Nat Laurel

Piecing together a warm and aesthetically admirable winter outfit elicits the delicate line

between wardrobe wipeout (a full-length puffer and sweats) and unseemly neglect (a

single tee in 20 degrees). For the frigid non-Californian, the long winter chill is marked

by the weight of wool socks, which often dictates a look somewhere between the

Michelin Man and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s Veruca—the girl who nearly

popped from too much berry.

Enter the “utilitarian chic” green parka, a coat that is often purchased and stashed away

when one realizes the challenge of pulling off the elegant look Gisele achieves strolling

in Boston. For her, the cold is a styling boon. Like Marilyn Monroe, Garance, and

Michelle Williams, Gisele’s parka is a breathtaking allusion to bare ankles and a heated

car where one might luxuriate in Tory Burch flats, removed from the travails of everyday

winter life.

Yet for the practically chic among us (and those who have already spent their winter

wardrobe budgets and must put their coats to use), there are style options that highlight

the possibilities of a functionally worn dark green winter parka. This is style for the

grown-ups: a woman who enjoys her ability to navigate the polar vortex and the New

York City subway. Like a strong wine with dinner, the question morphs: “How to pair the

green parka to good effect?”

When inclined to reach for black jeans, instead choose soft wool blends and opaque

tights.

In early December of 2015 Scot Schuman of the Sartorialist  noted in his Instagram

how this  8 year old  2007 parka look was  still appealing to him.  Well, the silhouette  is a

modern take on the Balenciaga sack silhouette of the  late 50s, combining best of

both worlds: feminine and comfy.   Something to keep in mind while paving

your style path through the world of baggy  clothing.

The strong-leg line created accentuates femininity while enveloping the legs in

warm wool, and often proves warmer than denim. When wearing the parka fully zipped,

a skirt-tight combo also provides the chance to throw on a pair of sturdy black leather

boots without looking overly clunky. Similarly, should you choose to walk about with

your parka open, soften the look with black cashmere scarves or turtlenecks.

If it’s casual Friday or a Saturday out, and denim presents itself as the only viable (and

comfortable) choice, rotate in the oft-neglected bright blue jean. In contrast to the darker

shade of the parka, a brighter pair of denim makes the look pop alongside a bit of fur trim

around the hood (à la Marilyn), and invites the opportunity to wear a corresponding pair

of that most coveted of favorite winter shoes: the suede bootie. Like the fur-trimmed

hood, the shoe contrasts with the utilitarian look and suggests the softness of the ankle

underneath.

Alongside light blue jeans, a generous, thicker heel bootie ensures you’ll be able to

navigate the pavement, while a dark ruby, olive, teal or taupe shoe offers winter’s best

prize: anything that is reminiscent of a thick winter throw blanket. Or, go in the other

direction for a pair of  knee-high Stuart Weitzman 5050s.

Lest you feel tied to the realm of dark hues, take full advantage of the possible contrast

and go for white early and often. A green parka alongside a pair of white white pants

redeems drab days, and matches the snow in its bright appearance upon first falling. For

this look, choose low-contrast booties that offer some winter texture in high-shine or

glossed leather to avoid truncating the leg. Try light booties or a pair of soft Timberlands

in grey (steer clear of the classic yellow, which paint an overly-utilitarian picture).

Each winter, catalogs are filled with models sporting the parka in its most natural and

ethereal state: unzipped and, frankly, chilly. Achieve that same promise by wearing the

parka in all its army-fatigue-allusion glory. These options marry the form-function

divide. Wear your green parka and love it for all the warmth—and style—it shows winter

can provoke.