TECHY OUTERWEAR REIGNS SUPREME IN FALL & WINTER
Despite a concerted move towards classic tailored styles, there’s no way around it: when the mercury drops, tech will always win.
2023 has seen a fundamental shift in style. After the increasingly technical designs we saw under the ascendence of gorpcore, the tides have changed in favor of a more classic, tailored look that eschews GORE-TEX for old-fashioned wools and waxed cotton. While it’s all well and good in theory, it’s less clear in practice. When the rain begins to fall and the cold sets in, there’s little competition between a wool overcoat and a 700-fill down jacket with a 3L GORE-TEX shell, and that’s just the truth of the matter.
It’s hard to say no to names like Goldwin, C.P. Company Metropolis, The North Face, and more who are offering a warm helping hand through the cold months. Not only are we talking about highly protective, breathable layers here, but also refreshing designs that touch on a range of visual angles from retro waterproof layers to super-futuristic shells.
Featured In This Image: C.P. Company jacket.
C.P. Company’s advanced fabrics have kept the Italian company at the forefront of technical outerwear since it was founded in 1971. While the main line revolves around striking color palettes, the C.P. Company Metropolis offshoot caters to a much more understated vision. This all-black down jacket features a Pertex shell for full waterproofing and wind protection.
Featured In This Image: POST ARCHIVE FACTION (PAF) jacket.
Post Archive Faction is flying the flag high for South Korean fashion brands with a heady cocktail of technical expertise and unique aesthetic twists. The Bartack Down Jacket features a lightweight but highly insulating down fill which is protected by a hardy 2L nylon ripstop shell.
Featured In This Image: Goldwin jacket.
Japanese label Goldwin combines warmth and rain protection here with an insulated Dermizax™ fabric. Boasting waterproof and breathable qualities, the fabric works in tandem with zip vents throughout, hidden elasticated cuffs, and more to offer a fully adjustable fit for changing conditions.
Featured In This Image: Herno jacket.
Herno’s skiing roots mean that it knows a thing or two about retaining warmth in bad conditions. The Laminar Jacket looks to a quilted build which has a down filling for lightweight insulation. Coated nylon taffeta makes for a waterproof shell with an eye-catching metallic sheen.
Featured In This Image: Dime jacket.
Dime may not sit with the time-tested masters of the technical outerwear game, but if recent seasons have been anything to go by, it’s on the right trajectory. Lightweight, tech-filled shells like the Knowtec Jacket have become a regular fixture for the label, always finished with design twists that set them apart; here, an offset zip closure defines the design.
Featured In This Image: The North Face jacket.
Ranging from everyday errands to professional mountaineering, The North Face is trusted across the spectrum. The GTX Mountain Jacket nods to some of the label’s retro classics with a two-tone palette. Compatible with 1996 Retro Nuptse and Denali jackets, the 2L GORE-TEX shell can be coupled with insulating inner layers for colder climes.
Featured In This Image: Moncler jacket.
Shaped by the French Alps, Moncler’s output now caters to form and function at their highest levels. The Adur Jacket features recycled goose down quilting and a PFC-free water-repellant coating to the ripstop shell. Finished with a subtly different two-tone palette, the piece catches eyes without calling for attention.
Featured In This Image: Entire Studios jacket.
Entire Studios has not-so-slowly made a name for itself with its range of instantly recognizable cropped puffer jackets. This SSENSE exclusive exhibits the brand’s ability to stylize fundamentally utilitarian features with inventive quilting and bold colorways.
- Date: October 27, 2023
