These Under-$50 Coats Are Seriously Good Value

My boyfriend and I really only have one point of contention, and it’s very much centered around the thermostat. Jake runs H-O-T, and while this means I’m often forced to wear a sweatshirt inside our apartment (during summer), I think the worst part is knowing that this continual desire to be 10 degrees cooler means he never gets to enjoy the glorious experience of being cozy.

For me (and all sane persons), fall is the season of peak wardrobe-related comfort. Jake may never the know the joy we get upon entering a Uniqlo, that rainbow Eden of pure snugness, and how it's second only to the joy of pulling your duvet off the bed to watch movies on the couch. While I’m rolling about destroying perfect piles of ultra-soft fleece and cashmere and merino, Jake is flinching at my suggestion of winter-weight sheets and searching the racks for his favorite breathable trousers. It makes me sad for him.

Desperate for the company of some like-minded humans, I implored three of my fellow editors to share their current favorite “cozy is king” fall outfits starring their new-season purchases/things they're buying after payday + under-$40 fleece styles care of our mates at Uniqlo. The brief: All outfits must feel like they’re giving you a big hug.

What’s the coziest thing you can think of?

Wrapped up like a burrito in the largest blanket I could possibly find while the heater is on high and the windows are open.

Fall fashion is the best fashion: TRUE OR FALSE?

Going to scream it from the top of a mountain: TRUE!!!!!

Your cozy-chic fall look:

What’s your trick to staying chic but secretly cozy when it’s cold out?

Layering tissue-weight turtlenecks under everything. My homage to Phoebe Philo.

In your dreamiest fantasy, where are you wearing this chic-yet-cozy look?

Walking into Café de Flore to have a French onion soup after spending my entire morning shopping.

What’s the coziest thing you can think of?

At home on my couch with the windows open, binge-watching Sex and the City, snuggled under a fresh-out-of-the-dryer blanket with a coffee in one hand while stroking my dog Rocket with the other. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Fall fashion is the best fashion: TRUE OR FALSE?

TRUE! I’ve never lived anywhere but California, so cold weather—or seasons in general—are sort of a novelty to me. That’s probably why I’m obsessed with the fashion. Even if it’s not super cold out, I can still pretend like it is, right?

Your cozy-chic fall look:

What’s your trick to staying chic but secretly cozy when it’s cold out?

I love wearing a light thermal or cami underneath my top. It might not seem like much, but it actually makes a huge difference! It allows me to continue wearing skirts. Okay, maybe I like just telling myself that.

In your dreamiest fantasy, where are you wearing this chic-yet-cozy look?

I'm a simple girl, my dreamiest fantasy involves having absolutely no plans. Wearing this perfectly fall outfit while strolling the charming streets of the Marais in Paris with an almond croissant in one hand and a cappuccino in the other is basically my idea of perfection.

What’s the coziest thing you can think of?

Lounging in a super-luxe hotel bed (after requesting extra pillows, obviously), wearing a giant bathrobe, and drinking a hot foamy latte. If my dog happens to be snuggling up next to me, I definitely won’t complain.

Fall fashion is the best fashion: TRUE OR FALSE?

True. I’ve only ever lived in hot places, so I’m one of those people who claims to love fall but then complains when the temperature drops below 60. But the fashion? Simply the best.

Your cozy-chic fall look:

What’s your trick to staying chic but secretly cozy when it’s cold out?

I like to add a long-sleeve mock-neck or turtleneck under an oversize sweater. I might as well be wearing pajamas, but the added layer makes my look feel more elevated.

In your dreamiest fantasy, where are you wearing this chic-yet-cozy look?

I don’t ski or snowboard (or really even enjoy sledding, to be honest), but nevertheless I picture myself wearing this layered top situation in a super-fancy place somewhere in the Swiss Alps. Maybe it’s a Michelin-starred restaurant, maybe it’s a ski lodge, maybe it’s even the swanky hotel mentioned above… Wherever it is, I’m exceptionally cozy while watching the powdery snow pile up outside.