The Best Parka Coats For Men

The parka coat is a must-have in every man’s wardrobe now that we’re into January, but just what exactly should you be wearing with your coat? With the coldest time of the year fast approaching these are some of the mens parka jacket looks that you can’t afford to miss out on.

Parkas are designed to keep you warm no matter what the weather, stylish with their usually furred hood, parkas have been trending this season with a huge range of hues and cuts to choose from. If you aren’t already on the parka train, it’s never too late to jump on board.

It’s also important to remember that parkas do usually come down to just above the knee, so be sure you don’t get a size too large and are left looking like Arsene Wenger.

The parka may take up most of your body, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of versatility with what you can put with the jacket. From a number of different colours to many different styles with slimline parkas and more classic fishtail looks available.

What is a fishtail parka?

Our first choice was originally designed for the US Army in Korea but was brought into mainstream culture in the 60s. To put it simply, fishtail parkas are usually three-quarter-length and end in a split in the back of the jacket with a drawstring on each hem (this is the fishtail, in case you weren’t there yet).

Ready to keep you dry and warm, fishtail parkas are a great outdoorsy look this winter. We recommend you stick to neutral colours like blues, green and black. This makes it easy to match your parka for every occasion. You could wear it over a suit to work or with jeans and a t-shirt for your day-to-day, making it the most versatile piece in your wardrobe.

What is in a down jacket?

Now we’re getting into more serious types of parkas. Whilst a fishtail parka is designed to be thin and easy to move in yet warm, a down jacket is all about the heat. Basically, a down jacket is a jacket which has been insulated with the soft and warm under feathers from ducks or geese. These are the fluffy white feathers that keep birds warm in freezing lakes, meaning they’ll keep you warm on the commute to work no problem.

Go for a down jacket if you’re looking for high-quality materials that are bound to last a lifetime and keep you toasty. If you want a designer brand that specialises in down jackets, we’d recommend Parajumpers and their range of down parkas.

The bright option

Now that we’ve covered the types of winter jacket you can go for, there’s a certain look you might want to pull off as well. Having dark clothes as your overall outfit then finishing it off with a bright and colourful parka coat is a great way to make a fashion statement. Red or yellow are the best choices when it comes to going loud and proud with your winter coat, or if you want to give that ‘I’m-The-Best-Skier-On-The-Mountain’ vibe then white is also a great parka option when making a statement.

What should you wear with a parka?

A good item to partner with a mens parka coat, especially one without a furred hood, would be a scarf – obviously. Another essential for this time of year, and an opportunity to show off your fashion taste by matching it with a decent pair of gloves in the same colour.

If you wanted to go one step further, you could also pick up a beanie hat, though it wouldn’t be completely necessary, especially if you’re wearing something as warm around the head as a parka.

In terms of your lower half, any pair of slim-fitting jeans would go well with a parka, colour-dependent of course on whatever colour parka you end up going for.

If you do go for the traditional dark green parka, then light blue or black go best, but if you went for the white parka you may want to limit yourself to only darker colours.

SHOP DESIGNER PARKS FOR MEN