On Winter Clothing Trends
With a cold snap in the area that I live that has lasted a while already I can fairly conclude that we are well into winter, kicking out the awkward autumn weather of chilly mornings and warm afternoons. And the presence of winter can mean several things: procrastinated showers that leads to extended periods of standing under hot, running water, fluffy slippers and continuously functioning heaters... and the dreaded black puffy Kathmandu jacket.
Admittedly, I'm not sure whether this is an international trend. The Kathmandu brand (available in NZ and Australia) jackets are the general go-to for any outfit. Black however, is just a guideline. There are those who sport other colours, and of course there are the inevitable lesser-known brand versions that manage to creep by undetected. This style of jacket is sold everywhere, though in New Zealand it's a fashion statement that skyrocketed in popularity only a few short years ago.
I have no problem with the jacket itself. It is incredibly good at its job. The poofiness makes for good insulation and it's incredibly satisfying to hug someone if they're dressed in one. What I don't understand is how it became a fashion trend. Because they're not the most flattering thing in the world. Too small and the jacket looks straining to stay on. Too large and the human inside will be swallowed by puffiness. Regardless of improper fitting, the jacket does make the wearer look comfortable warm, which would not be a problem at all if not for New Zealand weather.
New Zealand weather is only ever cold enough to require a puffy jacket in the middle of winter. Autumn and spring often have chilly mornings that rarely last throughout the day. It seems unfair that I receive judgemental looks for wearing a light knit sweater in vaguely cool weather while girls sport their black puffies with only minute differences in temperature that begin early autumn and last as long as the end of spring. I have once seen a girl wear it in summer. It must have been the equivalent of wearing a sauna suit. In a sauna.
Not to mention the prices. I have seen the Kathmandu catalogues. I have read numbers that have more figures than is necessary. I would require several weeks' paycheck before considering being able to afford anything in their range. My parents reserve their membership card for heavily discounted inner thermals or half-price, buy-one-get-one-free drink bottles. We are a cheap family. Which is the primary reason, when a friend declared, "I got such a good bargain on a Kathmandu jacket, it was only $200!" I had a moment of wide-mouthed gaping as nightmarish visions of my bank account running dry passed by my eyes.
Perhaps my own opinion is just heavily biased by my own mediocre sense of style. To me, black puffy jackets will never be anything more than for the serious cold and habitual skiers. But a single girl cannot take down an empire of fashionistas. I'll continue to sit in sulky silence, my irrational bitterness drowned out by the general public's love for the unreasonably priced article of clothing, and be thankful they're nowhere near as bad as shoulder pads. Or velour tracksuits. Not even Macklemore can save those.
Thoughts?
Admittedly, I'm not sure whether this is an international trend. The Kathmandu brand (available in NZ and Australia) jackets are the general go-to for any outfit. Black however, is just a guideline. There are those who sport other colours, and of course there are the inevitable lesser-known brand versions that manage to creep by undetected. This style of jacket is sold everywhere, though in New Zealand it's a fashion statement that skyrocketed in popularity only a few short years ago.
I have no problem with the jacket itself. It is incredibly good at its job. The poofiness makes for good insulation and it's incredibly satisfying to hug someone if they're dressed in one. What I don't understand is how it became a fashion trend. Because they're not the most flattering thing in the world. Too small and the jacket looks straining to stay on. Too large and the human inside will be swallowed by puffiness. Regardless of improper fitting, the jacket does make the wearer look comfortable warm, which would not be a problem at all if not for New Zealand weather.
New Zealand weather is only ever cold enough to require a puffy jacket in the middle of winter. Autumn and spring often have chilly mornings that rarely last throughout the day. It seems unfair that I receive judgemental looks for wearing a light knit sweater in vaguely cool weather while girls sport their black puffies with only minute differences in temperature that begin early autumn and last as long as the end of spring. I have once seen a girl wear it in summer. It must have been the equivalent of wearing a sauna suit. In a sauna.
Not to mention the prices. I have seen the Kathmandu catalogues. I have read numbers that have more figures than is necessary. I would require several weeks' paycheck before considering being able to afford anything in their range. My parents reserve their membership card for heavily discounted inner thermals or half-price, buy-one-get-one-free drink bottles. We are a cheap family. Which is the primary reason, when a friend declared, "I got such a good bargain on a Kathmandu jacket, it was only $200!" I had a moment of wide-mouthed gaping as nightmarish visions of my bank account running dry passed by my eyes.
I'm aware I shouldn't be one to judge. The means of which she spends her money is not of my concern. She has a keen sense for fashion and is a great trend-spotter. Her clothes are not only always cute but usually bought from a reasonable price range, a talent I am greatly jealous of.
But what happened to other warm accessories? For that price one could snag a couple of winter coats and have enough left over for a beanie and a scarf. Fingerless gloves and earmuffs. Underrated garments that can not only be mixed and matched but is much more visually pleasing.
Perhaps my own opinion is just heavily biased by my own mediocre sense of style. To me, black puffy jackets will never be anything more than for the serious cold and habitual skiers. But a single girl cannot take down an empire of fashionistas. I'll continue to sit in sulky silence, my irrational bitterness drowned out by the general public's love for the unreasonably priced article of clothing, and be thankful they're nowhere near as bad as shoulder pads. Or velour tracksuits. Not even Macklemore can save those.
Thoughts?
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