You can find this pattern in lots of fun colors, not just black and white. • Paisley is no longer a preppy 1980s throwback. Its form is more flowing and typically more feminine than it used to be.

We asked a panel of stylish people about the best fleeces and fleece jackets, from brands like Free People, the North Face, Patagonia, Kapital, Snow Peak, Hikerkind, and Fjällräven.

Fleece—sheared from synthetic yarns—was introduced to the outdoors market in the late 1970s by the mountain equipment brand Patagonia and textiles maker Malden Mills (now Polartec).