The brown North Face Puffer: you’ve heard of it, seen it and may even own it. As the subject of many Instagram giveaways, this luxurious piece of outerwear became an AW20 staple. So, will its reign at the top of every Depop wishlist continue into 2021?
Ever since Kendall Jenner was papped donning the brown North Face 700 Nuptse in 2019, the coat has been all over Pinterest, Youtube and Instagram. Now, many are selling them for as much as £600 and the demand seems to be never-ending. But what is all the fuss about?
The North Face is known for their high quality products, with many seeing this coat as an investment – pricey but worth it. You’ll know you’re in a university city when suddenly every person to walk past you is wearing one, proving how despite always being successful, North Face puffers have gained even more popularity in recent years.
With a variety of styles, colours and patterns available, there appears to be a jacket for everyone. The brown one, however, has found fame – not only because of celebrity trendsetters, but as a result of the shade suddenly becoming very popular. To quote Olivia Neill in one of her YouTube clothing hauls, “I just love brown, I can’t get enough!”
However, you can’t simply go to The North Face website to cop one of these popular puffers. You could spend hours scrolling through Depop, Vinted or even Facebook Marketplace before finding a secondhand brown one for less than double the retail price! This is not the first time a trend has taken over Depop and caused sellers everywhere to sky rocket the price of their listings. This pretty much defines what Depop culture has come to be: find the bargain thrifts and flip them to eager buyers for a ridiculous sum, justifying it with the caption, “EXTREMELY rare!!!”
Buying secondhand is undoubtedly the more sustainable option, especially for items that use animal by-products. The ‘puff’ in these puffer jackets is made using goose down and feathers. In 2014, The North Face launched the RDS (Responsible Down Standard), which means they don’t use down which has caused ‘unnecessary harm’ to the animals involved, such as force-feeding or live-plucking. Even still, it would be much better to avoid using animals in their process altogether. Buying The North Face products secondhand where you can is much more animal-friendly.
Although, if such products are selling for double the retail price second time round, consumers will be drawn to buying brand new every time. Many have opted (perhaps even settled) for the gilet instead of the full coat. Whilst I agree the colour remains attractive, I will never be a fan as I can't separate them from the stereotypical Oxbridge boy, regardless of the shade!
Personally, I'm only a fan of the full puffer and, if I were to wear it myself, I'd style it with black, contrast-stitch trousers and a cream tank top, paired with leopard print Nike Air Max 98s. Leopard print accessories, such as the infamous fluffy bucket hat, would also be a stylish choice, provided you swapped the leopard shoes for neutral cream or white ones. Finally, show off your outfit by tying your hair back with a brown claw clip in true nineties fashion and open up your neckline.
Although this puffer can be dressed up or down, just like any other trend, it'll lose its appeal if everyone gets their hands on one – thankfully, not everyone has.
Edited by Maddy Burgess