Winter is upon us officially, so, if you haven't invested in an all-purpose winter jacket, here's one to consider. Helly Hansen effortlessly marries style and functionality with its W Embla Winter Wrap jacket. Now, I'd never seen a wrap winter jacket before I laid eyes on this one. Its exactly what you're thinking, if you're envisioning a wrap-dress as a coat. It wraps around the body and has a waist sash to keep everything in place, as well as heavy-duty snaps that are on the princess line, as opposed to the center line.

Helly Hansen is known for their sportswear clothing so it is to be expected that their clothing is made to withstand freezing temperatures over the span of many seasons. What you don't expect is something that actually looks trendy and fashion-forward. When you think of a jacket for snow days, you think of bubble jackets that are cute, but not necessarily fashionable and lady-like. We've all seen the ladies in business suits with bubble jackets thrown over them. Bubble jackets never seamlessly blend with anything besides jeans and sneakers.

I love the W Embla Winter Wrap because the idea that a jacket can protect me from cold, rain and snow while looking streamlined appeals to me tremendously. I get cold very easily so I usually look like a tire with all my layers, come snow days. The W Embla jacket is not only waterproof, there's also a detachable lining. Its like two jackets in one and ideal for winter because you can take out the lining for days that seem more like Fall and put it back in when it drops below 10 degrees. There are also underarm vents to increase its breathability. The fun trench coat feel is echoed by the flap at the back that holds a reflective strip for dark nights. My favorite part is the hood. When buckled shut, it comes all the way up to the nose, completely covering the neck and lips, keeping it nice and warm.

The W Embla ends at around mid-thigh with an asymmetric hem. I expected the jacket to be bulky and a bit much when I tied it close but, to the contrary, it emphasized my waist, bringing a very lady-like vibe to my look.

To check out the W Embla Winter Wrap jacket yourself, go to http://www.hellyhansengear.com/p-511-w-embla-winter-wrap.aspx.

Written by Tabitha