When the scary tech people created Instagram, I wonder if they knew I’d be up at weird hours of the night, looking at a friend of a friend who went to fashion school and wondering why my clothes aren’t as cool as hers. We all have those internet connections — people we’ve met for maybe five minutes in person, but with whom we are inexplicably connected to through social media but don’t actually talk to, or even message. This was my exact predicament last week, when the aforementioned fashionista posted herself in the coolest quilted coat I have ever seen. I stopped my scrolling right then. I needed to know everything about the coat. But how?
Sure, I could have messaged her. I could have even commented, giving her the satisfaction of publicly doing the, “Oh, this old thing?” downplay of a piece of clothing that is clearly both not old, and not inexpensive. But if there’s one thing about me, I’m hard-headed and have weird social anxieties that are often magnified by people I’ve deemed cooler and/or better dressed than I am.
I made a mental note to do some research on quilt-patterned coats when the universe smiled upon me. The next day, on a Target run for toothpaste and fridge magnets, I saw a rack of quilt-patterned jackets, just like the one the fashion girl was wearing.
It’s important to note that many of these “quilt” jackets that are sold today aren’t actually made the way a real quilt is. Traditional quilts take hundreds of hours to make, are pieced together with patchwork and painstakingly sandwiched with other layers of fabric. The jacket I got from Target, for example, is just cotton that’s been stamped with a quilt-looking pattern (but at $30, I feel great about it). Other jackets on the market, however, are actually made of patchwork and quilting, and that explains why they typically cost a lot more. Essentially though, all of these jackets look like you’re wearing a blanket from your grandma’s house ― but in a cool way.
Upon purchasing the Target jacket, and some further research, I realized these quilt-pattern and general patchwork jackets are taking over. From actual handmade coats to stylized puffers, we’ve rounded up the best quilt pattern and patchwork jackets, so you can find your own without asking an intimidatingly well-dressed person on the internet.
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Check out Frane Handcrafted on Etsy.
Check out PatchworkArts on Etsy.
This comes in women's XS-4X, though 1X-4X are currently sold out online in most colors, and may need to be purchased in-store.
Get it from Target for $24.94.
This comes in women's XS-4X (1X-4X may be sold out online).
Get it from Target for $24.94.
This comes in men's XS-XL (the XXL is currently sold out online, but may be available in-store).
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $99.
This comes in women's XS-XL.
Get it from Cider for $45.
This comes in women's XXS-L (the XL and XXL are currently sold out online, but may be available in person).
Get it from Ralph Lauren for $279.99.
This comes in women's XXS-XXXL, though some sizes may be sold out online and only available in-store.
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $139.
This comes in women's XXS-XL.
Get it from Sea for $650.
This comes in XS-XL.
Get it from Farm Rio for $241.50.
This comes in women's XS-XL.
Get it at Free People for $298.
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