How to choose a women's parka?

When the cold season comes, fashionistas start monitoring the outerwear market in order to update their demi-season and (or) winter wardrobe. If you are aiming for a cool women's jacket, then in our experience the best solution will be a parka. It is worthy of the attention of all women without exception, regardless of body type, age and social status. Light, incredibly warm, stylish and universal parka is presented on the outerwear market in various colors, sizes and designs. Having chosen it, you will not regret your decision. And, here is how to choose the right women's parka, and what to pay special attention to, we will tell in this publication.

• Where to start when choosing a parka?
• What to look for?
  • Jacket material.
  • Product length.
  • Parka size.
  • Functionality.
  • Styles.
  • Decor.
  • Color.
• Who is a parka jacket suitable for?

But before we get to the questions, we'll briefly explain what a parka is.

What is a parka?

A parka is a long, warm jacket made of thick fabric, with a hood, high collar, front fastening and large patch pockets. In the classic version, the product is no longer than mid-thigh and no longer than knee length. Modern interpretations allow for different options, including short (slightly above the hip line) and elongated (like a coat or raincoat).

The jacket has a strict and clear straight cut, which will not spoil the silhouette of either a fragile girl or a lady of Balzac age. As a rule, the waist line is adjusted with tightening laces on the outside, and the hem - with tightening laces on the inside. The jacket is indispensable for every day in the off-season, when the weather every now and then throws up surprises in the form of piercing wind, cold rain or wet snow.

If earlier the parka could be found only in spring, autumn and winter outerwear collections, now there are models for cool summer. Each season, designers try to offer fashionistas something new and original in terms of styles, decor, fabrics and types of filler.

WHERE TO START CHOOSING A WOMEN'S PARKA?

The parka is a basic item of clothing for casual, sport and smart-casual styles, where the most important criteria for choosing are comfort and convenience. But to find a parka that will perfectly suit your needs, you should consider when and how you are going to use it. After all, the requirements of those who are very active (for example, those who spend a lot of time outdoors or travel a lot on foot or by public transport) differ from those who are looking for something warm for leisurely walks.

In addition, a clear understanding of the weather conditions in which you will use the parka will allow you to choose the right level of moisture protection and degree of insulation of the jacket. It is unreasonable to buy a thing that can withstand extremely low temperatures for an area where severe frosts are a rarity. You will overpay for features and functionality that you will not use to the fullest extent. It is unlikely that such a jacket will be comfortable and convenient for your needs.

WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN CHOOSING A WOMEN'S PARKA?

When choosing a women's parka, pay attention to the details that are important to you. Some of them affect only the aesthetic perception of the product, others - its functionality and protective properties. But all together they determine comfort and ease of use. What are these details?

1. Jacket material.
2. Product length.
3. Parka size.
4. Functionality.
5. Styles.
6. Decor.
7. Color.

1. Material of women's parka

When talking about the material of a parka, they mean what the outer, intermediate and inner layers of the jacket are made of, that is, the top of the product, the lining filler and the lining itself. All three layers determine the degree of insulation and, accordingly, the seasonality of the outerwear. What should you pay attention to here?

Outer fabric

Depending on the season, the outer layer can be cotton, denim, twill, nylon or membrane (Softshell fabric). The first two have a predominantly natural base and have a dense structure that protects well from the wind. Light parkas are made of denim and cotton for cool summers, early fall and late spring, that is, when it is still relatively warm outside, but it is not comfortable without outerwear.

Twill is a blended fabric (cotton + synthetics) of twill weave. Comfortable and pleasant to the touch, soft, dense and wear-resistant at the same time. Unlike twill, nylon is a pure synthetic made from polyamide fibers. A parka made of twill and nylon with a special waterproof coating will reliably protect you from bad weather, rain and wind. However, you should not wear such clothes as an alternative to a light jacket on a sunny day: you will sweat even more.

Parkas made of membrane fabric have good waterproofness and vapor permeability. Why is this important? Because the weather in the off-season is unpredictable. If it gets hot and you sweat, then in clothes with poor vapor permeability you can quickly get cold. If you choose this type of parka, pay attention to a product with a waterproof rating of 10,000 mm and a vapor permeability rating of 10,000 g/m2/24 hours. This type of parka easily withstands prolonged exposure to pouring rain or wet snow, and quickly removes body vapors to the outside.

Lining

Summer jackets may have no lining at all or a regular lining, i.e. without filler. It is usually made of polyester. Demi-season parkas have insulated linings. And winter parkas, in addition to good insulation, may be supplemented with effective heat retention technology. Surely, you have seen such a silver dotted mesh on the inner surface of the jacket. This is it.

The popular Ukrainian brand of clothing for sports and active recreation, FREEVER, has a technology called TERMO SYSTEM. Its essence is to reflect the heat of the human body and keep it within the inner layer of clothing for as long as possible. Parkas with such a lining are designed for extreme winter temperatures.

Insulation

The following are used as insulation: natural filler (duck, camel down, merino wool), synthetic (the best analogue of down is thinsulate, holofiber) and mixed composition (for example, camel down + holofiber).

You can determine how warm a women's parka is (that is, what temperature conditions it is intended for) by the presence of filler and its density. Parka filling is measured in grams per square meter (g/m2). There are three levels of insulation.

1. Winter (very warm) parkas - the density of the filler is from 160 to 250 g/m2. In such a jacket you will be comfortable even at -20 °C.
2. Demi-season parkas - the density of the filler is from 120 to 140 g/m2. Mainly intended for cold, wet autumn-spring and winter weather. The products are designed for temperatures from +10°C to -15°C, completely windproof and waterproof.
3. Softshell parkas are jackets made of a material that is indistinguishable from regular nylon and usually fleece-like on the inside. There is no insulation, and the concept of softshell is that you can always add an extra layer of clothing to achieve comfortable warmth inside. Softshell parkas have excellent vapor permeability and provide good protection from wind and water. An ideal demi-season option for very active women who like to control the level of warmth with layers at their own discretion.

We will also add that there are smooth parkas - this is a classic version of a jacket, and quilted ones - this is a modern interpretation of outerwear.

2. Length of women's parka

Modern women's parkas are produced in both shortened and extended versions. The classic model is between them, as a rule, from the middle line of the hip to the knee. The extended model is a trend of recent years, an ideal option for the cold period, goes well with trouser suits, jeans and skirts, if they do not go beyond the hem of the jacket. A short parka is very comfortable for warm weather, but it does not protect well from cold and wind. It goes well with skirts and dresses of standard length, as well as jeans and classic trousers.

What length to choose is entirely your choice, which depends on the season and your plans to create a harmonious image. After all, this is what most fashionistas focus on when choosing the length of a jacket.

3. Size of women's parka

Autumn-spring and winter women's parkas from the FREEVER collection are sewn in sizes from S (46) to 3XL (56). At the same time, the products of the maximum size do not look "baglike". The special cut and tightening drawstrings along the waistline visually slim and hide figure flaws.

To correctly determine your jacket size, you need to measure the necessary parameters of your figure using a flexible measuring tape. Each manufacturer has its own size chart in which they are indicated. As a rule, this is the half-girth of the chest, half-girth of the hips, sleeve length and length of the product. The key parameter will be the half-girth of the chest. As always, you need to consider how many layers of clothing you plan to wear. You may have to take a model a little larger. This is especially true for softshell jackets.

4. Functionality of women's parka

When buying a parka, do not be satisfied with the offered functionality, but choose it. Then the product will perfectly meet your requirements. This is especially true for choosing warm models, since the presence of convenient functional details affects the comfort and level of heat retention of the jacket.

Decide what is important to you.

• If you need a hood, choose a model with a removable headdress - it is more convenient. Be sure to check the depth of the fit and the convenience of adjusting the volume.
• A high collar helps keep you warm and protects you from cold winds.
• A central zipper is better than two zippers. For long parkas, this is a must.
• The zipper must be covered along its entire length by a windproof flap with buttons and chin protection.
• Winter and demi-season parkas must have internal knitted cuffs. External ones can be simple or adjustable.
• The parka should have many convenient internal and external pockets. The latter are usually patch pockets with a flap, and inside there is a pleasant fleece lining to warm your hands.
• The waist line should have external or internal drawstrings in the form of thick laces, and the hem should have internal drawstrings with fasteners (long jacket models do not have them).

5. Popular styles of women's parkas

Among the most popular styles, parkas are leaders:

• classic straight cut,
• fitted cut,
• asymmetrical cut.

If we talk about styles, casual, sporty and glamorous parkas are in favor. The latter are created in gold and silver colors, and also stand out with rich fur decoration. Designers also offer double-sided parkas with fur. It must be admitted that these are quite popular models. They can be worn with the fur on the outside or inside.

6. Decorating a women's parka

More than half of this type of jackets are presented on sale as simple, practical models for everyday life without any decoration. This is pure casual and sport. The second (glamorous) half is presented by new ideas of cut, design and decoration.

The most common addition to a parka is fur. Much less often, leather inserts, appliques, flounces, embroidery, rhinestones and other decorations are used. Fur on the hood is the norm for a demi-season and winter parka. It can be natural or artificial, solid or detachable. But there are jackets with a fur lining along the windproof strip, on the pockets and hem.

7. Color of women's parka

Classic parkas have always been distinguished by shades of a muted range (a mixture of primary colors with shades of gray), even if the tones belonged to the warm spectrum. But today, not all manufacturers follow this rule, so you will find a huge selection of various shades, including bright and shiny ones.Regardless of the season, you can buy a parka in red, khaki, blue, marsala, light blue, pink, mustard, blue, denim, white, gray and many other shades. "Metallic" jackets are becoming incredibly popular - they look quite outrageous, giving the image a certain chic.

Always in trend - women's parka in classic black, blue and dark blue colors. An excellent option for those who value practicality and rigor in outerwear and do not like to stand out from the crowd. In addition, a black parka goes well with clothes of almost the entire color spectrum.

A red women's parka is for confident fashionistas. It looks great with light jeans or light pants. The main thing to remember is that simplicity should dominate this look.

A brown jacket is for those who love elegance. It doesn't look too strict like a black one, and it goes well with pastel colors.

For bright and attractive personalities - a yellow women's parka. Reminding of sunny days, it will create an optimistic mood in any gloomy weather. And this is one of its important advantages.

White parka - makes the image airy. Suitable for ladies of all ages and builds, without exception.

WHO IS A PARKA JACKET SUITABLE FOR?

A parka has one important advantage over other outerwear - the classic straight cut model suits women with any body type. You can choose the length and style of this jacket for any body type and height. And the presence of tightening cords at the waist and hem will allow you to more accurately adjust the parka to your figure, skillfully hiding its flaws. The main thing is to decide on the color.

Finally, we note that a parka jacket is always a good choice for women. The clothes are ideal for cold weather, both in the city and outside it. By combining the top of the desired length, color and trim with the appropriate clothes, shoes and accessories, you will get stylish and very comfortable looks for different occasions.