Wall Street bankers, fashion editors, and Russian dogsled racers might not have that much in common, but their wardrobes overlap more than you’d think: Once winter rolls around, puffy, down jackets are suddenly everywhere. And, more often than not, they’re stamped with conspicuous logos like Canada Goose or Moncler. Parkas from these heritage outerwear brands retail between $800 and $1200, making each the price equivalent of a designer coat at Barney’s. So, what gives?
As the chief executive officer of Canada Goose, Dani Reiss, explained to Bloomberg Businessweek, the fact that the brand's outerwear holds up in the freezing tundra means it will also keep you warm on the city streets — and pretty much everywhere else. Thanks to details like real coyote- or raccoon-fur hoods, fleece-lined pockets, and free-range goose down, you know these coats are going to be warm. “I’ll take Siberia over Moscow any day,” Reiss explained. “Because if I get Siberia, I will get Moscow. We make the warmest jackets on earth, and cities get cold, too.” Iditarod racers might be unlikely fashion icons, but if a coat is good enough for them, it’s definitely good enough for NYC.
And, the parkas' trendiness actually goes way beyond pure functionality. Pharrell recently collaborated with Moncler on a jacket design (complete with a fashion campaign shot by Annie Leibovitz). Even brands like Patagonia and North Face are rolling out their versions of the fancy parka, with $400-plus price tags to match. But, the real proof that these jackets are the biggest new It item, no matter where you live? Moncler just opened an outpost in Hawaii in hopes of selling them to tourists from more urban markets.
With last year's Polar Vortex still fresh in our memories, this ultra-warm parka is one ubiquitous trend we can get behind. (Business Insider)