Hello Sunshine!
I hope that you’re staying warm! Or maybe it’s still warm where you live? On a recent January day in Southern California it was over 70 degrees F (20 degrees C)! Here in Paris it’s been hovering around 30 degrees (0 degrees C) so 70 sounds positively balmy, but I also know that 30 degrees sounds mild to some of you!
Its the best kept secret!
Let’s talk about the best kept secret of vintage winter fashion: The vintage 1980s-does-1940s puffer coat!
Now I know this is debatable, but hear me out! Before you write me off completely, let me explain!
If you know anything about me, you know I like to look cute and fashionable. And you probably also know I hate being cold. Truly detest it. Growing up in the tropics and Southern California didn’t exactly prepare me for winter weather and it’s taken me quite a long time to understand what goes into dressing for cold climates. I’ve finally come to understand the importance of base layers (but I’ll discuss that in another post!), which I’m sure is obvious, but I now understand that in freezing weather you need more than just a coat to keep you warm!
In Paris (I’m sure it’s the case in many places) people are out walking around a lot. Most people take public transportation around the city during their daily lives which involves lots of walking. This necessitates the need for warm, weatherproof winter clothing and lots of layers that you can remove once indoors.
Too often to count I’ve spent time putting together a cute outfit just to spend the entire day wearing a coat, so no one sees the outfit. A cute coat is of utmost importance!
My winter fashion challenge
I’ve been pretty disappointed by the warmth factor of several coats I’ve purchased from vintage reproduction ateliers and I’ve wondered, is it possible to have the style I want while being protected from the weather? I’m convinced that I can. Or maybe I’m delusional? Either way I’ve been on the hunt for a vintage style and warm coat for years! My winter objectives:
1- Be comfortably warm
2- Look vintagey even when covered by a coat
3- Look cute and stylish
On my continuous quest to look cute in the winter, but also be warm, I have purchased many coats. No. I’ve purchased a plethora of coats. I just keep buying them. I admit it, I have a problem! None of them seem to actually keep me warm except for modern puffer coats. The problem is that modern puffer coats don’t support my vintage style!
Enter the 1980s-does-1940s puffer coat
Puffer coats aren’t exactly new; there are reports of mountaineers in the late 1800s wearing early versions of the puffer jacket in order to stay warm in harsh conditions. Eddie Bauer patented a newly designed down puffer jacket in 1939, and haute couture designers followed the design trend. The style really gained traction in the 1970s and has remained popular ever since.
The 1970s and 1980s emulated the design features of the 1930s and 1940s: the silhouettes, length of skirts and dresses, a strong structured shoulder, button details, utilitarian lines and feminine details to name a few design elements. These details of course can be seen in the outerwear of that era, including puffer coats.
Here is a picture of coats from the 1940s. Note the strong shoulder, flared skirt, and lightly nipped waist.
Here is a picture of a coat in the 1980s. See how it exudes a 40s feel? The silhouette and design details are quite pre WWII, while of course being fabricated with newer techniques, fabric, and materials.
One thing I like about 80s coats is that they were often made with natural materials for the internal insulation, using things like goose down. These natural materials are very warm and also more comfortable because they let your body breathe.
Last winter in Paris the only really warm coat I had was a cheap puffer jacket that was given to me. It was a modern design: the length ended mid thigh and it had a straight silhouette. It was made with synthetic materials and therefore very sweaty. It kept me warm but uncomfortably so.
Another thing I like about 80s coats is the length. It was more common for coats to be longer, below the calf, to accommodate the length of dresses and skirts. This is my preferred length not only because it covers the length of 30s and 40s style skirts but also because it keeps me warmer.
Vintage 1980s Puffer Coat sold by etsy seller
Rejuvenate Vintage
Here’s a very lavender-mauve 80s puffer coat I recently purchased I absolutely love the details! The asymmetrical design on the chest, a feature so prominent in the 80s, makes this so unique. The puff shoulders and silhouette give it a decidedly 40s feel. The neck closure is very interesting, and I appreciate that the outside of the coat is a thick water resistant cotton instead of a shiny material.
1980s puffer coat sold by etsy seller
Serendipity Vintage OR
Here’s another lovely coat I recently purchased for the winter. This coat is extremely warm and feels a bit like wearing a blanket, it’s so comfortable. I adore the length as well as the puff shoulders and it has become my go-to coat this winter. A vintage scarf, gloves, bag, and boots take this look to the next level.
The colors for both these coats are definitely of the 80s, which is something you have to consider when purchasing a vintage 80s coat. I would love to find one in dark gray or black, as those colors were more prominent in pre WWII coats. The general public would have needed to buy something to last for multiple seasons and years, rather than something trendy, so these colors were just not worn often as outerwear. I really like the color and that these coats stand out and are fashion statements on their own.
What do you think of the 80s puffer coat? Would you wear it?