The parka is one of style’s stalwarts. Although it’s usually the wool overcoat that’s seen as the definitive winter style classic, the parka comes up trumps for versatility – what other top layer has been taken up by Inuits battling Arctic breezes, soldiers in the trenches and mods keen on protecting their suits from moped dirt?

Originally made from caribou or seal skin, the parka’s been through many guises since its first outing in the freezing Arctic: cotton-sateen blends to protect the US army, and more recently tailored takes made from cashmere blends (aprés-ski jackets that are almost – almost – too plush to wear outdoors).

Today, the options are endless – choose from unlined lightweight designs that keep the rain at bay while boosting warmth or traditional fleece-lined styles that act like a form-fitting furnace. Still stuck on which winter coat to invest in this year? Your search may be over.

What Is A Parka?

Few pieces of clothing have undergone such a thorough transformation as the parka. This age-old outerwear staple can be loosely defined as a long, hooded coat designed to keep the rain (and the cold) out, yet it’s available in a few key forms. And, like many of the most popular garments of today, the parka rose to its 21st century prominence through extensive use in the military, most notably in the American armed forces.

Facing severely cold Korean winters, the US Army invented the now renowned M-1947 in yep, you guessed it, 1947. Since then there’s been a few updates – most notably the famed fishtail M-51 which was adopted by the mods of the 1960s.

The Idle Man

While the parka has never really fallen from favour since the mod era, like other classic menswear items its enduring appeal can be attributed to its function rather than its form. It was favoured by the military for its good rain coverage and unrivalled warmth, and by the mods for exactly the same reason. Who doesn’t want to stay dry, whether you’re fighting in wars or through city traffic?