On Feb. 2,  courtesy of multiple groundhogs all over the nation, six more weeks of winter was officially announced. While some students may prefer the cold winter months, others dread the miserable and soggy blur that is January through March. But me? I see the Michelin Man.

I see him in the flood (or should I say blizzard?) of puffer jackets and winter coats that serve as a reminder of the freezing temperatures outside.  Each fluffy bulge mimics the tire rings around the Michelin Man, and a similarly puffed hood lets one instantly look like the ubiquitous tire mascot from behind. In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the Man himself is merely sporting a rubbery full-body puffer coat. As his rings have gotten wider over the years, the Michelin Man’s various vintage and present designs span the full range of puffy winter attire. 

For those of us who haven’t seen his bulbous face at a Costco or auto shop, the Michelin Man is the mascot of the Michelin tire company—yes, Michelin as in Michelin-starred restaurant. He’s made up of a stack of tires, giving him his characteristic bulges. 

Furthermore, the characteristic bulkiness of most puffer coats also resembles the Michelin Man. The mascot is known for a bulky torso—expected of a being consisting of a stack of tires. Winter coats are sometimes tapered at the hem with an elastic, enhancing the Michelin Man physique, but the voluminous ring-shaped folds of the jacket are already enough to create a striking resemblance. With the exception of a few cinched-waist styles, the puffy nature of these jackets inevitably lends them a Michelin-esque silhouette. 

To be clear, this article is in no way meant to insult either the Michelin Man, puffer coats or the people who wear them. I myself have embraced my Michelin winter gear, and I wear it with pride every morning when I walk into the building, swinging my arms stiffly. Vintage ads frequently depict him plucking a tire from his midriff to give to a family with a flat tire, and this warm and helpful mascot might just personify the holiday spirit we so desperately need in this dreary, frigid season. 

At the end of the day (or at the end of your shopping trip), it’s up to you whether or not to don some puffy apparel and cosplay as a colorful Michelin Man. It may seem the only other alternative is to brave the Midwest cold with a hoodie, sweatpants and a dream. Or, you know, you could always go the Pillsbury Doughboy route with a slightly sleeker unpuffed winter coat.