There's no faster way to make a fashion statement than with a colorful topper

Us New Yorkers certainly live in a sea of black during the colder months, and sometimes even in the warmer months as well. Of course it always looks pulled together, sophisticated, and best of all, slimming but also creates a sense of anonymity when it comes to personal style. I’m a huge fan of black and white, or black and white with a pop of red to add some variance, however, when the weather turns cold, there’s no faster way to make a fashion statement than with a colorful topper. As our bodies are our vehicles in this sprawling metropolis, layers and an ultra warm yet lightweight coat are a must.

You can’t always anticipate a coat check option every where you go, so being able to fling your coat over the strap of your bag without making your arm feel like it’s ripping out of the socket is a valuable feature. I’m also always adorned with a lot of accessories, so I’m already weighted down a bit by that, along with a ton of reading literature, a water bottle, beauty products, and iPhone chargers tucked neatly inside my (usually) massive bag. I’ve been wearing Columbia coats since high school with very little interruption in between, and for good reason: they are exceptionally warm, innovative, and stylish. I’m especially loving the new Turbodown jacket, which looks just as good in an urban setting (in this case, Park Avenue) as it does on the slopes, or rather, more my style, après–ski!