How to choose a men's winter jacket

Winter in Yerevan changes by the hour: a cold, windy morning, a sunny afternoon and a frosty evening. So rather than hunting for the one "warmest" jacket, it pays to choose the right type, material and size — one that works in town and on the road. Here's how.

Which type you need

• Puffer jacket — the warmest option and still light. The quilting keeps the filling evenly spread through the whole jacket. Good for cold days and trips out of town. U.S. Polo Assn. has puffers with a hood and with a stand collar.
• Bomber — a short jacket with ribbed cuffs and hem that keep cold air out. A city jacket that, with a sweater underneath, does well on milder winter days. For example, the bomber with leather-look sleeves or the wool-blend bomber.
• Overshirt — a lighter layer for autumn and mild days, worn over a T-shirt or a thin sweater. The U.S. Polo Assn. wool-blend overshirt has chest pockets and buttons.
• A smart jacket for the office — if you wear your jacket over a shirt and a blazer or sweater, go for more classic shapes. Pierre Cardin has a navy quilted jacket with a contrast collar and a leather-look jacket with a warm collar.
• Puffer vest — an extra layer that keeps your body warm and your arms free. Wear it over a sweater or under a jacket, like the sand-coloured Pierre Cardin vest.

Material

The composition is always on the product page. Here's what it means in practice:

• Polyamide and polyester are light, dry quickly and are easy to look after. Most puffer jackets are made of them.
• Wool blends feel warmer and give a jacket a smarter look, while the polyester helps it keep its shape. A good choice for town and the office.
• A little elastane adds stretch, so the jacket doesn't pull across the shoulders when you reach up or drive.

Size and fit

Try the jacket on over the sweater or blazer you'll wear it with. Then check:

• shoulders — the shoulder seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder, not further in or out,
• sleeves — stretch your arms forward: the sleeve shouldn't ride above the wrist, and your shirt cuff should stay covered,
• room to move — cross your arms: the jacket shouldn't pull across the back or strain at the buttons or zip,
• length — it should cover your belt and not expose your back when you sit down or raise your arms.

Jacket sizes are European, from 48 to 58 and up to 62 on some styles. If you're between two sizes and will wear the jacket over a thick sweater, take the larger one.

Colour

Navy, black, grey and brown are the easiest to match — they look right with jeans and with tailored trousers alike. If you already own a dark jacket, make the second one lighter, such as sand or brown.

Quick checklist

• The type suits where and how you'll wear it
• The composition suits the weather and what you expect from it
• You tried it on over the sweater or blazer you'll wear it with
• The sleeve stays at the wrist when you stretch your arms forward
• It covers your belt and doesn't expose your back when you sit

Browse U.S. Polo Assn. men's jackets and Pierre Cardin jackets and vests in our online shop or try them on in store. U.S. Polo Assn. is in Yerevan Mall, Rio Mall, MegaMall Armenia and Dalma Garden Mall; Pierre Cardin is in Yerevan Mall, MegaMall Armenia and Rio Mall (daily, 10:00–22:00). We deliver anywhere in Armenia for 1,500 ֏, and within 2 hours in Yerevan. If the size isn't right, you can exchange or return the item within 14 days in one of our Yerevan stores, unworn and with its tags.