From Everest to Evergreen, the Puffer Jacket is an Evolving Staple
Functional and eccentric, the puffer is great for a winter romp on the town.
Autumn and winter weather are knocking on your door—making this the right time to start looking for the perfect jacket.
After pouring over the trends on the Fall/Winter 2021 runways, it's clear one piece of outerwear is reigning for the season: the puffer jacket.
If you’re hesitant about the puffer, you’re not alone. “I think there is a particular sexist undertone in the way some people hate the puffer; it’s not hard to find articles explaining how to look ‘sexy’ despite wearing one, and there’s always been an association of ‘ugly,’ probably because of the lack of shape it gives the body,” says fashion historian and author of How to Read a Dress, Lydia Edwards.
According to Australian author Robert Wainwright, the puffer jacket first appeared on Mount Everest in the 1920s. At the time, they were made from hot air balloon fabric and, well, didn't look great, but puffer jackets performed better than regular quilted jackets or coats.
Since then, puffer jackets have evolved from pure practicality. It was not until recently, on the Balenciaga Fall/Winter 2016 runway, that we saw this item have a chance to become a part of the catwalk. Excluding names that make specialized sportswear like Moncler, puffers started to gain popularity and appear at affordable mass fashion stores like Zara and Topshop since 2016.
Perhaps it is the versatility of this piece (they fit all body types, genders, and identities) that made the piece gain traction. But what started as a piece of workwear has now found itself on the runway.
Take a look at the creations from the Fall/Winter 2021 catwalks, as well as the recent Spring/Summer 2022 collections, and find yourself the most perfect plump puffer jacket.
