Two ways I am wearing my ULD hooded coat from Uniqlo to survive winter. Why I wish I’d had a puffer coat sooner!

SURVIVING WINTER IN THE PUFFER COAT
The puffer coat or jacket is one of those cool items that definitely transcend the original purpose of keeping outdoor adventure types warm. Now it is a winter warmer street wear staple and a cool one at that. Personally, I have not only a short hooded jacket but a couple of vests and a coat version as well. This black one is my latest. An essential, cool, winter staple, the Ultra Light Down hooded coat from Uniqlo.
WHAT MAKES IT SUCH A WINTER STAPLE
For a coat that promises warmth, it’s been designed to be slim, without bulk and is light to wear. Handy, if you have no desire to freeze outside but don’t want to have to lug around a heavy coat once you get inside. They also have elastic bands at the wrists and hem to keep in the heat, not bad if you zip it up and are trying to avoid those awful inner-city wind gusts. Plus they have a water-repellent coating to keep out light rain.
Since the Uniqlo ULD coats are uber lightweight and roll up to a tiny parcel (they come with a handy storage bag, reminiscent of a sleeping bag), they are brilliant to travel with. Which is what I am planning on my upcoming winter trip to South Africa. Though I don’t have a daily commute anymore, I wish I’d had something like this back when I did to survive the chill or getting caught out in light rainfall.

OH HOW I WISH I HAD ONE SOONER
There was a time I remember getting caught in the rain on my morning walk to WAAPA (where I studied scenography), arriving like a drowned rat in a soaking wool coat and having to try to explain to a visiting lecturer from Prague (with his broken English) why I wasn’t presentable. He made me jump up on stage and do some exercises in my soaking clothes. This is what you get in a performing arts degree, but some of that humiliation could have been spared with a better coat. Oh Uniqlo, how I wish we had met sooner.
2 WAYS TO WEAR THE ULD HOODED COAT
Obviously, I wanted to share two ways I am wearing the puffer coat at the moment. The first way is classic Jenelle style with ankle boots. I’m not going to be able to keep up with the bare legs for too long (hands up who else is not a fan of tights?!) so until it’s freezing… This mini skirt has been my go-to for a couple of months now. It’s giving my boot collection a new lease on life and pairs back with coats like this one perfectly. Throw on a tee or in this case a cashmere knit and I am good to go.

WEARING: ULD HOODED COAT, CASHMERE CREW NECK JUMPER, WOOL BLENDED MINI SKIRT FROM UNIQLO
While not as chic, this casual, relaxed second outfit is not something I want to take off. Uniqlo do jogger pants so well. Warm and cosy without being sloppy, these pants are cool in all the right ways. Perfect with a basic tee, the ULD coat thrown over and a cashmere scarf if you need a little extra.
WEARING: ULD HOODED COAT, U CREW BASIC TEE, SWEAT PANTS, CASHMERE SCARF FROM UNIQLO
HOW DO YOU WEAR YOURS?
Of course, I could easily have styled this puffer coat with my usual, jeans, but I know you will ultimately end up seeing me in that over on my Instagram soon enough. I’d love to know how you would wear your puffer coat? With a hoody underneath? Or under another coat? Are you able to brave winter with bare legs or somehow find tights comfortable? Hehe let me know below!