PARKA RANGE

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A parka is a long, hooded winter coat, and the Duck Apparel parka collection covers the brand's full set of duck down parkas for shoppers in Australia. It brings together three builds, the Classic Parka, the Midi Parka and the Ultra Parka, across colours including Burgundy, Espresso, Latte, Chai, Vista, Navy, Midnight, Sage, Toffee x Navy, Ebony x Ivory and Midnight x Houndstooth. If you want one coat to carry you through a southern Australian winter, a parka is the piece that does the most work.

Classic, Midi and Ultra: what actually differs?

The three parka builds differ by length and by how much of the body they cover. The Classic Parka is the standard length and the most adaptable of the three, working over jeans, work clothes or a uniform. The Midi Parka sits lower on the leg, which makes a real difference when you are standing still outdoors in wind, waiting for a tram in Melbourne or walking between buildings in Canberra. The Ultra Parka is the heaviest option in the collection and is aimed at the coldest days rather than at general city wear.

Colour choice follows how often you want to wear it. Midnight, Navy, Espresso and Burgundy are the easiest to keep looking tidy through a wet winter and match with most things. Latte, Sage, Chai and Vista are the lighter and softer end. The two tone options, Toffee x Navy, Ebony x Ivory and Midnight x Houndstooth, give the coat more presence without changing the shape. Since a parka is worn almost daily for months in the southern states, most buyers pick a colour they can wear with everything rather than a statement one.

Who does a Duck Apparel parka suit?

A parka suits anyone who spends real time outdoors between June and August in Australia. That means Melbourne, Canberra, Tasmania and the alpine towns first, followed by the highlands of New South Wales and Victoria. Commuters who walk to a station, parents on morning drop off, and anyone who watches junior sport on a Saturday get the most out of the extra length. In Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, a parka is still useful, but it is more of an early morning and evening coat than an all day one, and a Classic Parka is generally enough. The complete parka range is the place to see every build and colourway lined up together.

Parka or another coat length?

Choose a parka when you want warmth and leg coverage in the same piece, and a shorter jacket when you mostly want warmth around the core. A hip length jacket is easier to sit in, drive in and store, which is why it wins for people who are in and out of a car all day. If you want more coverage than a Classic Parka gives, the knee length coat collection runs longer again. For alpine trips, snow travel and genuinely severe cold, the sub zero collection is the narrower list to work from.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a parka?

A parka is a long, hooded coat designed for cold weather, cut to cover more of the body than a standard jacket. Duck Apparel parkas are filled with duck down, which traps air to hold warmth. In the Duck Apparel range in Australia, parkas come in three builds, the Classic Parka, the Midi Parka and the Ultra Parka.

What is the difference between a parka and a puffer jacket?

A parka is defined by its length and hood, while a puffer is defined by its quilted, down filled construction, so a coat can be both at once. Duck Apparel parkas are down filled, which makes them puffers in construction and parkas in shape. The practical difference for a shopper is coverage, since a parka reaches further down the leg than a typical puffer jacket does.

Which Duck Apparel parka is the warmest?

The Ultra Parka is the heaviest build in the Duck Apparel parka collection and is the one aimed at the coldest conditions. The Midi Parka follows, because its extra length covers more of the leg than the Classic Parka does. The Classic Parka is the most versatile of the three and is the usual choice for everyday wear in Australian cities.

What size parka should I buy?

Buy a parka in the size that still closes comfortably over a jumper or a knit. Parkas are outerwear, so they are meant to sit over other layers rather than against the skin. Check the shoulders and the chest first, and if you are between sizes and live somewhere genuinely cold such as Canberra or Tasmania, the larger size gives you room to layer.

What colour parka should I choose?

Choose a darker parka colour if the coat will be worn almost every day through winter. Midnight, Navy, Espresso and Burgundy are the most forgiving over a wet season and work with most wardrobes. Latte, Sage, Chai and Vista are lighter, and the two tone options such as Toffee x Navy, Ebony x Ivory and Midnight x Houndstooth add contrast without changing the cut.

When do you wear a parka in Australia?

Parka season in Australia runs from about May to September, with the coldest stretch across June, July and August. In Melbourne, Canberra, Tasmania and the alpine regions a parka gets daily use through that period. In Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane it is worn mostly in the early morning and after dark, or on trips south.

Can you wear a parka in the rain?

A down filled parka is best worn under or alongside a rain layer when the rain is heavy or sustained, since down works best dry. For light rain and short exposure between the car, the office and the shops, a parka handles the trip fine. If your winter is regularly wet as well as cold, plan on owning a rain layer that fits over the parka.