Holy ’tis the season, it’s cold outside. It was a not-too-long-ago day that I wrote the infamous words, “Baby, it’s (kind of) (not really) cold outside”. Now, scant a year later, and I’m whole-heartedly saying: it’s bloody cold outside. Oh, you fickle friend, San Francisco.
Am I being a tad dramatic considering it hasn’t even come close to freezing temperatures? Perhaps. But, it’s still so much colder than last year, that it’s making me want to throw open my closet doors and yank out all the cozy, warm coats I’ve got strewn back there.
Err… all ONE of them?
Yes, like some of you out there, I am in need of a winter coat update. I’ve chatted before about how I think four coats are all you need — but having discovered Poshmark and how wonderful it feels to sell items rather than donate, I’ve actually cleared out most of my cold-weather options. And let’s be real: typical San Francisco weather doesn’t call for a ‘proper’ coat.
So, with a trip to Lake Tahoe looming over me, I’ve been tearing apart the internet looking for some good options. Puffer or wool? Teddy or patterned? I can’t decide. So instead, you get a whole edit: the sustainable winter coat edit, featuring some of the best sustainable, eco, or ethical winter coat brands out there.
Let me know which coat you decide is the one for you! (a.k.a. HELP ME DECIDE WHICH TO GET, please and thank you).
THE SUSTAINABLE WINTER COAT EDIT: SHOP ALL COATS HERE
All links for the coat images are top row first (left, right), then bottom row (left, middle, right).
SUSTAINABLE WOOL COATS
FRANK & OAK SKYE RECYCLED WOOL COAT // There may not be a more perfect coat, and here’s why. Technical specs abound, like wind resistance, thermal insulation, while the cut says nothing but fashun. Plus, it’s made of recycled materials, and at a great price point. While I do love the herringbone (so chic!), my heart years for something in my ‘warm neutrals’ category. Please come out with this in a camel!
THOUGHT JESPER BAMBOO WOOL COAT* // Made of viscose (derived from bamboo) and wool, Thought produces some of the most sustainably-made clothes around — and this coat is no exception. The cut is classic but interesting, and the material sits somewhere between wool and teddy. It also looks so much more expensive than it is.
GANNI BOUCLE WOOL COAT* // Ganni have really stepped up their sustainability game over the years, which is great news for us looking for fashion-meets-sustainability. Shock and awe, my favorite color of this coat is the green — the perfect deep hue that will go with just about everything.
SEZANE JOHNSON COAT* // Sezane have a range of coat cuts that they produce every year, but the Johnson has always been my favorite. The perfect cut, with a lapel not too wide, that hits right at the perfect point to be both dressy and casual. My favorite colors are the sand, moka, and camel (of course), but you can’t go wrong with any of the colors they have on offer.
AMOURT VERT INDIANA WOOL COAT* // Equal parts dress and everyday, a wrap-black coat is the ultimate only-need-one-coat purchase. The wide lapel on this one makes it look more sophisticated than most, and the large pockets are perfect for stashing tissues (#storyofmylife).
SUSTAINABLE PUFFERS & PARKAS
BERNARDO ECOPLUME BLOCK QUILTED WALKER // I only discovered Bernardo while researching for this post, and I am so pleased to have discovered this brand. While not fully sustainable, their EcoPlume line is a series of puffer coats made with Bluesign certified fabric comprised of recycled waterbottles — a.k.a., a great sustainable range. Plus, at all less than $120, these coats are a bargain for a sustainable winter coat. See the full EcoPlume range here.
EVERLANE RENEW MILITARY PARKA* // Holy warm winter coat, I am in heaven. Okay, when I say the Patagonia Bivy Jacket above was my top choice, this one here may give it a run for its money (can’t decide between a puffer and a parka!). The cut, the color (I chose chestnut, but black is an equally great choice), the insulation, all make it the ideal snowy day coat. Plus, it’s sleek enough to wear out to dinner when you’re done hitting the slopes.
PATAGONIA BIVY JACKET // Made of recycled down, this wind-and-water resistant coat comes in the two best colors (an antique cream and the perfect shade of nutty brown). This is my top pick for a coat in this edit (besides Reformation’s Barlow, which I already own!). There’s something about the combination of cut, color, and streamlined puffs that make this such a great choice for a winter coat.
OUTERKNOWN PUFFER* // Outerknown is one of the most sustainable brands out there, so when they make the perfect-shade-of-brown puffer coat (aptly named ‘Nutmeg’), you know it’ll be on this list. Recycled polyester, a slightly cropped cut, and wind/water proof tech specs make this a great sustainable all-rounder coat.
FINISTERRE NEBULAS INSULATED COAT // The one thing I found putting this edit together is that most sustainable coat brands only produce puffer coats — thereby making this section very hard to whittle down. But, Finisterre’s take on the puffer coat ticks all the boxes and won my ‘black puffer coat’ choice. One, it’s less ‘puffy’ than some other puffer coats, making it a sleeker, dressier option (if such a thing exists). It’s waterproof, made of recycled materials, and and is designed to be layered with winter knits. Plus, the hood is a great all-weather bonus.
SUSTAINABLE TEDDY & FAUX FUR COATS
TOAD & CO HUTTON SHERPA JACKET // Is this technically a winter coat? No. But will it be super warm on a dog walk or city adventure? I bet it would. Made of high pile fleece (80% recycled polyester), it will definitely insulate on a cold day, and the color will lend itself so well when Springtime begins to peak through.
REFORMATION BARLOW COAT*// I may be biased, but this is the best coat of the bunch. One, because I own it (biased news reporting). But mostly, because it is a slimmer version of a teddy coat, is perfectly oversized, warm as heck, and makes you look something between a 1970’s rockstar and Leonardo Dicaprio in The Revenant. Peak style achieved? Yes.
OUTERKNOWN WOODLAND SHERPA COAT* // This was actually the coat that inspired me to write this post. If you read my Autumn Wishlist post, you’ll know I’ve been dreaming of a teddy or sherpa coat. But I also wanted one that was sustainable (hard to find, as unless it’s real fur, the teddy material is almost always 100% polyester). Finding one from Outerknown — one of the pinnacles of sustainable fashion, with a teddy coat made of 100% recycled materials — helped give me hope. This is my pick if you’re after a traditional full teddy coat.
SEZANE ISAE TEDDY COAT* // Yep, you knew it was coming. Another Sezane coat, but more specifically, the Isae coat, the coat that got away. One of the few teddy-style coats made with wool (and bamboo!), the cut and hang of this teddy coat are dressier and more sophisticated than the others on this list. Either the Ecru or Dark Hazelnut colorways are just as beautiful, so I can’t help you choose just one. My dream of a coat (if I hadn’t already gotten the Reformation Barlow!).
HOUSE OF FLUFF TEDDY PEACOAT // Get past the questionable name (reminds me of what my house looks like with a shedding cat), and you’ll find the chicest faux fur coat company you’v ever seen. This teddy peacoat is made of the most sustainable faux fur textile on the market, and the slimmer cut (and apparently softest feel ever) make this the ideal fur coat for people who are afraid of looking like Abominable Snowmen in a fur coat. Highly recommended!
SHOP MY OUTFIT
SWEATER // EVERLANE*
JEANS // REFORMATION*
COAT // REFORMATION* (BOUGHT ON POSHMARK)
NECKLACE // MISSOMA*
SUNGLASSES // CELINE
BOOTS // MARION PARKE (SOLD OUT)
*Links indicate affiliate links. This means, if you choose to purchase the product linked here, at no additional cost to you I will make a small commission. Considering this post took me close to 13 hours to put together, it is very, very appreciated. Thank you for supporting sustainable brands, and thank you for supporting this blog!