Power dressing has traditionally been associated with suits or wide-shouldered wool coats. However, the current geopolitical climate has shifted sartorial norms. This week, Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, made headlines not just for his firm stance against Donald Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland, but also for his choice of attire: a glacial-blue windbreaker at a joint press conference with Denmark’s leader.
Nielsen’s choice of garment, a staple in his wardrobe, resonated with the current era’s uncertainties, symbolizing resilience and adaptability. The windbreaker, or anorak, is a modern descendant of the parka, originally crafted in the Arctic region from marine mammal intestines for survival. Nielsen’s jacket has been described as “a modern take on the Inuit anorak,” underscoring its cultural and historical significance.
The Cultural Resurgence of the Windbreaker
The windbreaker’s resurgence has been bolstered by its presence in popular culture. One of the most notable instances was during the press tour for the film “Marty Supreme,” where a $250 windbreaker became a central fashion piece. Produced by the LA-based luxury brand Nahmias in collaboration with A24, the film’s production company, and actor Timothée Chalamet, the jacket was emblazoned with the film’s title and three gold stars.
This garment, though absent from the film itself, captured the public’s imagination, worn by celebrities such as Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Misty Copeland, Kid Cudi, and even Ringo Starr. As Doni Nahmias, the brand’s founder, told GQ, “It’s like a modern take on vintage sportswear … we kind of just decided the fans are going to need these.” The windbreaker quickly sold out, with resale prices skyrocketing, a blue size large listed at just under £16,000 on StockX.
Fashion Meets Functionality
Beyond high fashion, windbreakers have found a home in more accessible markets. Depop, for example, has seen a 60% increase in searches for “windbreakers” over the past six months, and a staggering 1,475% surge in searches for “Marty Supreme” in just six weeks. The platform is flooded with retro versions reminiscent of the original designs.
The windbreaker’s appeal extends beyond its practicality. Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, and Charli XCX were spotted wearing versions at Saint Laurent’s Paris show in September, cementing the jacket’s status as both a fashion item and a cultural symbol. According to Daniel-Yaw Miller, a sports and fashion journalist, “windbreakers are definitely having a moment in both menswear and womenswear. There’s an emphasis on an elevated style of dressing inspired by 90s sportswear and street fashion.”
Expert Insights and Broader Trends
For J’Nae Phillips, a trend forecaster and creator of the Fashion Tingz newsletter, windbreakers are timely because they “sit at a very specific emotional crossroads: practicality, nostalgia and irony, without tipping fully into any one of those.” This sentiment is echoed by the reissue of the 90s Trango jacket by outdoor specialist Berghaus, fronted by a campaign featuring a moody Liam Gallagher.
Phillips also points to meteorological factors, noting, “We’re in a permanently ‘in-between’ climate moment.” As Storm Goretti brings 99mph gusts to the UK, she adds, “Not cold enough for a coat, not warm enough for nothing. Windbreakers are designed for uncertainty, which mirrors how people are dressing more broadly: adaptable, layerable, non-committal.”
“Windbreakers align with a broader mood shift away from aspiration and toward realism. They’re democratic, vaguely sporty, slightly unfashionable in a way that now reads as chic.”
The Future of Windbreakers in Fashion
As windbreakers continue to gain traction, they are being embraced by both high street and luxury brands. Zara has introduced a polka dot version, while Damson Madder, a London-based brand, offers several takes. Cos has its own iteration, and the Scandi label Ganni presents a leopard-print option.
Leading the charge is the Paris-founded, Milan-based brand K-Way, with its reimagined Le Vrai jacket. Lorenzo Boglione, CEO of BasicNet Group, which owns K-Way, remarked, “While windbreakers started as simple protection from the elements, today they’ve become true lifestyle pieces.”
The windbreaker’s journey from functional outerwear to a fashion statement reflects a broader societal shift towards practicality and adaptability. As global uncertainties continue to shape our world, the windbreaker stands as a symbol of resilience, ready to weather the storms of change.
