What Is A Parka?

Although the overall trend of global climate is to become warmer, sometimes, the weather can be capricious. In the cold winter, especially on the snowy days, most people would like to choose a down jacket to keep warm. But if you are at an extremely cold place, an ordinary down jacket is perhaps not enough to keep you warm.

So in these cases, you need a parka,which even has better performance in warm keeping than a down jacket. Maybe you do not even know what a parka is, let alone the matching tips of it. Do not worry about that. This passage will provide you with the most practical suggestions for choosing and wearing a parka.

There are many different statements about who invented parkas. Some people believe that the Inuit who live within the Arctic Circle invented parkas. To survive in the extremely cold climate, they have invented parkas which are thicker, longer than any garment you have ever imagined, and are with the fur of animals. The other belief is that the word “parka” comes from the Nenets spoken by the residents in the northern part of the Russia, meaning the skin of animals. So in short, no matter who invented parkas, they were invented to protect people from the harm of extreme coldness.

Later during the Second World War, parkas were used as the uniform of American pilots and infantry. The long and thick parkas could help them adapt to the cold environments at the high altitude or in the wild. During this period, the parkas also evolved into different forms. Parkas with and without the fur collar both appeared. In addition, there was even a kind of parka that could be zipped up from the bottom of the clothes to the top of the head, leaving only the eyes exposed in the two transparent shells.

Due to the mass-production of the parkas, after the war, there was still a large volume of parkas left. So those left parkas were sold to ordinary people at a low price. So this kind of garment has been known and welcomed by more ordinary people. Due to its good performance in wind proofing, parkas have been popular among people who ride motorcycles in winter.

Now the parkas have been much lighter than they used to be. They have been loved not only by polar explorers, but also by ordinary people who live in cold places. In most cases, parkas are hooded with fur collars and drawstrings around the waist. The parkas nowadays also use warmer fabrics for lining to improve their performance in coldness resistance. The most practical parka can even protect people in the extreme coldness of -70℃. Another characteristic of parkas is that they are unisex in most cases, suitable for both genders to wear.

Maybe you will ask: there is already a down jacket in my wardrobe, is it necessary to buy a parka? Actually, both down jackets and parkas have their advantages and disadvantages, so the main accordance to choose an outerwear is your demands. Now let us clarify the characteristics of a down jacket and a parka respectively to provide a reference for you.

From the perspective of size, a parka is larger, longer and thicker than a down jacket in most cases. So a parka will certainly be warmer than a down jacket when the fillings of both are the same. But accordingly, a parka will be heavier than a down coat due to its large size. So if you are going to somewhere extremely cold, it is necessary to prepare a parka in your luggage. But if the place in which you live is not that cold, and you have never felt cold when wearing a down jacket, then it is unnecessary to buy a parka.

Most of parkas are relatively loose, so the Inuit could wear them to fish, and American pilots and infantry could combat in them. But you can find loose down jackets as well as fitted ones. So if you need to perform large movements, a parka is perhaps more suitable for you. Otherwise, down jackets can provide you with more choices.

Although many down jackets also have a waterproof layer on the surface to protect the jacket from getting wet in the rain or snow, they definitely can not protect against rain and snow as well as a parka. Sometimes the lining of your down jacket can get wet if it rains heavily, but this will never happen to a parka. So if you need to stand outside for a long time, then a parka is a better choice for you. But if not so, it is also acceptable to choose an ordinary down jacket.

Most down jackets are with detachable hoods to adjust your outfit to suit the weather. But the hoods on parkas are generally fixed since parkas are usually used in extremely cold places, and the hoods can never be detached. So if you prefer the flexibility, then it is better to choose an ordinary down coat. If you do not have the demand of detaching your hood, then you can also choose a parka.

To ensure that you will feel warm in the parka, several key aspects should be paid attention to. In short, the key points mainly include the length, the filling as well as the water proofing layer. Next we will explain those key points one by one in this section.

The length of the parka. Generally speaking, an ordinary parka reaches the knees. And the basic principle is that the longer the parka is, the warmer it will be if other conditions remain unchanged. So the colder the place you are going to is, the longer the parka you should choose. And of course, if you need to do certain movements and are afraid of being hindered by the long parka, you can also choose a shorter one.

The fillings of the parka. For parkas and even down jackets, the fillings have always been one of the most influential factors which decides the performance of warmth keeping of the outerwear. For the parkas of the same length and size, different fillings will result in different warmth keeping performances. The most frequently seen material for fillings is undoubtedly cotton. But the cotton is heavier than down, and it has poorer performance of warmth keeping than down. So in a colder place, a down filled parka is a better choice. It has better performance in warmth keeping than not only a cotton filled parka, but also a down jacket.

The water proofing layer of the parka. As mentioned above, most parkas and down jackets are all with water proofing layers. But as parka becomes more popular in places not that rainy, many parka manufacturers no longer care about the waterproofing performances of their products. If you happen to live in such a place where it does not rain or snow frequently, you can also pay less attention to this issue. But if you live in a place often rains like London, then this issue is especially important. You need to clarify whether the parka is with a water proofing layer or not, and the effect of the water proofing layer should also be confirmed.

The drawstring of the parka. Most parkas are with drawstrings around the waist. The drawstrings are with the similar function to a belt. In addition to the parka with a drawstring around the waist, you can even choose a parka with drawstrings at the cuffs. In this way, the performance of warmth keeping of this parka will be further improved.

Indeed, parkas are good at keeping warmth. But when it is mentioned, perhaps everyone would believe it is heavy and thick and has nothing to do with fashion. In fact, as long as you have grasped certain skills, you can also create fashionable parka outfits.

A Parka + a pair of pencil pants + a pair of long boots
This outfit emphasizes on the sense of contrasting. Since most of the parkas are large in size, together with a pair of slim pants, your legs will look extremely thin. And figure proportions of ladies with pear shape figure can be balanced. But if you are with the inverted triangular figure shape, then it is not a good choice for you.

A parka + a pair of camouflage pants + a scarf
Since parkas were exactly uniforms for pilots and infantry, a pair of camouflage pants will not be out of place in the combination with a parka. In addition, the patterns of camouflage can add more colors in their combination with the solid color parka. Together with a scarf, you can feel even warmer.

A parka + a long sweater dress + a pair of high heel boots
This outfit is more suitable for ladies who do not need to stand or walk outside for a long time. And if you are going to a place as cold as the polar region, then just ignore this outfit. But for ladies who are suitable to try this outfit, it provides the sense of elegance for them.

A parka + a pullover + a pair of sports pants
This outfit is suitable for ladies who would like to do exercises in the morning. The loose pullover, a pair of loose sports pants and a loose parka, your overall outfit will be harmonious and convenient for doing sports.