When searching for women’s jackets to see you through autumn and winter, it’s essential to think about fabric choice. Ultimately, you want to stay warm, but not feel weighed down by a heavy fabric. These days, there are so many lightweight alternatives to the heavy wool and leather coats of the past, so there’s good reason to opt for contemporary materials. In addition, many of us would prefer to choose animal-friendly jackets for women, rather than those using materials derived from animals.
Let’s explore the jackets that are trending this autumn and winter, look at what they’re made of, and find out how to care for these fabrics.
Winter Coats
Long coats with a hem that extends to the knees or beyond are a great choice for winter, as they not only keep your torso warm, but also your hips and upper legs. And with classic button detail and wrap styles available, you’ll be sure to look stylish when you throw one of these coats over your work outfit, or even over a pair of jeans.
Traditionally, winter coats were made using wool, however there are synthetic options available nowadays that are more affordable. Coats made from polyester can hold their form well, and are easy to wash and dry. They’re also a little more light to wear than wool coats, and offer plenty of warmth.
Puffer Jacket
Puffer jackets have been keeping people warm in deep winter for half a century, but it’s only in recent decades that they became something of a fashion statement. Which is great news, because they are ultra lightweight yet warm.
Puffer jackets and coats are made with a variety of materials. Some will use bird feathers or down to get that lightweight warmth, however many people prefer to veer away from clothing that harms animals in its production. This is why many opt for synthetic puffer jacket fillings. The advantage of a synthetic puffer jacket, made from fabrics like nylon and polyester, is that they offer many of the same benefits as a down jacket.
Polyester puffer jacket padding is light as a feather, and keeps you super snug. And the nylon or polyester shells mean you can achieve a range of stylish finishes, such as metallic sheens, bright colours, and groovy prints. The second advantage of a synthetic puffer jacket is that you can wash and dry it really quickly, which is not the case with down jackets, which need extra special care.
Look out for animal print puffer jackets, which are trending this season, as well as practical reversible styles, and puffer vests, that allow you to show off your long sleeve top or jumper, whilst keeping your core as warm as toast!
Quilted Jackets
Along the same lines as puffer jackets, quilted jackets offer a good dose of warmth as well as a hit of style. You get to look chic, whilst feeling like you are wrapped in a quilt!
With these jackets, you’re less likely to find them made with animal down, and more likely to find them in synthetics. Again, polyester lining keeps them warm, light to wear, and easy to wash and dry quickly, which is super helpful when you’re wearing your jacket every single day because it’s so comfortable!
Vegan Leather Coats and Jackets
When you just love the leather look but you don’t want to harm animals, a vegan leather jacket or coat is your solution. Vegan leather (or faux leather) is made using combinations of synthetic materials, usually polyurethane (PU) and polyester. Sometimes viscose components are mixed in, depending on the jacket design.
Many of the vegan leather jackets and coats in Femme Connection’s collection are made with either a PU and polyester mix, but some are straight PU. And the biker jackets combine PU and viscose. This means all these jackets are vegan friendly, and easy to spot clean.
Denim Jackets
Denim is a super hardy fabric, which holds its shape, is easy to wear, and simple to wash. This is partly why denim jackets have been so popular for decades, and ladies who love denim are always looking to add to their denim collection.
It’s common to find denim made with both cotton and a synthetic fibre, which gives it stretch, and stops it from shrinking in the wash. So denim jackets will commonly be made with cotton and a small amount of elastane, or polyester, with the occasional jacket here and there remaining 100% cotton. Sometimes viscose is included, which is a man made fibre derived from plants.
Most of us know, and enjoy, the feeling of denim. It’s light and soft to wear, and has an edgy, street vibe. It’s not the fabric you would choose for the office, but is perfectly in place for casual outings.
Teddy and Faux Fur Jackets
There’s something inherently luxurious about wearing fur. Let’s face it, it’s soft and warm. But real fur involves harming an animal, so many prefer to find alternative ways to enjoy the fur feel.
Faux fur jackets and coats closely resemble real fur, offering a deluxe look and a similar amount of warmth. Most faux fur is made from polyester.
Teddy jackets, along the same lines, give you the softness of a teddy bear, without damaging any real bears (or other animals). They are similar to faux fur, but have shorter ‘hairs’, so to speak. Again, they are usually made using polyester.
Shackets
Shackets combine a shirt and jacket, creating a lightweight and practical outer garment. Great for seasonal transitions, shackets aren’t overly hot to wear, and you can easily add layers beneath them. They may be made from a variety of fabrics, with polyester being a popular and easy-care choice.
Care Instructions for Jackets and Coats
Synthetics (puffer jackets, shackets, suede jackets, faux fur and teddy coats):
With the predominant material in these coats being polyester, there’s no need to dry clean these garments. Just wash in warm water, and either air dry or tumble dry on a low-to-medium temperature.
A synthetic jacket likely doesn’t need to be ironed, however if you do want a pressed look, ensure your iron or steamer is set to low heat, as you don’t want to burn the garment.
Polyurethane (vegan leather jackets and coats): When washing a vegan leather jacket made from PU, be certain to follow the care instructions on the label. Generally, you turn the coat inside out and handwash in cold water with a mild detergent. You can also just spot clean a PU coat, provided the lining hasn’t retained odours (in which case, you would wash it).
Air dry only, and steam on low heat, rather than iron.
Denim: (denim jackets)
When it comes to cleaning denim, it’s recommended you mainly spot clean and avoid unnecessary washes, as this way you’ve a better chance of retaining the garment’s shape and colour.
If you do want to wash a denim jacket, turn it inside out first, and wash in cold water with a minimal amount of gentle detergent.
Line dry the jacket in a shady spot to avoid fading, and avoid using a tumble dryer, as the denim may shrink.
You don’t really need to iron denim, but if you wish to, iron when the jacket is damp, and use a low heat setting.