-working hero piece for anyone who's forced to endeavor winter's coldest days. It ranks third on the brand's Thermal Experience Index, meaning it's engineered to be worn in temperates ranging from 14°F to -4°F and is great for everyday wear throughout the chilly season. Plus, it's made from a recycled water- and wind-resistant fabric.

Donna Karan New York Long Sleeping Bag Coat

If your favorite place in the world is your bed, slip on this sleeping bag-style puffer coat for a similar effect. The quilted design will give you those same comfortable, lazy day vibes when you have to leave the house.

The Peacoat 

The peacoat has been around since the 1800s when members of the Dutch navy first wore it. (The name itself originated from the Dutch word "pije," which described a coat made from coarse wool fabric.) Today, the topper is a classic wardrobe trademark in neutral colors and brights alike.

Lauren Ralph Lauren Double Breasted Wool Blend Peacoat

This slate gray peacoat is made from a warm wool blend and boasts a classic double-breasted look with sharp lapels. Pair it with riding boots and a collared button-down for an outfit that exudes sophisticated prep and polish. One Nordstrom reviewer dubs it a "great pea coat! Lovely fabric and classic tailoring. I'll wear [it] for years to come!"

Weekend Max Mara Wool Peacoat

Yes, indeed, peacoats come cropped. Get your hands on this navy blue Weekend Max Mara design (made with 100-percent wool melton) before it inevitably sells out.

Mango Handmade Oversized Wool Coat

This peacoat is as classic as it gets. With this timeless double-breasted version in your arsenal, you'll be able to wear it for seasons to come.

Barbour Marlene Tartan Plaid Wool Blend Peacoat

Fancy a bolder peacoat than a traditional neutral? Look no further than this blue and green plaid design with eye-catching gold buttons. The tartan style is cut in a longline silhouette, reaching. down to the wearer's knees, and is made from a thermal wool blend, offering optimal warmth. 

The Trench Coat

The trench coat, like the peacoat, has a utilitarian history: officers quite literally wore them in the trenches. Over the years, the style has been modernized and tweaked, showcasing varied colors and prints, but its double-breasted, buckle waist silhouette mostly remains the same.

J. Crew New Icon Trench

This J. Crew trench is as classic as they come. With its double-breasted silhouette, buckle belt, and tan color, this coat will last you from season to season, trend to trend. One shopper is particularly thrilled with J. Crew because of its "really good attention to detail" with this trench. "The fabric has a great neutral shade and a nice weight to it," they write. "Then the details like the removable hood, snaps on the outer pockets and arms, full lining, and reinforced belt all send it over the top. It’s a terrific buy."

Burberry Harehope Double-Breasted Cotton-Gabardine Trench Coat

We can't talk about the timeless coat without discussing Burberry. The ultimate classic when shopping for a luxurious take. Try this quintessential Burberry trench coat in a double-breasted silhouette and tan colorway, as it epitomizes the style in every sense.

Favorite Daughter The Charles Trench Coat

The quickest way to bring street-style flair to a look? With an unexpected print, like this olive green pinstripe trench coat crafted by Favorite Daughter.

Avec Les Filles Faux Leather Trench Coat

For an edgier take, try a leather trench coat. We're partial to this affordable style by Avec Les Filles, which comes in black, ivory, and hot pink.

The Wrap Coat

If you've ever thought about leaving the house in your robe, the wrap coat is the one for you. Cinch the belt around your waist and head out the door—no fumbling with zippers or buttons.

Banana Republic Vilama Print Coat

Behold an impeccably printed coat in an effortless wrap silhouette—the antidote to predictable design fatigue, without feeling overly bold and saturated. With its sand, chocolate brown, and maroon geographic print, this hip-length number from Banana Republic offers an understated Western feel that doesn't veer into costume territory. It's crafted from an Italian-milled cotton and virgin wool blend, meaning it's as toasty and snuggly as your favorite blanket.

Summersalt The Warmest Eco Wool Wrap Coat

This coat offers the comfort and ease of a bathrobe while still looking utterly polished. The wrap-style waist creates a silhouette that celebrates all figures, too. "This coat is beautiful," writes one thrilled Summersalt shopper. "[It] fits all of me incredibly and looks amazing. I feel like my body has been seen, understood, and validated in this coat." In cool weather, sport it with a turtleneck, jeans, and your favorite pair of ankle boots.

Madewell Double-Faced Robe Coat

For a warm wrap coat with a no-fuss, forever-on-trend look, look to a neutral style, like this option from Madewell. It's as cool over jeans as it is a knit dress or jumpsuit.

Elie Tahari Vegan Leather Belted Coat

Channel a Matrix vibe in this sleek wrap coat by Elie Tahari. It's crafted from buttery soft vegan leather and elevated enough to pair with evening attire, though it's perfectly stylish with jeans and a white T-shirt.

The Parka

What makes parkas unique? They're hands-down one of the best coat styles for surviving harsh winter conditions. Chock-full of useful details like pockets and hoods, you'll feel well-equipped to take on just about anything, bomb cyclones included.

L.L. Bean Baxter State Parka

Tested in the extreme New Hampshire’s White Mountains temps, this insulated parka coat is engineered to keep you cozy in weather down to 45 degrees below zero. It'll keep you dry, too: Its lining is a 100-percent polyester, TEK2 waterproof fabric designed to keep out all elements. "Absolutely love this parka," raves one L.L. Bean shopper. "We had some -32 below zero weather recently and my coat was nice and warm [so I] never felt the cold. Well worth the money I spent."

TOTEME Hooded Organic Cotton-Blend Poplin Parka

This feminine parka from every fashion editor's favorite Swedish label is at once sleek and sturdy—the ultimate city coat that offers durability but ensures you'll feel as stylish as you do in your go-to trench.

Sam Edelman Hooded Down & Feather Fill Parka with Faux Fur Trim

Ultra-practical in inclement weather, this faux-fur trimmed parka from Sam Edelman is packed with down-and-feather fill for chill city days or wilderness adventures. "This coat is warm, cozy, comfortable, and stylish," details one Nordstrom shopper. "The faux fur around the hood is really cute, and the pockets are a good size. Well made and ready to keep you toasty warm during the winter."

Wardrobe.NYC x Carhartt WIP Cotton Canvas Parka

This sleek black parka is the ultimate fashion-meets-function hybrid. Part of a limited-edition collaboration between Wardrobe.NYC and Carhartt, it's ready for adventure, combining a utilitarian workwear aesthetic with a cool-girl twist.

The Cape Coat 

If you're looking for a timeless piece that earns you major style points, a cape is the way to go. A big trend on the runways, there are more options on the market than ever before.

COS Wool-Blend Cape

A blanket, but make it fashion. But seriously, this wool-blend black cape by COS is c-h-i-c. For a casual weekend ensemble, drape it over your favorite graphic tee, slip into your favorite light-wash denim, and put on your best ankle boots.

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Kyra Cargo Pocket Cape

Swap your longline maxi coat for this short camel-colored cape that can pair down with denim or dress up with a woolen midi or maxi skirt.

Johnstons of Elgin Contrasting-Border Wool Cape

Take your cape in a Western direction with this fringed number by Johnstons of Elgin. Spun by a small team of artisans in the knitwear label's mill in Elgin, Scotland, this cozy cape is made of 100 percent Merino wool and is the antithesis of a fast fashion option that will unravel with each wear.

Nili Lotan Virginia Herringbone Alpaca and Wool-Blend Cape

Minimalists, meet your perfect cape crafted from a soft cashmere blend. In genuine Nili Lotan fashion, it boasts an oversized shape and slightly femme details (see: the collar bow) for elegant nonchalance.

The Raincoat 

There are plenty of fashion-forward raincoat options out there, from classic solids to sweet floral designs and translucent versions. Style Hack: Opt for one size larger so you can layer a blazer or bulky sweater underneath.

Lululemon Rain Rebel Jacket

This hooded coat from Lululemon is made of the brand's signature, sturdy, and water- and wind-proof Gyde material. Itfeatures an elasticized waist, zipper pockets, and a cinchable hood to keep out moisture, even when it's raining sideways. One overjoyed customer writes, "I love my rain rebel coat!! The absolute best I’ve ever had, as it keeps me dry and warm."

Stutterheim Stockholm Raincoat Navy

This minimal navy blue raincoat proves you can look stylish on wet days. The Stutterheim style features a straight hem fit and deep-set side pockets for essentials like your phone and keys. "An indispensable technical garment with a clean and elegant line," describes one satisfied Stutterheim shopper.

Everlane The ReNew Anorak

Everlane's lightweight ReNew Anorak, created from 100 percent recycled materials, is a crowd-pleasing favorite. It boasts a large hood, double-front zip, snap enclosures, and a secret drawcord that allows you to wear it baggy or cinched. One Everlane reviewer calls it the "perfect raincoat," adding that "it's oversized and slouchy and cool, but also practical. I love it!

Rains Curve Hooded Belted Jacket

Not all waterproof jackets are shapeless. Case in point: this cinched style by Rains that resembles the sleek look of a trench. A Bloomingdale's shopper writes in their review that they "love the A line look this raincoat gives" and the "material of it is very nice," and "the length is perfect."