When the calendar hits the vernal equinox our natural inclination is to rid ourselves of multiple layers and bust out the short sleeves. However, every spring season has it’s grace period. It doesn’t automatically get warm because a certain date has passed and often times the weather fluctuates so wildly between mildly warm and “let’s stay inside” that finding a happy medium as far as your outerwear goes seems nearly impossible. Thankfully, the folks at Spyder Freeryde have taken seasonal Schizophrenia into account to give you the ultimate option for dealing with the Spring weather’s multiple personality disorder. The Boulder-based active sports apparel company’s ultra-versatile Northshore Windbreaker is made from super lightweight wind and water resistant fabric and is equipped with two-toned zippered sleeves that allow it to be warn as both a jacket and a vest, making it an ideal option for when it’s just sorta warm or perfectly pleasant. We suggest picking one up and solving your seasonal coat quandary for good.

Do you believe we're not alone in this universe? Have you ever had the sensation you're being watched by something other-worldly or the sneaking suspicion you've been the victim of an anal probe? Do you ever feel like you're in a real live version of Space Invaders just biding your time before the big alien onslaught? Look down, are there aliens on your jacket? Oh, there are! Silly you, you're not being monitored by visitors, you're wearing the Space Invaders jacket from Scandinavian design mavens Junk de luxe. Featuring hundreds of little pixelated intergalactic interlopers from the classic video game, this nugget of nostalgia available from Denmark's Trendlovers, not only feeds on a fondness for foreign flyers, but the actual design of the coat resembles that of the classic Members Only oeuvre of the 80's. If you're not rocking one of these bad boys, then you might want to check your closet to avoid close encounters of the unwanted kind.

Baracuta, the Manchester brand that’s been dashingly dressing rock and screen stars for seventy years, has updated their iconic G9 jacket. The SlimFit G9 features the same classic elasticized cuffs and waistband as the original, but offers a nicely trimmed fit that will undoubtedly throw today’s male seekers of svelte into rabid fits of bliss. Also worthy of checking out are the G9 collaborations that Baracuta has done of late with Kent and Curwen, Stussy, and Griffin (my favorite is the black and white pinstripe version by Kent and Curwen: delicious). You can find most of these on the Baracuta site, but be ready for a steep(ish) price tag; G9’s typically retail for about $240. That’s a small price to pay, though, for such a classic and dapper wardrobe addition.

As I write this, I am wondering to myself how the hell I’m going to get one of these jackets. The vaunted Moncler outerwear lines are sold mainly in Italy and Japan, and although Moncler is sold in 1500 stores world-wide, it’s not the easiest to come by. It’s a brand with tradition and time in its front pocket, possessing a unique story– it was founded in 1952 as a ‘keep you warm’ brand, and has evolved since to become a ‘make you look like a million dollars’ brand. The evolution of Moncler has endured tough financial times, court-ordered foreclosures, and a re-birth that has propelled it into an enviable position in the luxury outerwear market. Now created by world-noted designers, these jackets kept Italian climbers warm in the 1950’s, clothed the French Olympic team in the 1968 Grenoble games, and are now a symbol of performance and the utmost in slope-side style. My favorite jacket in this year’s winter line is the Plomb (pictured here). The allure for me comes from the super-warm loft, the nuanced details, and the fabric itself, which you need to see up close and in person to appreciate fully.

I have been wearing Patagonia gear for the past 25 years (it has been known to show up in my baby pictures). Growing up in a sub-zero alpine climate, I don’t think I really had a choice. You just wore what was warm. Patagonia has not traditionally been a go-to brand for the fashion-concsious because, traditionally, their designs sacrificed style for performance and environment-friendly production possibilities. But this has changed in the past few years. Although the folks at Patagonia will always err on the side of ‘function’ when it’s a close call (and I respect that), they have begun to realize that they don’t have to entirely sacrifice fashion for function. Case in point: the new Quilt Again Jacket ($120)–it’s naturally weather resistant because it is made of chlorine-free wool and fleece from scraps saved from the cutting-room floor. As with all Patagonia garments, it wicks moisture away from your body to mitigate that freezing sweat effect; its full zipper will help you ventilate as well. Patagonia garments are expensive, yes, but with their serious lifetime warranty, all it takes is one buy–long-term value is what we’re talking about here. I am seeing that their new designs pass fashion muster but are also classic enough to withstand fashion trend fluctuations (like a 3-button suit, if you will). The Quilt Again Jacket is a perfect example. Patagonia has always been (and will continue to be) my favorite ‘warm clothes’ brand, but I feel like I can now rock it on the street as well as on the slopes.

For those who like to spend way too much money on your snowboard outerwear — and like to be the the person who somehow (to the chagrin of his friends) gets his hands on the limited-quantity, boutique-y gear — iDiom’s Gray Scale Series is just a tram ride to Japan away. A sub-brand of snowboard gear behemoth Burton, iDiom has leveraged an intelligent collaboration with Japanese streetwear designer Hiroshi Fujiwara to make a solid imprint on the international snowboard scene in the past few years. Their garments are expensive for sure, but resonate well with those who have a keen eye for functional details, forward-thinking design, and thoughtful color schemes. iDiom’s newest line — The Gray Scale Series — is just what the name suggests: a grayscale marriage of classic and new iDiom styles, complete with stylish pinstripes, polka dots, and the like. My personal favorite is the Continuum Down Jacket (~$500 U.S.), because it harmoniously blends style, warmth, and lightweight technology. I am not completely sure how elusive this new iDiom line is, but if anyone has an idea, leave a comment.

Vault49 has done it again, the extremely taleneted NYC based design studio recently did some extremely ‘fly’ clothing designs for Scott Langton. They handeled the graphic design, illustration, and art direction for the whole new line–which you can view on the Vault49 site. No word on where this “Embroidered Blazer” will be for sale yet though.