Dress to Impress in Your Favorite Puffy Fur Coat

Fur is an amazing resource, and one that is equally noteworthy for its form as it is for its function. It would be downright difficult to list a similar material that was so valuable for its ability to insulate and protect against the elements while still remaining one of a fashion-lover’s greatest assets.

Yet that is exactly what fur can offer you. Fur is amazingly warm and protective against the elements, even in the harshest, most unforgiving months of the year. Fur is also a fashion-enthusiast's dream, and the number of different furs available provides plenty of versatility in styling and design.

For those of you looking for some inspiration on how to style with a puffy fur coat, this is your stop. Check out this short little guide, and if you have any questions or want some personalized recommendations, get in touch with us!

A Puffy Fur Coat: Versatility in Style

One of the greatest things about a puffy fur jacket or coat, in particular, is that it provides you with so many avenues for creativity. This is because the term itself is so flexible. A puffy fur coat could be a fur coat that is puffy by virtue of the fur itself, or it could be called puffy because of its appearance or because of the fact that it is “puffy” with down insulation and has a synthetic shell, trimmed with fur.

Because of the flexibility in this style and in this terminology, there is a lot that you can do with a puffy fur jacket or coat.

• The flexibility to dress up or down

One of the great things about a puffy fur jacket is that you can dress up or down with it, depending on the inherent appeal of the coat, what makes it fluffy, what colors it sports, and what accessories you pair with it. Even a very regal-looking fur coat can be given an avant-garde spirit by pairing it with incongruous matches in clothing or by creating a sense of jarring contrast with colors and accessories. By the same token, by flattering the class of a fur coat, you can create an impassable, unbeatable presence of class and sophistication.

• Functionality and class

Puffy coats are also versatile because depending on how you wear them, they can provide you with both functionality and class. A fur coat already needs no introduction for the warmth it can provide; yet, if you wear it open and with lighter accenting clothing, you can make a fur coat fitting not only for the coldest days of the year but also for milder ones.

In addition, fur can be utilized solely as an accent to your personal carriage and impression, if not for its insulation. The choice is yours to make and in this article we’re going to cover some of the avenues by which you can bend the character of a fur coat to better suit your sense of style.

• Choose a puffy fur coat that is easier to care for

One more thing to think about with a puffy coat is the versatility that it can offer you in terms of care and utility. It is well known that you should never allow your fur coat to become waterlogged, because that will cause damage to the coat in short order.

Some of the coats we feature here at Maximilian are reversible, which means that you can flip them inside out if the weather does not cooperate. That will afford you the protection and warmth of fur without exposing the fur to damage that the elements will incur. In addition, some of our fur-trimmed, “puffy” coats are made with polyester shells and filled with down. These will provide you with the class of a fur coat which will be better able to tolerate the adversity of the weather.

Set the Foundation: Color and Aesthetic Design

For those of you looking to create a heightened sense of style and poise with your favorite puffy coat, the first thing you’ll want to consider is the effect you can produce through color, contrast and aesthetic design alone. This will guide your vision before you even get onto creating an actual outfit or adding accessories into the mix.

• Create harmony with color

The first thing you have to keep in mind is that while you can exhibit a great deal of creativity with how you generate a color scheme for your outfit including fur, that does not make it necessary. You can create a sense of harmony with compatibility in the colors you choose.

If you’re trying to create a sense of high fashion with your puffy fur jacket or coat, think about styling with accessories, tops, bottoms and shoes in matching colors to the coat. That will eliminate any lingering feelings of discord and tie the outfit together.

• Creating a sense of pleasant contrast or discord

At the same time, you can also forgo the potential to create a harmonious setting and intentionally pair up sharply contrasted colors or bright, sporty designs with your puffy fur coat. It’s also important to note that this will not necessarily detract from the visual appeal of the look.

• The bolder the contrast and color, the sportier the look

When you pair up your puffy coat with brightly colored accessories with sharp designs that call attention to the coat, you can easily give the entire outfit a modern, sporty, even trendy look. The more the elements of your outfit jar the senses, the more attention they draw to themselves. Done artfully, this creates a very pleasant sense of visual discord.

• Open or closed: how will you wear it?

How you wear the coat can also impact the impression it creates. Remember that deportment is a very big influence on fashion and that how you wear something matters almost as much as what it is and how it looks.

When you wear a fur coat open, you expose the top you’re wearing underneath it and introduce it as a visually complicated element in the overall design of the outfit. Wearing a coat open also imparts a somewhat dashing quality to your carriage that would be difficult to pull off with other visual elements.

Pair That Puffy Fur Coat with Accessories

Now that you’ve gotten some stylistic considerations out of the way, we can get into some of the details on how to pair up that puffy coat to achieve the greatest effect. Here are some of the ways you can bring your vision in design to life.

• Accessorize with a fur or a wool hat

One of the simplest ways to style with a fur coat is to accessorize with a matching fur hat - or a fur hat that doesn’t match, depending on what you’re trying to go for. Actually, you don’t necessarily need to choose a fur hat to make a mark. There are some beautiful cloches and wide brimmed hats made of wool that would make a beautiful pairing for your puffy wool coat. These represent some of the most effortless ways to put a tasteful accent mark over your favorite wool coat.

• Break out a complimentary handbag

You can also pair up that coat with a handbag that underscores it or draws attention away from it, depending on the effect you are willing to produce. The larger and bolder the handbag, the more it will detract from the presence of the coat; conversely, the more demure and unassuming, the more the coat will take center stage.

Another way to create a sense of intrigue is by pairing the hat and handbag up for complimentary effect and allowing the coat to stand on its own merits.

• Dazzle with the right pair of shades

Another interesting effect you can accomplish in styling with your puffy fur jacket or coat is by pairing it up with a flattering pair of shades. Wearing a pair of shades with a fur coat will give you a devil-may-care look, but there’s something else to account for in it.

Consider the lustrous appeal of the coat, and the mirrored finish that  some shades offer. Accent your coat with a pair of reflective shades with a metallic impression that matches your coat and you will be set to dazzle.

• Tops and bottoms that accent the coat

You should also remember that the tops and bottoms you pair with your coat will also leave an impression on the outfit, and that by wearing the coat open or closed you can impact this effect.

• Create a casual look with an open coat and jeans or sweatpants

Believe it or not, in recent years it has become much more readily accepted to create a sportier, more informal look with a fur coat. There is something to be said for your confidence if you’ll wear your fur coat open with jeans or even sweatpants. Try it and see how you like the way it feels.

• Elevate your intrigue by pairing with a dress

Naturally, the classic way to pair up a beautiful fur coat is with formal evening attire. You just can’t escape the class of pairing a fur coat with your finest dress; this is the classic way to elevate your style!

• Consider a more formal approach with slacks, a blazer or semi-formal attire

You can also take the middle ground by pairing your wool coat with a pair of slacks or a blazer and other semi formal attire. Not quite as black-tie as a dress and not quite as scaled back as more comfortable clothing, this middle approach will accent your style with intrigue and distinction.

• Shoes set the foundation of the outfit

The way you accessorize with shoes will lend an inescapable impression on your outfit. Never forget that shoes often set the foundation for an outfit - one might even say the entire ensemble “stands” on shoes!

• Style with ankle boots - perfect for the cold, not bad for mild weather

Match up your coat and outfit with a pair of ankle boots that are great in the colder weather but also suitable for milder conditions. Slightly less formal than some other footwear, these will help you hone in on an avant-garde style.

• Opt for a pair of fur trimmed snow boots - even better for the cold

Alternatively, you could style with a pair of fur trimmed snow boots that are ideal for the colder weather in which you’ll probably be wearing your fur coat anyway. Match the color or the type of fur trim to your puffy fur coat and you will create a sense of harmony that would be difficult to imitate.

• Glitter with accenting jewelry

One more thing to consider is the effect that jewelry can make. Just remember, you don’t have to overdo it. A considerately chosen pair of earrings can make an effect just as pronounced as a bold necklace or bracelet.

• Choose gold for brighter, warmer colored furs

When accessorizing with jewelry, don’t overlook the natural character of the fur in question. If you have a warm-colored fur or a brown or a tan fur, especially one with some luster, gold would make a very fitting compliment that would naturally highlight the effect produced by the coat - just something to consider.

• Silver sparkles with chinchilla and other lustrous, neutral toned furs

Gold might be the king of jewelry, but silver is making a powerful resurgence. Demure yet complex and alluring, silver provides another avenue by which to accent your outfit. This is especially true of furs that have a somewhat pronounced silvery character, such as chinchilla. Furs like this that seem to glisten in the light will play beautifully with silver accents.

Get in Touch with Us for More Inspiration and Information

If you enjoyed some of these tips and morsels of design wisdom, there’s plenty more where that came from. You just need to get in touch with us directly to learn more about our wondrous assortment of fur jackets, coats, and accessories and how you can make the most of them.

Take a look through our catalog of puffy fur coats and if anything strikes your attention or causes you to come up with a unique question, get in touch with us at 1-800-TLC-FURS or at info@maximilian.com. Let us know what you’re looking for or how you’d like to see your inspired vision become reality and we’ll help you get there.