Floral Down Coats: pretty-ing up a classic winter style

Coats are my thing. I have four different leopard print coats alone (one rain jacket, one topper, one cropped and one full length double breasted number) and a special closet (in closet-challenged NYC) just to hold them.

And a delightful subset of the coat is the down jacket, recently made popular and dare I say fashionable by the persistent PR of Canada Goose. I don't mind that genre of functional down coat, especially during a New York winter, but it should come as no surprise that I prefer my down with some extra flava.

For years I wore a big Carolina blue puffer that my dad gave to my mom in the 70s. I finally had to retire it when I left a trail of feathers wherever I went. I loved its retro vibe and I loved the color. It was also hip length and easy to throw on without feeling like I was wearing a sleeping bag.

Lately I've been sporting the requisite 3/4 length puffer that graces most every woman in NYC come winter time. Except I melted a hole in mine attending a yoga class at my friend/client's studio. I arrived late, stuffed my coat in a corner and jumped onto the mat. About halfway through class (after the uplights had been on a while), Lauren said, "what's that burning smell?" And it wasn't her gorgeous candles... it was my coat!

I still wear the coat as only the pocket got burned, but this season, I think it's finally time to move on from that particular puffy down. 

Enter the fashion forward down jacket. While I've rarely met a print I didn't like, anyone in the fashion biz knows that prints, especially on investment pieces like coats, don't sell that well. 

So for all of you out there who, like me, are sick of the sea of black coats in winter time, I've rounded up some fun and funky down coats to keep you warm and to keep boredom at bay.

This Alice and Olivia jacket is snazzy enough for holiday parties. And it's on mad sale. 

Joules is a British brand that also makes great wellies that aren't super costoso. Their jackets are synthetic (not down) which is great for the vegans among us. They also have printed insulated vests. 

No good down coat roundup would be complete without a Moncler. This one is lovely. You can count on high quality fill, super nice fabric and sturdy zippers along with a four figure price tag. 

Ok, so technically this isn't a print, but the quilting makes such a nice pattern that I had to include it. This Kate Spade coat is another one that can go out to parties. 

This one might just be my favorite. I'm a total sucker for Etro everything. I just love their paisleys and color combos. 

This one is funky cool from Pucci with winter-appropriate illustration and a bomber jacket shape.

Land's End has been under serious fire lately and their Italian luxury CEO just departed. But not before giving us this. I really like this coat and at 40% off today you get the look of the Moncler at a fraction of the price. Land's End also has a ton of other printed down jackets, coats and vests. 

Here's another jacket that is reasonably priced and very avant in its style, I think. Because it's the North Face, you know the quality is great. 

So, there you have it folks, a few print parkas for everyone! Which one is your fave?