The Find: a parka that manages to be incredibly warm and extremely stylish at the same time
For Toronto women, appearing even remotely stylish in the dead of winter usually involves a stiff trade-off: do you put comfort first in a cozy North Face or Canada Goose (or any other ubiquitous winter parka), or brave the chill in a fashionable peacoat or menswear-inspired piece? It’s a lose-lose scenario. That’s why we’re thrilled about this jacket from Montreal label Soia and Kyo. It manages to satisfy winter warmth requirements—generous hood, down filling, durable outer layer—while ensuring its wearer doesn’t resemble an arctic explorer. On less blustery days, the fur trim can be removed for a simpler look. A bonus: the lower sides zip open to allow for a wider range of movement, should you need it (spontaneous ice-skating, perhaps?). $545
1-855-588-5287, soiakyo.com
, or brave the chill in a fashionable peacoat or menswear-inspired piece? It's a lose-lose scenario. That's why we're thrilled about this jacket from Montreal label Soia and Kyo. It manages to satisfy winter warmth requirements—generous hood, down filling, durable outer layer—while ensuring its wearer doesn't resemble an arctic explorer. On less blustery days, the fur trim can be removed for a simpler look. A bonus: the lower sides zip open to allow for a wider range of movement, should you need it (spontaneous ice-skating, perhaps?). $545
1-855-588-5287, soiakyo.com){kind=link}
Can we all let go of wearing fur yet? Enough already!!
Raccoon and rabbit fur it seems.
no
None of which is endangered
The reason for the fur is not necessarily for looks. Real fur creates a pocket of warm air around the face that fake fur cannot compete with. As well, many Canadian companies (of course, not all) source their fur from Native reservations where fur selling is their main source of income. Without the support by some of these companies there would be many communities without income.
So it’s okay to kill and wear any animal so long as it isn’t endangered?
Fur is one of the best investments that you can make. Aside from being naturally warm, it has unsurpassed durability, when compared to synthetic materials (including faux fur). There are fur coats and shearlings that can last 30, 40 years, or even more than that.
It will never go out of style for the simple reason that is unmatchable quality. While there are certainly arguments that can be made in the favour of “trying something new”, furs are quintessential to a sophisticated wardrobe, just like cashmere jumpers for the cold, and linen trousers for the warm.
If you know of a superior substitute, I’d love to know. But I can guarantee you that fur is not going anywhere, anytime soon.
Very good design. What I like is that this is casual enough to be worn with jeans and a cardigan, and long and smart-looking enough to be worn with something a bit dressier. The extra zipper on the side is an excellent idea. My only concern is that this particular colour is a bit drab. Colourful coats are very much in this season (as you might have seen in Toronto Life’s Christmas Market article; there was quite a range of colourful outerwear there).
The only things I’d change would be a slightly more tapered waist, a trim around the cuffs, and perhaps to have a removable hood (as headwear is a key part of cold-weather looks in womenswear). All aside, this is a solid introduction to the winter coat scene. Can’t wait to see how it does!
Yes of course it is!!! But don’t forget to eat the meat as well, especially the liver and heart.
Not true. I live in Montreal and lived in James-Bay and never worn and never will wear fur. Most people in the city never wear their hood up. Unless you live in Nunavut, Arctica or Antarctica, there is no need for it. Fur is NOT sustainable as they want you to believe. The tanning process is highly toxic. Without the tanning process, it would start decaying within the first week. Go visit the surrounding where the skins are tanned. Their river, lakes and land are completely un-healthy. Fur is only acceptable on animals born with it. It just makes you look like an arshole when you wear it… More than half the population is against it and it will get out of style again like it did before as people are getting more conscious. It is a complete epidemic. The next one touching my face in public transport with their fur will get it. I find it totally offensive. So unless it’s vintage and the animal has died before we became conscious, it’s not OK… The vintage stuff also makes you look bad when it’s not completely obvious… The fur-farming is absolutely cruel and so is the trapping to witch also catches cats and dogs.
or cat and dog!
“Dead” of winter is about right!!
Wow… umm… well… okay then… thanks for the additional insight – even though it has nothing to do with anything I said (or perhaps I’m misunderstanding what a “reply” is supposed to be).
In any case…
– Where one lives is not the subject of discussion here; nor is one’s choice to wear a hood. Just how “cold” it is in a given city, at a given time, is a matter of one’s own perception. There are people who would consider Toronto’s winter to be freezing cold, if they’ve never encountered -20 or -30 temperatures in their lifetime. In any case, fur is just about the best insulator you can get. That’s part of why it’s so coveted. So, if one wants to wear something really warm, to protect them from really cold temperatures, that’s their prerogative, no? One can claim it’s overkill, but if you grew up in the Caribbean, and are now facing Canadian winters, is it really too much then?
– You are correct that there is something to be said as to the sustainability of the fur tanning process. Although I don’t quite think it’s as horrendous as you’re making it out to be. Industrial waste is a much larger scale issue, however – and pointing the finger at fur addresses a very minor issue environmentally, when compared to the larger issues that are having a much more deteriorating effect on our resources. The point I’m trying to make is that if you think fur shouldn’t be worn simply for the environmental impact that it has, you’re not fairly comparing it to the alternatives. Take synthetic fibres such as rayon, for example. The chemicals used in the production process have been widely criticized for their environmental effects – and rayon is much more widely used than fur.
– Where do you get this figure that more than half of the population is against it? More than half of what population? Whatever the case may be, you could also argue that half of the population is against skinny jeans. Is that going to stop the other half of the population from wearing them? Probably not. Because the “other half” has to be comprised of someone. Sure, there may be people who oppose fur. But there are also those who are for it. Like any other aspect of life where one has a choice, we make selections based on the merits that we see in a given thing. So, the half that you’re implying to be against it may be “conscious”, but the other half may be just as “conscious”, but sees a greater benefit in wearing fur, than rejecting it. These tradeoffs are everywhere in life.
– While you may find it offensive, threatening others on public transport that they are “going to get it” isn’t going to land you a lot of friends. While I think that you and I do not see eye to eye on the whole fur thing, I respect your opinion enough to essentially agree to disagree. Lashing out at those who wear fur doesn’t set a very good image of those who are of that opinion – and furthermore, doesn’t actually address the situation’s root cause.