Alex and I had a awesome trip to Chicago – thanks again to everyone at Nordstrom who helped organize the event, the participating brands, and to all the readers who attended. Meeting readers always inspires and motivates us to take the site to the next level.

The morning after the event we had an opportunity to do a quick shoot before we left town – and what better place for our first outerwear feature than the Windy City.

Here, 3 looks featuring a great go-to outerwear piece: the wool flannel bomber jacket.

1. Traveling for the Weekend

The wool bomber with shearling collar is kinda like the sleeker and more mature cousin of the down puffer with faux-fur around the hood that we’ve all owned at one time (especially if your from Canada – or Chicago).

The bomber can also be seen as a slightly dressier relative of the varsity jacket. It’s similar in shape and feel, with less of a collegiate aesthetic and a more versatile neckline.

Bonus Tip: It’s a great jacket for traveling because it’s the only one you need. It can take you from the airport to the meeting, to the hotel, to the bars, and everywhere in between.

Bonus Tip II: A down jacket should always fit snugly through the body since it inherently ads bulk. Try on one size down just to see how it looks and feels before you purchase. The bottom of the jacket should hit a few inches below your waistline.

Bonus Tip III: You’re going to wear it often, so invest in a neutral color. Navy or grey are typically the most versatile because they work with black or brown leathers.