FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: 9 WAYS TO STYLE A RED PUFFER

Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! It's time for art and sustainability.  Friday night is always such an interesting time. You feel tired from the work week but at the same time excited for the weekend. Do you feel that way? Sometimes I start my Friday's night with a head filled with ideas, but I don't end up burning the night oil too often. Indeed, more often than not, I end up falling asleep before midnight just because I feel exhausted from the workweek. 

In this post, I'll share nine ways to style a red puffer jacket. I'm also going to write about the history of puffer jackets because I'm a history geek and can't help myself! My own personal history will this jacket will be revealed as well, because I believe in being sustainable by shopping's one closet. For me sustainable fashion and shopping our closets are synonyms.  

I've had this red Umbro jacket for years. It's actually my husband's jacket. He bought this red jacket years ago, but somehow it ended being mine. The first time I wore it on my blog was in 2013, so it's at least a decade old. I'm not sure how many times I have actually worn it, but I managed to find six published outfits and two unpublished outfits. One of those two unpublished red puffer jacket outfits was a fairly recent styling and the other one was from last sprint. Let's see how I wore this red puffer recently, and then we'll see how I wore it in the past. Moreover, I actually illustrated one outfit with this red puffer. Therefore, I'll share my fashion illustration of this red puffer as well. 

MORE LINKS TO POSTS ABOUT FASHION ILLUSTRATING 

 DIGITAL RETOUCHING WITH PAINT 3D,  LADY IN A LILAC DRESS and BALL PAINT FASHION ILLUSTRATION. 

FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: WATERCOLOUR PENCILS -IVANA'S FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY- FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: INSPIRED BY COLOURS OF AUTUMN- A GIRL IN A RED GOWN: FASHION ILLUSTRATION OF THE DAY-CUSTOMIZING A NOTEBOOK WITH A FASHION ILLUSTRATION- FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: ILLUSTRATING A BLACK DRESS FROM DOLCE & GABBANA COLLECTION- 10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR FASHION ILLUSTRATION SKILLS- HOW TO CREATE A 3D FASHION ILLUSTRATION DRESS WITH DRY FLOWERS?- FRIDAY FASHION ILLUSTRATION: HAT OBSESSED -FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY INSPIRED BY SUMMER STYLE- FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: SUMMER TO AUTUMN TRANSITION- FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: ILLUSTRATED TOTE BAGS-FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: HAT OBSESSED - FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: NEW AUTUMN INSPIRED ART FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: MY INSPIRATIONS

HOW I WORE THIS RED PUFFER IN THE PAST?  Here are the links that will take you to my older outfits with this jacket. Within this post, you'll also found collages with this red puffer, but if you want to see more of these outfits, visit my old posts. 

Since I've had this blog for a long time, there are outfits dating back to more than a decade ago!

1) In this 2013 post, I paired this red Umbro jacket with pointed heeled boots, Edi floral skirt and  DIY headpiece. 

2) In this 2016 post, I paired this red Umbro puffer with burned orange cord flared jeans, a striped cardigan and a striped turtleneck. I finished the look with blue shoes. 

3) In this 2019 post, I paired this red puffer with a Bellissima semi pleated skirt and pointed heeled boots. I also belted this puffer for that occasion. 

4) In this 2021 post, I paired this red puffer with leopard leggings, a skater dress and high brown boots. I even illustrated this look for one of my Fashion Illustration Fridays!

5) In this 2023 post, I paired this red puffer with a vintage black floral pattern skirt and high brown boots for a day of hiking in the snow. 

6) In this recent 2024 post that featured my review for Miss Harried, I paired with red puffer with black leggings, a long black puffer and a black pair of pointed heeled boots. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SHOPPING YOUR CLOSET? 

The Multiple Advantages of Shopping Our Own Closets

1. You'll save money!

2. You'll rediscover your favourite clothing items!

3. You'll be able to feel comfortable while you're shopping!

4. You'll be able to listen to the kind of music you like or  listen to an audio-book!

5. You'll have the possibility to better asses and judge your clothes!

6. You'll still be able to follow trends because fashion moves in circles!

7. You'll be helping the environment!

8. You'll be able to build a relationship with your clothes!

9. You'll get to know your closet better and learn to make use of what you already have!

10. You'll be able to inspire others and be inspired by others!

11. You can become a part of a sustainable fashion community!

12. You can learn about being careful, mindful, practical and eco-friendly by learning how to take care of your things and treasure what you have, and use these skills to be eco-friendly in other areas of your life!

13. You'll learn to be less wasteful in general! 

I WELCOME THE CHALLANGE OF STYLING PUFFERS 

Puffers are very practical, but they can be a challenge to style. It's a challenge I welcome, though!

What exactly is the challenge of styling puffers, you might want to ask.

Well, the challenge is that puffers are usually perceived as casual, sporty and  hiking (basically outdoor)  clothing items. So, styling them for everyday can require some adjustments. 

I mean puffers did originate as sporty items, but now we wear them a lot. As athleisure trend came on the scene, so did puffers. 

What does Wikipedia tell us about puffers?  Well, first it explains what exactly a puffer jacket it.

DID YOU KNOW THAT A PUFFER JACKET IS A JACKET THAT HAS AIR POCKETS CREATED BY THE BULK OF FEATHER TO RETAIN WARM AIR? 

The down jacket, known more commonly in the fashion industry as a puffer jacket or simply puffer, is a quilted winter jacket which is insulated with either duck or goose feathers. Air pockets created by the bulk of the feathers allow for the retention of warm air.

DID YOU KNOW THAT A PUFFER JACKET HAS THE HIGHEST WARMTH TO WEIGHT RATION? 

Well, that explains why it is favoured by travelers, athletes and hikers! 

A puffer jacket is actually such an interesting fashion item.

Down is favored among hikers and backpackers because it can easily compress into a small size to fit in a backpack, and it has the highest warmth to weight ratio. The down's loft in the jacket is measured with the term "fill power" which represents the number of cubic inches one ounce fills. For example, one ounce of 700 fill-power down will fill 700 cubic inches. A jacket with larger fill power will compress better and have a lighter weight relative to the jacket's volume and warmth. Usually goose down is loftier than duck down. "Box construction" baffles are warmer than "sewn through" baffles.
In contrast, if water absorbs into the jacket's down material, the down looses its puffy loft, and loses its warmth until it dries again. Some down jackets will be Durable Water Repellant (DWR) which indicates that it can withstand a light drizzle of water for about an hour before it soaks into the jacket. Some jackets use hydrophobic down (i.e., down coated with hydrophobic material) to delay the absorption of water into the jacket.^[2] If a jacket does not have hydrophobic down or DWR, those properties can be easily added at home with products such as Nikwax Down Wash Direct and Nikwax Down Proof.

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE PUFFER JACKET WAS INVENTED IN 1922? SO, IT'S MORE THAN A HUNDERED YEARS OLD!

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE FIRST PUFFER JACKET WAS MADE FROM BALOON FABRIC AND AN EIDERDOWN? 

George Finch, an Australian chemist and mountaineer, is credited with first wearing a version of the down jacket in 1922, originally made from balloon fabric and eiderdown. 

HOW ALMOST DYING FROM HYPOTHERMIA INSPIRED EDDIE BAUER TO CREATE A PUFFER JACKET? 

In 1936, outdoor adventurer Eddie Bauer created a down jacket following a hazardous fishing trip during which Bauer almost died of hypothermia; the adventurer invented an outer jacket encased with feathers, originally sold as the "skyliner".  

SO GEORGE FINCH AND EDDIE BAUER WERE CRUCIAL FOR THE INVENTION OF A PUFFER

An efficient insulator, the outer garment allowed for the trapping and retention of warm air, making it a very popular choice for those enduring harsh winter conditions. Bauer was first to create, sell and patent his design in 1939. 

...AND CHARLES JAMES CAME TO IDEA OF MAKING A PUFFER JACKET INTO HAUTE COUTER

In 1937 designer Charles James developed a jacket with a similar design for haute couture. James's jacket was made of white satin yet maintained a similar, quilted design; he labelled his creation the "pneumatic jacket". James' design proved hard to replicate and thick padding throughout the interior of the coat made upper-body mobility difficult. The designer believed his contribution would be minor. This error was remedied shortly after by reducing padding around the neck and armholes.

IN THE 1940ties, THE PUFFER JACKET WAS MARKETED TO THE WEALTHY AS EVENING WEAR

Following its debut, the down jacket remained popular within winter outdoor sports communities for a decade. The puffer would begin to serve more than its utilitarian purpose in the 1940s, when it was tailored and marketed to the wealthy as an evening layer. 

IN THE SEVENTIES, DESIGNER NORMKA KAMALI BROUGHT THE ATHLEISURE FEEL TO THE PUFFER JACKET BACK 

The garment was reimagined in the 1970s as an athleisure jacket specifically marketed towards women by designer Norma Kamali. Named the "sleeping bag jacket", Kamali's version featured two coats sewn together with a synthetic down alternative packed between. Within the last couple decades, the down jacket has become a staple of winter fashion. Bright neon colored versions of the puffer were worn in Italy throughout the 1980s.

During the 1990s the jacket surged in popularity as a young generation of ravers would adorn themselves in the puffer, wearing it throughout the night during the winter months. A similar trend was witnessed in the United States throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, during which popular hip-hop artists began dressing themselves in the large jackets.

MORE LINKS IN CASE YOU WANT TO CHECK MORE OF MY ART: 

ANOTHER ART UPDATE HERE: MARKER ILLUSTRATIONS AND DIGITAL

BEFORE THAT: FIVE WATERCOLOUR PORTRAITS

BEFORE THAT: ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, BLIDINJE MOUNTAIN CHURCH

FASHION ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY: DECEMBER

INSPIRED BY MICA, SHEILA AND BLAIR + my previous INSPIRED BY POSTS starting with the most recent ones: 

INSPIRED BY VIX, LOVELY AND AKIKO (WATERCOLOUR PENCILS)

INSPIRED BY AKIKO, LOVELY AND VIX (COLOURED PENCILS) 

INSPIRED BY ANN AND SHEILA (COLOURED PENCILS)

.......AND: 

INSPIRED BY VIX (COLOURED PENCILS)

INSPIRED BY SHANAZ AND MARISA (2020)

INSPIRED BY FASHION BLOGGERS 2016

INSPIRED BY SELVAGGIA AND PAOLA 2019

INSPIRED BY MELODY JACOBS 2018

INSPIRED BY NATALIA  2018

INSPIRED BY JODIE'S TOUCH OF STYLE 2018

INSPIRED BY JESSICA 2018

INSPIRED BY TIJANA 2018

INSPIRED BY 2017 EDITION 

INSPIRED BY 2016 EDITION

INSPIRED BY 2015 EDITION

INSPIRED BY...SEVEN FASHION BLOGGERS 2014 EDITION

RECENT UNPUBLISHED OUTFITS WITH THIS PUFFER JACKET 

7) WORK OUTFIT - A RED PUFFER WORN OVER A BLACK SUIT (BLACK BLAZER AND SKIRT), A WHITE TURTLENECK AND BLACK BOOTS AND LEG WARMERS.

Remember when I used to have a black and white dress code? I have a new job now, but anyhow this was my solution to infusing some colour into my work outfits. If you want to keep your office or work looks professional, the easiest way to do it is to wear a suit. If you want to jazz up your business style, or add some colour to your work attire, why not just wear a red puffer jacket over your suit? 

8) A FESTIVE OUTFIT - MY RED PUFFER WORN WITH A RED CAP WITH DEER EARS, A BLUE DRESS, A PAIR OF BLACK FLARED LEGGINGS AND BLACK BOOTS

This was a cozy and simple festive styling. Nothing much to say about it. I really enjoyed wearing it. Shopping one's closet is fun. 

9) A HIKING OUTFIT- RED PUFFER WORN WITH A BEIGE PUFFER, EDI SKIRT, BLACK LEGGINGS AND BLACK BOOTS & LEG WARMERS AND BLACK BAG. 

I wore this outfit for a hiking in Goranci, a near by village. The best part of our dog was befriending two dogs who followed us during our walk, appearing very protective of us. I don't know, but often dogs have this instinct to protect me. To reward them for their protective work, I petted them after we finished our walk. It was a very cold day, but I enjoyed that walk a lot. It is proof that winter doesn't have to be boring, it can be fun. At the moment, my health isn't the best, but it's nice to reflect on these moments when I was actually able to do some hiking. 

What is your favourite styling with this red puffer? 

Thank you for stopping by !