Trim And Quilted

If you've ever owned a traditional puffer/down vest you already know the pros and cons - the thing is insanely warm and functional, but it also makes you look about 20 pounds overweight.  It's a form vs. function argument at its very core.  Fortunately, there is a middle ground for someone trying to reconcile both of these attributes.  What normally seemed reserved for higher end European brands (i.e. Cucinelli) has slowly, but surely found its way to a cheaper demographic.  I'm talking, of course, about trimmed up quilted outerwear.  It keeps the insulation of your puffer intact, while streamlining things for an even greater versatility.  Instead of being limited as an outermost layer, outwear of this variety can easily work as an intermediate layer too - wear it under your jacket on a frigid day or utilize it as your outermost layer during the first signs of fall.  There are lots of styles to choose from depending on your aesthetic or wardrobe needs.  From tailored waistcoats to shirt jackets, there are a good amount of options floating around.  I personally like Barbour's options (keep in mind that they have been doing this kind of thing for a long time so they've pretty much perfected it at this point), but that's just me.  You shouldn't have too many issues spending under $100, but there are also middle of the range pieces for those of you with a tad more disposable income (see: Wings + Horns F/W 2010 I talked about the other day).  The idea of keeping your clothing trim isn't necessarily new for a lot of you, so consider this nothing more than a reminder that your quilted outerwear can be just like the rest of your wardrobe - streamlined, stylish and, most of all, functional.

-L.A.S