Welcome to puffer jacket season, the time of year when we all transform into walking marshmallows. Typically made of quilted nylon and insulated with heat-trapping down, the best puffer coats have functionality in spades. Fashion-wise, however, they prove more difficult: Figuring out how to style a puffer without looking like the Michelin Man, or like you rolled out of bed and took your comforter with you, tends to be a level-two outfit challenge.
It isn’t that stylish puffer jackets don’t exist. Luxury brands like Canada Goose and Moncler have had the category on lock for over seventy years, and Aritiza’s SuperPuffs have a dedicated fan club of editors and It girls including both Hadid sisters, Kendall Jenner, and Meghan Markle. The issue is that they tend to overpower an outfit, and not in a chic, “main character” coat kind of way—more in an “amorphous blob” kind of way.
So, in the times when you're faced with a fashion conundrum beyond your skillset, turn to the pros. Enter: the street style crowd, which has perfected the art of styling puffer jacket outfits to actually feel put-together and elevated. Ahead, we’ve pinpointed nine of their styling formulas, all of which are great to keep in your back pocket this season. Oh, and you can also shop our favorite puffers, as well as the Winter 2026 trends to wear with them.
With Personality Accents
Let's start with the basics: a neutral, no-frills, all-black puffer jacket. Take a cue from this Copenhagen Fashion Week guest and style it with separates that offer punches of personality. Stark white barrel-leg jeans and a kitschy, candy-striped knit bonnet will signal that you keep tabs on the current trends. (Both styles are incredibly popular this season.)
Play the Long Game
There are times when a cutesy, cropped puffer won't cut it, and you'll need to break out the big guns. So, when you need the full-body warmth of a long, maxi-style puffer, follow industry veteran and street style legend Tamu McPherson's lead: Consider one in olive green, paired with a very on-trend cargo pant and a graphic turtleneck. The two separate pieces work as an outfit on their own, and act as fashion accents that elevate the outerwear.
Call On a Silk Scarf
Summer's silk neckerchief trend lives on! Seen on the streets of Copenhagen in January (typically the city's coldest month of the year), this Fashion Week guest knotted a colorful scarf around her neck and angled it to peer out from her black-and-tan puffer. A simple pair of tan trousers completed her look.
With an Out-of-the-Box Hat
Outerwear isn't the only winter fashion category that deserves your attention. A faux fur cloche is a brilliant swap for a basic beanie this season. The fuzzy topper—a favorite of both Rihanna and Pamela Anderson—adds a maximal, fashion-y touch to a puffer jacket outfit that otherwise could read as gorpcore.
Sparkles and Snake Prints
Puffer coats are already a standout silhouette, and you often see them styled with more pared-back, minimal pieces. If that strategy aligns with your style, perfect—full steam ahead. But if you're typically a more adventurous dresser, feel free to keep that approach alive with metallic touches and snakeskin, which make for joyful counterparts to your favorite puffer, as evidenced here.
Cheers to Chocolate Brown
The reign of the chocolate brown color trend continues. The rich-looking (and tasting) shade makes any garment look like it belongs in a higher tax bracket, including puffer jackets. This New York Fashion Week guest had the bright idea to style hers with front-pleat camel trousers and black knee-high riding boots (a top Winter 2026 shoe trend, by the way)
Prints-palooza
Punch up your puffer collection with a printed option. Then, for bonus points, pile another print: checkerboard, stripes, polka dots—you name it. Power-clashing is an age-old trick that will level up almost any outfit. Look to Copenhagen-based fashion creator Pernille Rosenkilde, whose floral puffer, checkered sweater, and striped beanie are a textbook example of the styling hack in action.
Go High-Shine
Just as diamond studs or a gemstone brooch give an outfit a much-needed dose of shimmer, a puffer jacket rendered in a liquid-shine fabric will have the same effect. Try teaming a metallic-ish coat with a black bubble skirt (a fireball trend with no sign of bursting) and fleece-lined tights for a more feminine look that works well for a holiday party.
Try Tweed Textures
The flecked wool delivers a refined effect, which even works on a puffer coat, arguably one of the frumpiest silhouettes to work with. As for the rest of the outfit, a sleek pencil skirt will complement the jacket's polish, and a pair of Western-style boots will add an unexpected, rewarding touch.
