Jacket

The piece: Veda x Madewell Leather Moto Jacket

The investment: $550

Why it's worth it: This jacket is like that very cool friend who knows all the amazing restaurants, best places to shop, and coolest, hippest hangouts, personified. In fact, it's the jacket that that very cool friend would probably be wearing on your next brunch date, with every other girl eyeing her topper from across the restaurant, coming over just to tell her what a great jacket it is and dying to know where she found it. She'd tell them it's the product of a really awesome collaboration by two of her favorite labels. That Madewell enlisted cool-girl brand Veda to help build the most covetable of leather jackets. They'd "ooh" and "ahh" over just how soft the supple, buttery leather is, and she'd smile and nod politely while everyone else fussed. They'd ask her if it was black or navy, trying to figure out just what that amazing color is. She'd tell them it was actually "midnight," a perfectly unique blend of rich beautiful blues that happens to go with everything. Then the girls would thank her profusely, all the while plotting to gobble up their own brunch and get as quickly as possible to Madewell to snap up that jacket, too. But that doesn't have to be your friend; that could be you.

If you're an active snow bunny, you need a jacket that will protect you from the elements and allow you to move freely. Softshells are the way to go because they'll keep you warm but are lightweight enough to prevent you from overheating. I just got a new one from Cloudveil. This Rayzar Windstopper ($300) has been great for skiing on the slopes and snowshoeing in the woods.

I love the flattering fit, the bulkless shape, the soft fleece lining inside, and the adjustable hood that can be cinched down to prevent wind from getting to my head and neck. In 20° F weather, all I wore underneath was a wicking sports bra, wicking tank, and a baselayer, and this wind-blocking jacket kept me toasty warm. I even got a little sweaty, but the fabric inside helps your perspiration vapor escape, so I didn't feel damp or chilly. The outer material allows snow and water to just slide off, so you don't have to worry about getting wet or feeling weighed down. Another plus is the two outer zippered pockets that keep my cell phone, keys, and tissues safe, and there are two pockets on the inside to hold even more stuff. If you're not a fan of blue, this jacket comes in three other colors.

If you've recently tried some fitness or sports gear that you loved or hated, tell us about it in the Good Gear/Bad Gear community group.

I already have two North Face jackets — one for cold weather and one for wet and windy weather — but now I'm thinking I may need to add another one to my collection because this Femphonic Audio Jacket ($349) is just what this gadget girl needs.

Not too long ago I told you about the Radiance Jacket by Mountain Hardwear, which comes with a padded heater and a built-in power pack for charging your gadgets, but I wasn't completely in love with it. But this jacket, which is cheaper than the Radiance jacket, lets you control your iPod with an external joystick on the cuff. All you have to do is connect your iPod to the inner pocket and use your sleeve to adjust your tunes. This jacket also comes in black, and there is a men's version as well. Santa can you hear me?

For those of you who won't let a little chilly weather prevent you from continuing your outdoor runs have I got a great jacket for you. Staying warm is all about layering, and this Destination Jacket made by Merrell ($85) has you covered. I tested it while visiting some friends on the East Coast, and it was perfect for my trail run even at 20° F. I wore the Ibex wicking sports bra and tank, a long sleeve midweight baselayer and this jacket on the outside, and I stayed toasty warm. Actually, by the end, I was even sweating.

It's made of soft, stretchy fleece and has a feminine fit so it felt really comfy, yet supportive. The special features I love most are the thumb holes to keep wind from blowing up your sleeves, the zippered pockets to hold tissues or your phone, and the hood to keep your head and ears protected. I also love that the front zipper goes all the way up to your chin, to keep wind off your neck. This jacket isn't wind or waterproof, so if it's breezy or snowy, I'd just wear a lightweight rain jacket or windbreaker over it. The Destination can also be used for a light jacket to wear to and from the gym. If you're not a fan of blue, check out the other colors below.

Yesterday, FitSugar brought a fun product over to my desk — this cute bomber style ski jacket. At first glance I thought it was just a jacket, but little did I know that this Radiance Jacket from Mountain Hardwear is outfitted with all the necessary gear to heat up the jacket and to charge your gadgets, you know. . . for those long ski runs in the Swiss Alps. The way it works is the jacket needs a high-tech Ardica power system to perform all of its geeky functions.

The padded heater goes into the back of the jacket (I'm not gonna lie, she is a bit heavy), and the tiny square Moshi power system connects to the USB port which is accessible from the lower left pocket in the jacket. With the heater, you can get up to nine hours of heat on its lowest setting and three when it's on high. When charged up, the Moshi power unit can connect to a variety of devices, thanks to its handy adapters, and at the end of the day, you can just directly plug it into the wall to recharge it for another day. FitSugar took the jacket for a test drive, so you can see what she thought of it by reading her full review here.

To see my overall thoughts about the jacket, just read more

The fitness world may not have a fashion week, but this weekend I previewed some of Nike's 2010 Spring running line, shoes and jackets, at the Nike Running Summit here in San Francisco. At the event, held the day before the 6th annual Nike Women's Marathon, designers explained their two inspiration behind their latest sneakers and running gear: runners and lightweight.

The first concept is fairly self explanatory — they design their gear to complement the motion of running and what runners need. Secondly, they pared everything down to shave off weight leaving the running feeling free and unencumbered.

To learn more about the shoes coming out early next year, keep reading.

No one, especially in New York, can be high-fashion and fabulous all the time--no matter your age, income, or geographic location everyone, once in a while, needs to run to the store to get milk. With the Thanksgiving holiday coming up we can't help but endorse a product that scores a little higher in the comfort department than most of our fashion suggestions. On the bright side we think Penfield has the most chic coats in this category. Pair this Novi Penfield coat ($200) with slim dark jeans, a pair of riding boots, and a knit hat and you'll be warm, comfortable, and not embarrassed to run into someone you know in the grocery store. For all the chic cotton pairings to wear under the fabulously warm coat, check out Net-a-Porter's 'home comforts' shopping list. You'd be surprised what a cotton jumpsuit will do to your life...

Mulberry Canvas JacketWalt Whitman believed in the power of the American working class and yet his poetry is beloved by the British intelligentsia. We wonder if this strange dichotomy has a parallel in fashion. In fact so many humble materials, cuts and designs originally meant for workers seems to have been reinvented as a prominent features of intelligent British luxury labels. And no we don't just mean the classic Burberry trench coat. We think this Mulberry Canvas Jacket is emblematic of this peculiar phenomenon of working class values being reinterpreted by elites. The humble canvas spring coat was meant for warmth on a brisk morning while out in the fields, or at least that is the romanticized version we have in our heads. But the $1,119 price tag is justified by its smart yet relaxed aesthetic. And so we have the poetry of a simpler people sold to a rarefied cultural class. Leaves of Grass indeed. Naturally we highly suggest picking one up for spring.

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