These adaptable coats switch up your winter wardrobe with one purchase

FastCompany: There’s a chill in the air and you’re likely taking your coats out of storage. If it turns out you need something new this year, you’re in luck. There’s a trend sweeping over the outwear industry: Designers aren’t just interested in warmth or silhouettes. They’re interested in transformation. They’re making coats, jackets and parkas have parts that come off, flip around, or snap into place. Most of us wear one coat for months. Over the course of the fall and winter, it becomes something of a uniform. A coat that can transform to change your look allows you to break through that boredom.

For this year’s list of best coats, we went looking for designs that have interesting transforming features and we tested each one to make sure the components work well. Some of these coats reverse, while others have collars, scarves or entire liners that you can remove. All of them will give you more mileage than the average winter coat. [Photo: Aritzia] Two Moods, One Puffer Aritzia, The SuperSnug Puff, $298 Aritzia’s Super Puffs have developed a cult following, and the SuperSnug is the brand’s signature hourglass puffer. It hugs the body, which makes it more flattering than the typical sleeping-bag-style puffer.

The best version for warmth comes with faux fur trim around the hood that you can remove. With the fur on, it has an après-ski glamour that feels festive and dramatic, perfect for holiday parties. It’s also a practical addition for windy and especially cold days. With the fur off, it’s sleek and streamlined. Both versions keep you very warm. The coat is filled with 800+ fill-power responsibly sourced down and is rated to keep you warm down to -20°C. The shell is made from a glossy, water-repellent and wind-resistant taffeta from France that feels soft to the touch.

[Photo: Patagonia] Three Coats In One Patagonia, Women’s Skysail 3-in-1 Coat, $299 For maximum versatility, the Skysail is hard to beat. It’s made up of two pieces. The outer shell is a lightweight ripstop jacket with a water-repellent finish that lands at the upper thighs. The inner layer is a cozy, high-pile fleece cardigan that snaps into the shell. You can wear them together on frigid days, or wear the shell alone during rainy fall afternoons. There’s even the option of wearing the fleece cardigan on its own in the fall or spring.

Patagonia designed it with travel in mind, so you can bring a single coat on a trip and be prepared for whatever weather you encounter. And as you’d expect from Patagonia, it’s one of the most sustainable coats on the market. Both layers are made from 100% recycled materials, the water-repellent finish is made without intentionally added PFAS, and it’s made in a Fair Trade Certified factory. [Photo: J. Crew] The Coat That Comes With An Accessory J.Crew, Valentina Scarf Coat in Drapey Wool Blend, $398 J.Crew’s scarf coat became one of the brand’s breakout hits, and this year’s Valentina builds on that success.

This winter coat has a relaxed, unstructured silhouette made from a soft, drapey wool blend that is lightweight and comfortable to wear all day. It comes with a matching scarf that you can drape, wrap, or knot however you like, and it creates an effortlessly polished look. But you can also take the scarf off entirely, which gives you a clean, minimalist wool coat. It comes in five colors, including a striking Beacon Red, and it’s available in petite sizing as well, which is useful for those of us under 5’4. [Photo: Overland] A lifetime of wear Overland, Kylie Reversible Sheepskin Jacket, $1,195 The Kylie is really two very different jackets.

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The article highlights a significant trend in the fashion industry towards adaptable and sustainable outerwear, which is relevant for brand strategists looking to align with consumer preferences.