The look... THE SECURITY BLANKET COAT

BOLD AND BRIGHT: YOUR COLD-WEATHER COMFORTER, THE PUFFER, GETS A LUXURY REBOOT

Comfort has stealthily made its way into style, with tracksuits upgrading from Juicy Couture velour to slinky side-striped satin and cashmere hoodies becoming acceptably chic (thank you, as ever, The Row). Now, we’re seeing the rise of the souped-up Slanket: the luxury duvet coat. You’re likely familiar with the XL puffer – a style that sees you cast the shadow of the Michelin Man, pulled out for milk-runs and dog walks. This isn’t that. This is the puffer rethought for the runway, as well as real life; plush, premium, down-filled outerwear in bold colours and prints. The brighter take on the style has become a mainstay in winter collections, seen on the runways of Balenciaga, Chloé and Dior. ‘Designers are definitely being more experimental; puffer jackets are now a great canvas for creativity,’ says Natalie Kingham, buying director at Matchesfashion.com. ‘There’s less resistance to intense colours and prints, as customers project their personality using outerwear to stand out.’ Brands have recognised that. Moncler, a label whose bread and butter is puffy down-filled coats, launched its Genius project last year, inviting big-ticket designers to reimagine its styles, including Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, Simone Rocha and Richard Quinn. They range from pastel pink to riotous clashes of animal and floral print – something practical for fashion-minded customers, and a staplemade-statement for shoppers wanting to express more character. If you’re wondering how to make them work for your everyday wardrobe, ‘Avoid extra volume below. Go for a slimmer, longline style,’ says Felicity Kay, ELLE’s fashion editor. ‘If you’re print-shy, you can still look fashion-forward in a deep jewel tone, such as burgundy or emerald, dressing it up with sleek patent ankle boots.’ Waterproof and warm, it’s high time the puffer had a high fashion update.