Down coats and jackets are useful for going out in winter and are light and warm. Down outerwear that is short or made with matte fabrics goes well with a long skirt or dress, creating a trendy, elegant look.
"Down is lighter than wool and highly protective against the cold," said stylist Tomomi Ishikawa. "Generally, it has a casual image, but depending on what clothes you wear it with, it can be an elegant look that is suitable for mature women."
This year, a lot of down outerwear stops at the hip. "Short down outerwear goes well with a long skirt or dress," said Ishikawa.
For a black hip-length down jacket with a drop-shoulder silhouette, Ishikawa coordinated a purple turtleneck sweater, a long, tight light-pink skirt and a pair of black boots. A gray faux-fur bag completed the winter look.
Cut-and-sew items and a brightly colored bag can be good accents for outfits with a black down jacket.
"A drop-shoulder down jacket has a strong presence. Pairing it with a long tight skirt makes the outfit look neat and you can fashionably dress it down," Ishikawa said.
Down outerwear is sewn after stuffing down between fabrics. Although "down [outerwear] has been thought to make people look bigger," according to Ishikawa, the past few years have seen outerwear with fewer stitches, or without stitches at all.
One beige down coat has fewer stitches than conventional ones and doesn't look puffy. It goes well with such fashion items as a black floral dress. The hem of the skirt moves when walking, adding an impression of lightness to the outfit. The down coat also is a good match with a blue, gray or brown pleated skirt.
Matte fabrics recommended
The shine of the fabric is another important factor when choosing down outerwear.
"Shiny fabrics such as nylon have a casual image. So I recommend choosing less shiny matte fabrics," Ishikawa said.
Matte polyester down coats featuring checkered patterns have been hitting shelves recently. Coats like this in black, beige or gray are easy to mix and match with other items.
Many down outerwear lines, affordable and smart, are available at shops this winter, according to Ishikawa. "I hope people will try them for dressing up and when commuting," she said.
Handy for layering
Thin down clothes containing less down than usual have been getting attention recently. They can be used as outerwear or worn underneath a coat. Having one in your closet is handy, as it can be worn from autumn through spring. This kind of item comes in various colors, silhouettes and lengths.
"It's light and easy to carry. You don't have to care about the lengths of your jacket, coat or other outerwear if you choose a short one," Ishikawa said.
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