Autumn drapes cities in the prettiest of amber lights, but come winter, it becomes a gray, slushy landscape of concrete and dirty snow. New York isn’t immune to blustering wind and biting cold. However, New Yorkers are not ones to accept looking like a wet marshmallow when the winter coats are dusted off from the closet. If you’ve been subject to wearing the same hand-me-down you wore in freshman year, then it’s about time for a change.

Some tips to purchasing an investment-worthy winter coat that’ll last you for a couple of years:

Consider your linings. From goose feather to down, what’s in your jacket is only as good as what’s got them covered, mainly being the outer shell. If wind permeates your jacket, then it might as well wrap a blanket around yourself for all the good it’ll do. Worse, if goose feathers are penetrating you, then perhaps you might want to reconsider.

Get puffed. No longer are down jackets the marshmallow-like cocoons of Old Navy past. Fitted varieties of the classically utilitarian garment are aplenty, with companies like Penfield and Canada Goose offering sturdy, long-lasting variations.

More skin, more cold. Sometimes, keeping warm isn’t necessarily about the quality of your jacket or coat, but how you wear it. Try and keep exposed skin and air circulation around your body to a minimum; some jackets have a drawstring along the bottom that you can use for this very purpose. Remember to accessorize with scarves and hats (fur trapper hats go with everything and keep your ears warm to boot).

Hood Logic. In lieu of winter accessories, why not make use of your hood? Not only does it cover both your ears and neck, but it’ll keep your hair (relatively) dry. There’s no point in using it as a snow receptacle, so put that fur to work around your face.

Layer It up. For those late nights and icy mornings, you don’t need to wear every sweater you own. Invest in some discreet thermal wear like Uniqlo’s Heattech long-johns and long-sleeve crewnecks that both generate and retain body heat. Starting at $9.90, it’s an inexpensive option for men with uniforms that they don’t have time to change. Bestaff’s Body Warmer Jacket is also a great alternative if you don’t have the closet space for a large puffer jacket.

Luckily, staving off frostbite has never looked this good (or come so cheap). Starting at less than $200, proper investment-quality this season’s winter coats don’t sacrifice form or function.

Uniqlo HeatTech crewneck and long johns. Starting at $10 from Uniqlo NY, 546 Broadway Avenue.

Inexpensive and indispensable, these undergarments are discreet enough to be worn under your work suit and cheap enough to be stocked in your desk drawer.

Topman Wool Belted Trench. $180 from Topman, 478 Broadway.

It takes a brave man to cinch his waist in, and he’ll look great doing it in this trench coat which has a slightly shorter proportion, making it great for the vertically challenged to gain some much needed height.

Belstaff Body Warmer Jacket. $265 from J. Crew.

The perfect layering piece, this jacket is a great accompaniment for an existing jacket in your wardrobe that just isn’t warm enough, and works great on it’s own when the city begins to thaw. It also won’t take up nearly as much closet space as a conventional winter jacket.

Woolrich Arctic Parka. $381 from Genesis of New York City Inc, 718 Lexington Avenue.

Classic and easy to wear, a parka can be thrown over just about anything and still look great. This one in off-white will work with just about anything in a man’s wardrobe, especially with the more sober colours of winter.

Penfield Stapleton Black Tweed Down Insulated Jacket. $375 from Penfield USA.

Tweed can be a bit stuffy and old-fashioned, but it’s immediately modernized in Penfield’s down jacket with leather shoulder accents.

OAK Drape Front Parka. $462 from OAKNYC, 28 Bond St.

For those without the financial leverage to afford a Rick Owens or Comme des Garçons coat, this OAK piece is edgy in all the right ways without being completely unwearable. Pair it with a slim pair of jeans and some weathered black leather boots and you’ve got a failsafe look.

Canada Goose Chateau Parka. $625 from MR. PORTER.

Classically Canadian in all the best ways, Canada Goose jackets are produced in the Great White North for one specific purpose: to handle the worst of a Canadian winter. That being said, the Goose has become a youth staple, akin to what North Face means to an American youth. With a sturdy outer shell and fox fur trim, this slimmer model is a solid style investment.

Mackage “Shaun” Leather Bomber with Fur Trim. $1050 from Mackage, 123 Mercer St.

Leather denotes severity, and in bomber form, it is the most discreet of statements. Mackage’s version in a rich buttery brown is undeniably luxurious and an instant classic.

Moncler Lacquered Nylon Down Jacket. $1620 from Moncler, 90 Prince St.

Known for their fabric experimentation, Moncler has been developing the most luxurious of skiwear since 1952. Clearly a standout piece in such an insane degree of shine, Moncler’s not for the faint hearted (both fashion-wise and financially).

Burberry Fur Trimmed Hooded Parka. $2395 from Burberry, 9 East 57^th St.

The zenith of cool British fashion, Burberry London offers this parka that looks as warm as it does rich. It looks so good in fact, that it’ll look just as good over a suit as any formal tweed coat ever would.

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