Frigid temperatures, slush on every corner, and a cold, wet drip from buildings inevitably landing on unlucky passersby. Winter drags on through February. How does one stay warm?
A few students at Latin may have the answer, which, surprisingly, doesn’t involve moving to California, but rather investing in the popular, premium-fashion brand Aritzia — specifically, the Super Puff. Modeled daily by Latin students, the staple Super Puff is cropped at the hips with a matte or glossy finish. The coat’s hood is emblazoned with a fat “S” in all-white text, standing out even when a flock of students indistinguishably crowds into Latin’s hallways.
“I actually think Super Puffs are worth the hype,” senior Lily Tobin said. “It’s always freezing in the mornings, but the light down feathers keep me cozy. I also like the different lengths, because the long one keeps your legs warm while the cropped [version] is still pretty warm but cuter.”
Lily’s views reflect Latin’s trend cycles, which leave the hallways littered with orphaned Super Puffs, waiting on their owners to claim them after a class or at the end of the day. The masses of cropped coats reveal how the Super Puff has seamlessly evolved into a winter trend—or perhaps a permanent staple—on campus.
When asked about her go-to winter item, senior Taylor Mitchell, an owner of multiple pieces from the trendy collection, said, “Definitely my Super Puff. I have a vest and a coat, and I think they’re all worth it. I usually wear them with a hoodie, and I’m always warm.”
While warmth, style-points, and length seem to be the driving factors behind student purchases, how exactly did Aritzia create such a beloved coat?
Since Aritzia is a Canadian-founded company, consideration for the cold is at the essence of every item in the brand’s Super line. To insulate each Super Puff, Aritzia uses premium goose down feathers that meet the Responsible Down Standard (RDS)—a standard that incentivizes the humane treatment of ducks and geese used for their feathers. With those feathers, Aritzia creates a “fill power” (the higher the better), which increases the warmth of the coat per square inch.
With over 46 styles and nine weatherproof fabrics to choose from, there are ultimately five warmth levels available to customers, ranging from warm-ish (protection up to 32°F) to extreme “polar vortex” cold (protection up to -40°F).
Despite the company’s best efforts to balance chic with chill-blocking, some students don’t feel the coat lives up to the hype.
“I don’t buy from Aritzia often, but I’ve also never needed to replace anything I did get even after a few years. Still, I think there are some things that aren’t as worth the price,” junior Klein Khim said, briefly touching on her skepticism about whether the “Super” quality justifies the super expense. “I have a puffer from REI that was cheaper, and I’ve liked it more than I’ve liked the Super Puffs I’ve borrowed from my friends.”
For reference, women’s REI jackets are about $125 while women’s Super Puffs start at $225.
Sophomore David Patterson, who is outside of Aritzia’s female target audience for the super glossy, super cropped coat, still expressed concerns about the brand’s pricing.
“I don’t think there’s a good reason to buy a [$225] coat,” David said. His beliefs speak to Klein’s earlier skepticism about whether the coveted item is worth the expense. “I think that Super Puffs are overrated and only for fashion purposes, which is why they’re so popular at Latin.”
Despite her earlier criticism, Klein still enjoys shopping at Aritzia. Luckily for her, there’s a sizable community of students who feel similarly.
“I’m not really a big fan of Super Puffs,” senior Aye Mya Mon said when asked about her winter essentials. She prefers other coveted Aritzia items. “I really love their fleece-lined hoodies and sweatpants. They’re just so comfortable, and they make my legs look more flattering.”
However, her mixed feelings surrounding the Super Puff don’t reflect her views regarding Aritzia and their other products as a whole. “It’s not necessary to buy those things from Aritzia, but for its price, it’s the best quality ever,” she added. She purchases many items from the high-end store and expressed that in comparison to other brands, she found the quality of Aritzia to be the best.
Junior Emma Dougherty, a fellow dissenter of Super Puff culture, also shares Aye Mya Mon’s and Klein’s love for all other things Aritzia.
“I personally think a winter coat is a winter coat,” Emma said. Emma’s neutrality, however, was overshadowed by mention of her cozy favorites from the same brand. “I really like Aritzia’s sweatshirts because I prefer an oversized sweatshirt, and they have really nice, comfy ones that can still fit under a jacket.”
While some students pass on the coat and pick up on other cozy trends, many indulge in a little bit of everything from the popular brand—making Aritzia quite the gold standard for fashion on campus. Even for some of the most budget aware shoppers, consumers can’t seem to deprive themselves of fleece-lined basics and oversized goods, and, at Latin at least, it still ‘tis the season for shopping at Aritzia.
