The Puffer Evolution
Image Courtesy: The Guardian
The puffer jacket has been a long standing staple for decades. Whether it’s strictly for the purpose of warmth or trend, society has seen plenty of variations of this winter favorite. From floor length parkas to cropped vests, we are going to cover the entire history of the puffer jacket and its move from streetwear to high fashion.
1922
“In 1922, Australian mountain climber George Finch ordered a bright green, custom-made puffer-esque “eiderdown jacket” for an expedition to Mt. Everest.” This was made of mainly animal skins and furs similar to what Alaskans would adorn themselves with during the harsh winter months.
1936
“The puffer coat, or sky liner as it was originally called, was invented this year by Eddie Bauer after he almost died of hypothermia on a fishing trip.” The original jacket was stuffed with down to create an insulated barrier for the wearer. For a very long time, the jacket only served the purpose of keeping people warm, especially during winter sports. However, that changed when Charles James created a similar design.
Image Courtesy: Los Angeles Times
1939
Charles James, a haute couture designer, created a very similar garment to the one first made by Bauer in 1936. This one “was made of white satin yet maintained a similar, quilted design, he labeled his creation the 'pneumatic jacket'.” Shortly after this creation of James’s puffer, the product marketed it to the wealthy as an “evening layer.”
1973
This year was big for reinventing the staple jacket from the past few decades. After another designer almost died of hypothermia, Norma Kamali vowed to never let herself feel discomfort like that again. As a result, she created the ankle length jacket known as the “sleeping bag coat.” Fun fact: the coat literally got its name when inspiration struck Kamali as she wrapped her sleeping bag around her shoulders for warmth on a camping trip. This phenomenon was worn by the masses including people such as the late and great André Leon Talley and Lady Gaga.
Image Courtesy: Vox
1980s and 1990s
While the hot pink puffer jacket might be a staple for college students today, we must pay homage to the original trendsetter of the 80s. Italian youth were rocking the bright colored jackets all throughout the decade, until the 90s when young ravers began to wear cropped versions of the coat through the winter months. Not much change to the design of the jacket was seen throughout these years besides the increase in use of synthetic down such as Hollofil and Thinsulate.
Early - Late 2000s
During the beginning of this decade, hip hop artists took a liking to the puffer jacket, wearing it everywhere. This is one of the first places society saw the jacket as a modern day streetwear piece, as opposed to strictly for warmth or high fashion. Rappers such as Drake and Kanye West were seen sporting the iconic coat, only increasing its popularity. Specifically the iconic red Moncler puffer jacket seen in the HotLine Bling music video.
Image Courtesy: Racked
Image Courtesy: InStyle
TODAY
Maybe it’s just me, but it feels as if everyone and their mother got some sort of puffer product this past holiday season. Whether that was an Aritzia Super Puff or a classic North Face, the coat and vest were seen as a huge staple this winter. Even just walking around campus, it’s hard to pass more than ten people without seeing a puffed coat. This trend is one that will clearly be around for decades to come in the future, but what variation of it will we see next? We’ll just have to wait and find out.
Strike Out,
Writer: Haley Wolf
Editor: Shelby Wingate
Athens