Patagonia Quilt Again Jacket

I have been wearing Patagonia gear for the past 25 years (it has been known to show up in my baby pictures). Growing up in a sub-zero alpine climate, I don’t think I really had a choice. You just wore what was warm. Patagonia has not traditionally been a go-to brand for the fashion-concsious because, traditionally, their designs sacrificed style for performance and environment-friendly production possibilities. But this has changed in the past few years. Although the folks at Patagonia will always err on the side of ‘function’ when it’s a close call (and I respect that), they have begun to realize that they don’t have to entirely sacrifice fashion for function. Case in point: the new Quilt Again Jacket ($120)–it’s naturally weather resistant because it is made of chlorine-free wool and fleece from scraps saved from the cutting-room floor. As with all Patagonia garments, it wicks moisture away from your body to mitigate that freezing sweat effect; its full zipper will help you ventilate as well. Patagonia garments are expensive, yes, but with their serious lifetime warranty, all it takes is one buy–long-term value is what we’re talking about here. I am seeing that their new designs pass fashion muster but are also classic enough to withstand fashion trend fluctuations (like a 3-button suit, if you will). The Quilt Again Jacket is a perfect example. Patagonia has always been (and will continue to be) my favorite ‘warm clothes’ brand, but I feel like I can now rock it on the street as well as on the slopes.