Every resident of Russia knows how harsh winters can sometimes be. This is especially true for the northern regions. So, you definitely need to prepare and buy good warm outerwear since the fall. Fortunately, today the choice of jackets is so great that you can choose a model even for the most sophisticated taste. And no one canceled the good old fur coats, although they are very heavy and not always comfortable. And the Alaska down jacket has long won special popularity. True, many still argue about what kind of clothes they are and where they came from.
A bit of history
Modern down jacket Alaska is only remotely similar to its progenitor. Once upon a time, the Eskimos, in order to protect themselves from the cold wind and the harsh climate of the North, sewed jackets for themselves knee-length, or even lower, from furs. Usually they were worn by hunters and fishermen who were away from home for a long time. Alaska lining has always been made of natural fur. It was he who kept warm for a long time and warmed on the coldest days, and the fur trim on the hood helped to protect himself from the wind.
Travelers who have been to the North quickly adopted the practical Eskimo "fashion" and brought it to central Russia, where winterdown jackets (Alaska) were to the taste of the military, especially the pilots. By the way, the lining of this jacket was made of orange material so that the pilot could turn his clothes inside out in the event of an accident. Its bright color would make it much easier to spot on the ground.
In the early 70s, Alaskan fashion swept the youth of today. Each student begged his parents to buy such a jacket. True, this fashion faded rather quickly, as poor quality Alaska appeared on the market more and more often, and the glory was lost. It was only in the 90s that such jackets were remembered again. Children's Alaska became especially popular. They were worn by everyone, from toddlers to teenagers.
Alaska or parka, what's the difference?
Often, an Alaska down jacket is mistakenly called a parka. Such outerwear was worn by residents from the coast of the Arctic Ocean. In principle, these two jackets are not much different: Alaskas are made in a sporty style, and bright colors are used for tailoring, while the parka is rooted in military affairs, therefore, thanks to the army past, it corresponds to the military style. The main distinguishing feature of the parka is a thin drawstring sewn in at the waist so that you can easily adjust the volume.
Jacket or Alaska?
The market today is oversaturated with a variety of winter clothing models: jackets, down jackets, sheepskin coats, fur coats, etc. Each option suits a certain style of clothing. For example, a sheepskin coat looks great with skinny jeans or long skirts, but it doesn't go well with ski pants.
Down jacket Alaska in this regard is the mostuniversal option. It goes well with almost any clothes and shoes. In addition, fur creates the effect of high cost, so even the most fastidious women of fashion wear Alaska with pleasure. By the way, these jackets are great even for harsh climates, because they perfectly withstand temperatures down to minus 30 degrees. Of course, a simple down jacket is also good. But if you look at the line-up and compare it with the line-up of Alaska, it will immediately become clear who won.
Line-ups
A regular down jacket is usually made of artificial down, which makes it less expensive. However, in extreme cold, such a filler, alas, does not work well. Yes, and washing clothes with down or feather stuffing is very problematic.
Slightly more expensive down jackets can contain up to 20% feather filler. They are certainly warmer than their cheaper "colleagues", but are sinful with the problem of feathers sticking out in all directions.
The Alaska down jacket, unlike its counterpart, warms due to the fur lining, which is easy to unfasten and wash. And the material for sewing the outer part of the jacket is water-repellent, which allows you to stay warm and dry, even if it suddenly started to rain.
Alaska's hood should be given special attention. Unlike ordinary down jackets, special drawstrings are usually sewn in here, which allow you to protect your head from wind and cold as much as possible.
Alaska for men
As mentioned above, the Alaska down jacket is a male type of clothing, becauseit was originally worn by hunters, fishermen and the military. Now you can find many models for both young people and unisex. They differ, as a rule, in discreet dark colors, straight cut and not too abundant fur on the hood. The latter can be both sewn-in and detachable, which is also extremely convenient. Another distinctive feature that the Alaska men's down jacket has is pockets. There are quite a few of them, as on most types of army uniforms.
Alaska for women
When it comes to fashion for the beautiful half of humanity, you can endlessly list the variations. Jackets, windbreakers, fur coats, an Alaska down jacket … Women's wardrobe is much more extensive than men's. Alaskans for girls came back into fashion at the end of the 20th century and were most often more colorful, sometimes even with designs. After all, if men prefer restraint and practicality, then girls like to stand out, and in winter this type of outerwear, like an Alaska down jacket, is perfect for this. The female version, by the way, has a longer fur trim, and the hood is sometimes more of an interesting detail than a functional attribute.
What to choose in the end, you decide. But in all its quality indicators, real Alaska will give odds to any, even the most newfangled, winter jacket. The only negative that an Alaska down jacket has is the price. As a rule, it is much higher than for simple jackets, and varies from 2,500 to 30,000 rubles. But Alaska will definitely last more than one season!
