Hoot Online: An Update

Hey everyone!

These next few months are going to be some exciting times for Hoot Magazine. Not only are we going to be releasing our first issue, but there will be some dramatic changes to Hoot's online presence as well.

The first of these changes is revamping our blog. We have been hard at work preparing for a migration of our blogging platform from Blogger to WordPress. The migration will happen late this week, so be sure to check this site often to see the new blog! Also, if you subscribe to one of our feeds, don't forget to update those as well once the new blog is launched, as the URLs will have changed.

Secondly, we will be launching our full website at the same time as we release our first issue. The site is promising to be just as great as what our magazine is shaping up to be, so be sure to look at that once it comes out as well.

We're excited for these upcoming changes and hope you are as well!

Hoot Staff

TIBI Fall 2010: Everygirl's Dream Collection

credit: Elle.com

For the Fall 2010 collection, TIBI stayed true to its roots by showing a fun, flirty collection incorporating many different trends, bold colors, and an array of fabrics. These included military jackets, chunky knits, sequins, velvet, leather, maxi dresses, suits, blazers, slacks, jackets, shorts, plaid, floral prints, and more! Such juxtaposition with so many different elements would usually make a collection look cluttered; however, the collection was cohesive and very entertaining. There was a piece for everybody! Personally, I loved the two piece suit paired with a gold sequin corset (shown below).

credit: elle.com

I am usually not one for color, but I loved the color combination of this collection! I may just have to buy some burgundy tights for fall!

VIVIENNE TAM Fall 2010 Collection: When Chinese Tradition meets Space Age Modernism

When you think about Chinese fashion, if all that comes to mind is some conservative cheongsam or black Chinese tunic suit, you will be completely surprised by Vivienne Tam's Fall 2010 runway show. Inspired by the Chinese Zodiac, Vivienne featured twelve animals in the collection, especially the Tiger. How appropriate, as the day Vivienne's show was presented, Feb 14th, marked the start of the Year of the Tiger.

Credit: flypaper.bluefly.com

This show was a grand color banquet. Vivienne, as we know, has always been a genius in coordinating colors, but this time her talent of mixing colors is way beyond description. Blood red, white, black, gold, gray, green and champagne color were spread on shining fabric, including silk, sequin, satin, gazar and many others, which gives each piece a fresh and stunning look. Among all the pieces, one of my favorite was the RABBIT origami dress with a red silk gazar V-neck and dolman sleeve. A bloody red color and pleated design highlighted the beautiful curves of the model and gave her a dazzling yet feminine look. Furthermore, the simple makeup with bold red lips and sleek ponytail also helped emphasizing the gorgeous fabric and vivid color.

Credit: Zi Lin BC '13

Credit: Zi Lin BC '13

The shining feature of all the fabric, while adding an extra lustrous element to the piece, thoroughly changed the stereotypical Chinese look. Just imagine a girl from the Tang Dynasty wearing a Cheongsam designed in Zenon-girl fashion: very classy, yet perfectly trendy. It's a great moment when when Chinese Tradition meets space age modernism--so fabulous.

Boy Meets Girl. Girl meets Alexander Berardi!

Alexander Berardi Spring/Summer 2010

A bit of a combo platter- punk rock meets lunch break! Chic for any occasion!

The Altman building was stuffed with eager fashionistas ready to feast there eyes upon another scrumptiously glamazonian collection filled with well-tailored paints and flirty dresses at the runway presentation of Alexander Berardi's Fall 2010 collection. Let me tell you: Berardi certainly did not disappoint. The collection was full of practical, yet impeccably tailored separates that would round out any working girl's closet.

The cheeky styling of the collection made every look versatile-- it was the ultimate day to night wardrobe with skinny velvet pants (which I die for!) that would prove to be just as suitable for a night in the meatpacking as a day at the office. Drenched in menswear influence, Berardi really played with fabric and textures to create his own unique take on boy-meets-girl.

The show was appropriately sprinkled with the flouncy and flirtatious dresses we all know, love, and have come to expect from the designer. If you took Agyness Deyn, swirled her up Rachel McAdams, sprinkled some corporate lawyer, and added a dash of Anna Wintour I think you'd come up with the girl Berardi was designing for. Basically... Wuperwoman. We'd where his clothes as our disguise any day!

What was most impressive for me was Berardi's ability to craft so beautifully for fall such a difficult fabric: velvet. Velvet is proving to be the fabric of choice for Fashion's fresh faces including Mr. Berardi, Alexander Wang, Erin Fetherston, and Erin Wasson from RVCA.

Though the collection was dominated by black and white staples, Beradi closed the show with a warm toned palette of reds and oranges which provided a perfect splash that will make every girl this fall wish for spring!

Duckie Brown - Men on a Mission

For my first time at Fashion Week, I thought everything went very smoothly. Originally, I was assigned a spot in the standing room, which is the space located behind all the seated guests. The show was scheduled for 1pm, but by 12:55pm the room had barely filled. I guess it is expected for a fashion show to commence fashionably late. In the end, it turned out that there were some extra seats, one of which I managed to snatch for myself. The lights suddenly went down and what sounded like a commando's voice began counting over the sound system.

The music track set the military atmosphere for the show. When the "James Bond" theme started playing, the room went bright and the first model marched out. The first couple outfits featured juxtaposed plaids. One of the outfits consisted of a red plaid coat over a black tartan shirt, both of which topped bluish tartan trousers. All I can say is that it was very hard not to notice how mis-matching it all was. Nevertheless, the overlaying plaids were in tune with the quirkiness of the rest of the show.

More interesting was the designers' use of tweed. A couple models wore both tweed jackets and trousers, which gave off the effect of a tweed jumpsuit. The military theme was also emphasized by the black leather boots a majority of the models wore and the black hats in the shape of soldier caps.

Credit: Martin Hamery

My favorite article was this lime-colored short trench. A traditional cut of clothing with a modern chemical-like color, the trench struck me as sour and practically created a taste of citrus in my mouth. That's how delicious it was. A little detail I enjoyed on the same model was the safety pin earring in his left ear. The only other bright color that kept reoccurring was red: red vests, red pants, red sweaters and a very sharp red bomber jacket. I believe these bursts of color saved the collection from being just another dark, black and grey winter ensemble.

Overall, the collection was original for its mix of inspirations. Although the shapes were military, the colors were eccentric and the plaids almost British punk. I also much appreciated the different attitudes models took at the end of the catwalk. The ones with caps remained very stern, their eyes frowning out from under their visor's shadow. The models with more peculiar attires confronted the photographers with a more boyish air; some of them even saluted the crowd by nodding their heads.

Fortunately, the Duckie Brown collection was not the kind where an outfit is simply a variation in cut or color of the one that had come just before. Its attractiveness lay in its succession and superposition of such contrasting pieces of clothing. Each outfit was a look of its own, a fact which kept me anticipating what would come next.

Where's the "FEROCH"?: Christian Siriano, Fall 2010

It was hard not to be smitten with Mr. Siriano the first moment that he, and his fabulous hair, sauntered his way into Project Runway, Season 4. During Fashion Night Out in Fall 2009, I waited in line for my chance to see who I had been told was going to be Christian Siriano. 45 minutes later, to my total dismay, I learned it had been a hoax; a different Christian S-something would be making an appearance that evening. Finally, however, I got to see the real-deal Siriano from the white folding chairs on the sideline of his Bryant Park runway show.

As can be expected of Mr. Siriano, his fabric choice was impeccable, displaying soft, silky satins in rich saturated hues in combination with flowing, yet structured organza, and innovative metallic wool (with the exception of the dowdy wool that tainted his first outfits of the show). But while the divo trademarked to catchy adjective “fierce,” his Fall 2010 collection lacked the wildness that the word is generally connotative of. If fierce is a cheetah, Siriano’s newest collection is an ocelot--just tame enough to be domesticated. His line was grounded with feminine ruffles and looping gathers that were carried between separates, cocktail dresses, and the voluminous evening gowns that closed his show.

Looks from RTW Fall 2010
credit: Aisling Hunt, BC '13

The superb tailoring and graceful femininity of Siriano’s collection should not be over looked, however. Overall, the Project Runway winner had a couple of noteworthy pieces, but he certainly played it very safe; "wow"-factor of his past creations was nonexistent. Hopefully the daring divo will release his wild side once again for the Spring 2011. But don’t worry, Christian, you’re the still fiercest biatch on the runway.

P.S. - Don't forget to check out Christian Siriano for Payless to pick up affordable, yet fabulous versions of your favorite runway shoes!

Bubble-Gum Tough Girls: Alexa Chung for MadeWell

"I feel like I should be in the 1940’s, driving, on my way to the beach, with the top down," said fellow Hootette, Gabriella, about the new Alexa Chung for Madewell Collection. And I could not have put it in better words myself.

cheese

Needless to say, I was enamored by Chung’s sultry-sweet line for the denim company. The cozy suite at the Bowrey Hotel was transformed for the evening into an inviting departure to a more innocent decade in American fashion. The collection embodied a perfect balance between conservatism and sex appeal. The models were clad in daring hemlines but bore no outrageous cleavage or exposed skin elsewhere. The sugary-sweet velvet baby-doll dresses and overalls (along with soundtrack of The Angels “My Boyfriends Back” playing in the background) evoked a guilty Lolita sensuality that not even Nabokov himself could achieve. Finally, pops of bright red accessories amongst the muted pallet were the cherry on top of Chung’s fall collection.

credit: Aisling Hunt, BC '13

Just like her clothing, Alexa Chung was quite a sweetheart. It had been rumored that Chung was not going to be in attendance at her own party, but within 15 minutes of it’s start Alexa came out, clad in her Madewell line, to enjoy the night with her guests. After a night of fancy with Alexa Chung, you can bet I will be first in line to get my hands on the line when it debuts in stores this fall.

Farah Angsana Fall 2010: Sequins and Furs, Oh My

About a quarter of the way through the Farah Angsana Fall 2010 show, my eyes were tired. I kid you not, there were so many sequins and sparkles on the runway that I had to blink a few times just to moisten my eyes. But then the inevitable happened: a deep plum gown appeared, and it was entirely devoid of sparkles. Accessorized simply with a slim black belt and a fabulous pink and tan fur muff, this was by far my favorite look of the show.

Credit: Anna Cooperberg Gonzalez CC'12

In their defense though, the sequins and sparkles were done very nicely, and I can imagine more than one of those creations floating effortlessly down the red carpet. Besides a bevy of structured separates in a raw satin, long evening dresses took center stage in shades of mustard, bright red, popping magenta, glittering navy, and forest green. Angsana brought life to the modern-day colored column dress by adding light chiffon capes that flowed outward from the dress, catching the wind and fluttering beautifully as the model sauntered.

Credit: Anna Cooperberg Gonzalez CC'12

Massively pouffy fox furs added the perfect glamor quotient to the sparkly dresses, giving a textural juxtaposition between the silky fabrics, the reflection of the sequins, and the rather pointy fox-tail ends. To those who argue that Angsana's ready-to-wear creations look like little more than a glorified prom or pageant dress, I do not disagree, but merely point out that they are at least glorified and expertly made unlike their department-store imitators.

Mourning McQueen: The Loss of a Genius

RTW Fall 2006, Fall 2009, Spring 2010

credit: style.com

Today the fashion world and people of the streets alike, mourn the astonishing loss of the paramount designer, Alexander McQueen. Known for his brilliant works of wearable art, McQueen set the bar for ready to wear and Haute Couture presentations internationally. McQueen first onto the fashion scene as the head designer of Givenchy until 2001 when he began to create looks under his own name.

McQueen never played it safe. Staying true to his own aesthetic, McQueen sent revolutionary artistic masterpieces down the runway each season from his debut, to his final show. He dazzled his audiences with embryonic flower suits, topped with stocking caps that turned what could have been a Jar-Jar Binks disaster, into a sleek and mysterious statement (Spring 2001). He stayed loyal to his London roots- always promising a show filled with outrageous volume, ornate headpieces, perfect layering, and fantastic colors. His Fall 2006 line pays homage to his homeland in smart tweeds paired with Elizabethan colors and opulent brocade that would have put the monarchy to shame.

Alexander McQueen was a true artist and designer, whose pieces can seamlessly transition from a museum display to the body. His designs required full-bodied confidence to dawn, but they also inspired every fashionista, closet couturist, and frazzled soccer mom to break out of her shell, to try something unexpected.

Alexander McQueen was, and most certainly still is, my Idol. He was my breath of fresh air in the fashion world’s unfortunate drift toward creative homogeneity. An artist and designer myself, his attention to detail and construction never ceased to amaze me. I got lost in each piece, my line of sight focused only on the seemingly infinite number of hand sewn tucks and pleats, the mysterious darting that structured the perfect fit, the architecture of each jacket, dress, ornament, as everything else faded away. I look to McQueen each time I thrown on a sequined vest or a daring cut and look in the mirror with doubt, but I am able walk out the door knowing that he may send me his blessings.

Although you may be gone from this world, you will never been forgotten by the fashion industry, your loyal fans, those whose lives you made brighter, or by me, who will idolize you for the rest of my life.

Thank you, Lee, for sharing your light, your art, and your life with us. For such, we will be forever grateful. Rest in Peace Alexander Lee McQueen, and my deepest condolences to his family. May only the best wishes find you on this day.

It's That Time of Year Again...Barneys Bonanza!

Credit: Nymag.com

Winter blues got you down? Maybe this will cheer you up: Thursday, Februrary 11th the Barneys Warehouse Sale begins and runs until February 28th.

For those of you who have never participated in this New York tradition, the Barneys Warehouse Sale is celebrated by fashion-conscious New Yorkers biannually in August and February. Barneys rents out a huge warehouse (at 255th west 17th st) and fills it with a jaw-dropping selection of beautiful clothes - all marked down! Each day the prices fall lower, but at the same time the selection becomes more paltry. The warehouse becomes a mad house as frenzied shoppers throw Manolo shoes and Marc Jacobs' clothes into their giant plastic garbage bags by the dozen, trying to beat the competition (and don't forget: it IS a competition). To get the true experience wait in line in the morning before it opens to be one of the lucky first people inside.

Note: There are no dressing rooms, only a few mirrors scattered about, so think about wearing leggings and maybe a camisole underneath your clothes to avoid voyeurs!

Open Casting Call for Models

We look forward to seeing you there! Click here to RSVP for the Facebook Event.

Classic & Quirky: Men's Fall 2010 Bags

At the men's Fall 2010 shows in Milan and Paris, it's safe to say that handbags were not the biggest concern of the designers. It's true, man-bags do exist in Europe but those strange little layered pocketbooks didn't show up on the runways; rather, the designers focused on a larger travel bag or briefcase for the fall.

Credit: GQ.com

Bottega Veneta's large croc briefcases provided the perfect backdrop to the casually cuffed jeans, ravishing double-breasted blazers, and cocky fedoras. The rigidity counteracted the texture in the outfits, whereas Hermès used the softness of their suede briefcases to balance the sharpness of their outfits, which would look quite at home worn by the famously chic Gossip Girl bad boy Chuck Bass. The suits were cut slimly, and the high level of craftsmanship was evident in both the rolling of the leather briefcase handles and the impeccable coat seams.

Credit: GQ.com

As for travel cases, Gucci was rather conventional, with a large square shape that resembled the Hermes HAC; a little too similar, I'd say. But the logo on the tote, far from an outlandish splashing of "G"s, was a subtle checkered shape that recalled prints from the early days of the Italian luxury house. Over in Paris, Louis Vuitton maximized their leather talents with a bevy of interestingly shaped cases to be worn on the shoulder. The bags lacked the quintessential LV logos, which was understated in the best, most refreshing sort of way, allowing the cut, shape, and leather of the cases revel in attention rather than relying on those two letters.

Credit: GQ.com

And then there was Prada. I'm sure you've seen a beautifully dressed man at some point who, pulling his hands out of his pockets, reveals them to be clad in the wildest print gloves imaginable. Mrs. Prada was certainly designing this collection for that very man, and showcased brilliant basics alongside utilitarian bags rendered slightly madcap with their psychedelic-in-a-computer-generated-sort-of-way patterns. Most fashionistas have one or more crazy bags stashed in their closets; fashionistos, please take note, and mix up your classics with a touch of spontaneous color and texture.

So is blood the new black?

credit: coutorture.com

Jean Paul Gaultier seems to think so. Exhibitionist? Sadist? Genius? Any three could describe fashion's biggest rebel. In his fall 2010 menswear collection Gaultier took sportswear to the extreme, even going as far as to send battered and bloodied male models in full couture boxing uniform (complete with gloves and knee-high lace ups) down the runway. Menswear isn't necessarily the safest environment to take styling risks, but Gaultier really seemed to out do himself with this one. The titan of 80's couture, who is known for the cone-shaped bra that defined a generation, and made Madonna famous is know stranger to outlandish design in women's wear, but he really came out of the comfort zone to showcase this... interesting... men's collection.

credit:style.com

Part of me thinks, "Wearing couture to the gym? Where do I sign up" but the vast majority is just slightly disturbed and laregly terrified. Courageous? Artistic? Or just over the top? I mean, trust me, I live for avant-garde-- but seriously, fake blood and gaping wounds? How much is too much? What do you think?

credit: nymag.com

Above: The designer takes his bow and bleeds profusely.

Looking for a Beauty Lifesaver?

Credit: OrchidAesthetics.com

In need of a new haircut or eyebrow wax but running low on cash? Or maybe you want to splurge on a facial treatment or massage for a special occasion. If you haven't checked out Lifebooker.com yet, you are missing out! This website is New York's premier beauty service deal finder. It's completely free to sign up, and then you are privy to an awe-inspiring range of discounts and special offers for top spas and salons in the area. The site even provides user reviews of the service providers. Each month Lifebooker.com offers new and different offers to their customers, and there is a point-based system so the more appointments you book the more money you save!

Recent offers this month include laser hair removes packages offered at $99 instead of $300, and 50% off for haircuts and colorings - from top of the line (think $375 marked down to $150 for a "Bling Bling Blonde" service at David at Gina-Le Salon), to more moderate price with markdowns reaching as low as $28 for a haircut. My personal mid-range favorite is the James Bentley Salon, which I discovered through Lifebooker.com.

So girls and boys (there are men's services too) -- pamper yourselves! Now that you know about Lifebooker.com, you can explore the whole range of top beauty services New York has to offer.

UNIQLO: The New Gap + American Apparel?

When shopping for basics, we invariably have our own go-to stores that always provide the bits and pieces we're looking for, and now in the dead of winter many of you might be looking for some simple and affordable basics to layer up with in the freezing weather. A good store for basics needs to have a wide selection of easy-to-layer, lightweight clothes, in a variety of colors. Basics, like a typical white tank top or a black cardigan, are important because they can make or break an outfit: What if you have a really crazy patterned skirt but nothing simple to tone it down with? Or a dress that plunges uncomfortably low, but nothing to layer under it? At the same time, basics aren't meant to stand out, but to integrate with your wardrobe, so they shouldn't be too expensive - you want to save your money for the exciting stuff, and basics are used a lot so they wear out quickly!

Over the past years, my stand-bys have been along the lines of Gap, Banana Republic, BDG of Urban Outfitters,and American Apparel - but recently I discovered the versatility of Japanese-based UNIQLO. It took me a bit to catch on to the utility of UNIQLO. When I first visited the intimidating two-level store in SoHo last year, I wasn't impressed by the prices or the cuts of the clothes - it just seemed like a boring version of American Apparel with all its colorful stacks. But this year its seems that they've added a lot more variety and the prices have gone down considerably, not to mention they have frequent sales. Pants, jackets, lamb-wool and cashmere blend cardigans, scarves, pajamas - you name it! All in an unending spectrum of brilliant colors and warm-weather materials. A wonderful way to brighten up a winter closet! They have great choices for inner wear meant as padding under your coat, such as fleece jackets in every color for $20 or cashmere blend sweaters for $40. I've found that UNIQLO is relatively easy on your wallet without skimping on materials or wearability.

Credit: UNIQLO.com

My favorite innovation of UNIQLO is their new HeatTech line. This includes lightweight shirts and leggings that are made of a special fiber designed to use natural body moisture to insulate against the cold, just the way wool would. Now that the weather is bad, I throw one on every day no matter what I'm wearing. Unlike typical long underwear designs, HeatTech is wearable, including simple but flattering scoop-neck shirts and turtlenecks. Definitely sure to cure those winter blues this season!

Below are examples of HeatTech pieces incorporated into outfits:

Credit: UNIQLO.com

Have you ever shopped there?

From Dainty To Daring

Credit: 3.bp.blogspot.com

As I was sorting through the stacks of papers that have accumulated on my desk over winter break, I came across a NY Times Style Section article that caught my eye. The author’s main point was that “the damsel is in distress," not in the fairy-tale way, but how women are styling themselves today. It points to the fact that recently women are stepping out in tougher looks that rely more on studs, leather, and menswear silhouettes than the frills and florals of years past.

Credit: www.toungechic.com

What struck me about this was not the observation itself, but how much it resonates with my own fashion decisions lately. Although I’ve always been a self-proclaimed 'girly girl' with a steadfast loyalty to pink, I too find myself gravitating towards edgier pieces and have realized that incorporating a little more daring into every day looks can really change things up.

There’s something bold and yet still sexy about the way that these pieces can help to reinvent images, or simply bring out a side that you haven’t known how to express before. This trend is great because you don’t have to go all out rocker-chic but can achieve the same look with my favorite fashion items of all: accessories! A simple studded leather belt or cuff, and even a classic shoe, boot, or bag with extra hardware can instantly transform your favorite outfit into your favorite outfit plus some extra special pizazz.

Women of 2010 are complex: feminine and strong, beautiful and brave, and most of all unique, so go for it girls! Accessorize yourselves and don’t be afraid to show off some of that inner toughness! It’s ok to have multi-faceted style, after all it’s the sum of your qualities that makes your personality, so why shouldn’t your look express it?

$tyle Radar

Credit: fashion-train

Ke$ha (pronounced Kesh-a) is an American recording artist who has skyrocketed to fame with her highly infectious party jam TiK ToK. Although her crazy lyrics and stellar swag have made her a hot topic all around, her brazen fashion sense, which she describes as "garbage chic", has caused quite the stir. This artist takes effortless fashion to a new level, using lace tights as pants and combining shirts from German dumpsters with bold fur jackets and ankle boots. Her messy hair gives the impression that it hasn't been washed in days and yet flows perfectly onto her often glitter splattered face. Although some may compare her style to that of the oh-so-famous grunge style coined by the Olsen twins, there is something about the way she puts pieces together that brings an element of pure rock-and-roll personality to the table.

Perhaps the most compelling thing about her rambunctiousness is that it is not your typical "I have money and I'm going to show it" type of fashion but something that is young, hip, and most importantly cheap! Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend you go to your next lecture dressed as the sassy blonde, I would advise you to look to her for possible inspiration for bold tips on how to spice up your wardrobe.

Come to New York Fashion Week!

As a style blogger myself, I've always dreamed of a convention or conference of fashion bloggers, conglomerating together to share ideas and change the fashion industry and social media as we know it.

Well, Chictopia beat me to the race. If you didn't know, Chictopia is an extremely popular fashion-oriented social networking community in which anyone can upload photos, blog, and share fashion ideas and tips. During New York Fashion Week this February, the company is hosting the Chictopia10 Social Influence Summit. According to the website's description:

Chictopia10 Social Influence Summit is where global online taste makers meet executives from premium brands. This half day conference and cocktail party will be feature CEO presentations and high level discussions on what forces are most influential in online brand image. Ten independent designers will also showcase exclusive products from their upcoming lines.

Speakers include Susanna Lau of Style Bubble and Naomi Nevitt, a former online editor of Teen Vogue who also graduated from our own Barnard College!

Unfortunately, the event isn't free -- but you get a discount if you're a member of Chictopia and an additional 50% discount if you enter the code EarlyChic. Information on the event can be found here and tickets can be bought here. You can even apply for a lodging scholarship here, if you're not lucky enough to live in New York City!

Hope to see you there, future fashion bloggers!

And yes, there is an afterparty.

The Return of the Puffer

Having spent the last eleven years of my life within the frigid confines of Toronto and Chicago, I am no stranger to enduring subzero temperatures, waking up to 3 feet of fluffy snow, and stuffing my petite self into puffy winter coats, all the while cringing at how ridiculous I looked.

Proof:

The heinous one-piece snowsuits of Sharon's childhood: age 6 posing at a museum in Copenhagen and age 7 in Toronto after the biggest snowfall in 100 years. Not sure whether they're different snowsuits in the same primary color blocks or if it was reversible...

I abhorred the down jackets of my childhood so as soon as I was old enough to override my parents' protests of functionality over vanity, I embraced the much less warm but much more flattering world of pea coats and trenches. Then as the years grew on, when I began to drive in the winter (with the car heater cranked on full blast of course), the need for thick outerwear in general diminished as life became connected by the continuous warmth from car to building and building to car.

However, I now find myself a college student in New York City scurrying across Columbia's campus without the luxury of heated cars, and for the first time in years, I shivered under my wool coat and realized something: It's really cold outside. My friends hailing from the West Coast and equatorial destinations overseas failed to understand my lack of preparation for winter. The Californians' collection of outerwear easily outdid mine. I am Canadian - what happened to knowing how to live in igloos?

Thus, this winter break, I was determined to hunt down the very item that I had avoided for so long - and was pleasantly surprised. The puffer has evolved a long way from those lumpy childhood contraptions and those shapeless ankle-length coats with fur-trimmed hoods my mother was so fond of in the 90s. Remember those bomber jackets that were the "It" items of middle school? The kind featured in the Sean Paul video for "Temperature" where the booty-shaking girls wore them with teeny shorts? Yea, I was hoping to avoid those too.

Puffers are now more fitted and proportional, designed to add bulk only in the right places thus remaining sophisticated and polished. On top of all that, they're surpassingly warm and cozy.

Structural elements such as large shawl collars use the inherent volume of these jackets to their advantage creating a new focal point for the eye:

Top: Elie Tahari "Lisa" Tie Collar Satin Puffer Coat, Mackage "Harlow" Knit Pillow Coat, Bottom: Rainforest Short Down Cinched Jacket, Via Spiga "Serena" Pillow Coat. Photo credit: Bloomingdales.comLonger coats are no longer overwhelming and figure-engulfing with fitted waistlines, belts, and slimming silhouettes:

Top: Laundy by Shelli Segal Satin Down Jacket, Cole Haan Down Jacket (Packs into a pillow!)Bottom: Betsey Johnson Double Breasted Down Coat With Faux Fur, Marc by Marc Jacobs Long Nylon Puffa JacketPhoto Credit: First three from Bloomingdales.com, Marc Jacket from Net-a-porter.comAnd shorter jackets for the sporty and edgy are both bright and bold. A long puffer in yellow or shiny black fabric might give you the appearance of a life-sized banana or garbage bag, but in just the right dosage, colorful and shiny materials add a noticeable punch without being overpowering.

Top: Rossignol "Swan" Hooded Ski Jacket, DKNY Quilted Bomber with Faux Fur TrimBottom: Burberry Sport Extra Light Down Jacket, IRO Zaken JacketPhoto Credit: First three from Bloomingdales.com, IRO jacket from Shopbop.comPuffers are no longer scary. I myself have embraced the cozy cocoon of down coats and have bought myself a fitted black knee-length number which I have lived in all break. Yesterday, sitting in the familiar warm comfort of the boyfriend's car with my toes stuck stubbornly in their usual position by the foot heater, I snuggled into the embrace of my puffer and forgot the wintery landscape beyond the windshield. He, turning his gaze from the steering wheel to my languid and contented form slumped on the passenger seat, reached into my fleece lined pocket for my hand which was nestled happily inside and exclaimed, "Wow, that is really warm".