The Minimalist’s Guide to Bundling Up This Winter

By definition, a true minimalist doesn’t want their day-to-day wardrobe to be overly complicated. Instead of embracing bold, multilayered ensembles, they, of course, tend to gravitate toward something a bit more streamlined and effortless—but that doesn’t mean they want to sacrifice style, nor should they. So when it comes to choosing outerwear that is both fashionable and functional, a minimalist may opt for a designer investment piece or a more affordable option that is as chic as it is practical to wear while trudging through the snow.

Enter brands like Totême, The Row, and Raey that have always championed sleek outerwear like blanket-like wrap coats in heavy wools and have perfected the down puffer in a silhouette that understands the minimalist aesthetic. Raey’s mushroom-colored coat is a fine example with its wide collar and cool back-only detailed belt. Plus, a handful of coats like this one are offered in an oversized silhouette, which makes wearing chunky turtleneck knits (another minimalist must-have) underneath rather effortless. Even brands that aren’t considered minimalist have made sleek, easy coats that are hard to resist: See Ganni’s textured wool wrap version and Altuzarra’s fluffy white button-front coat. Meanwhile, coats from Tove and H&M include styles with a built-in scarf—a clever trick so that no additional accessorizing is required for wintertime cocooning.

If you’re in the mood to throw on something beautiful, effortless, and insanely warm all at once, here are 13 understated yet stylish coats to satisfy your inner minimalist.