I was delighted when the folks at Mountain Khakis recently sent a Lodge Jacket my way, just in time for the wintry mix of an inland Washington November.
When I first unfolded this coat, a blend of 80% Merino wool and 20% boiled woven nylon, I was struck by how lightweight and soft it is. As with my down ski jacket (which has never been used for actual skiing), I’m always amazed that something so airy and squishable can really keep me warm. It’s a kind of sartorial cognitive dissonance.
I’m often skeptical of love-at-first-sight narratives. But, really, as soon as I tried on this Mountain Khakis coat, I knew I was in for it. The first day I wore it to work, I didn’t want to take the Lodge Jacket off. (My office felt like a toaster oven with no temperature dial, so I did take it off).
I’m intrigued by Mountain Khakis’ combination of the untamed and the polished. The “mountain-inspired lifestyle-apparel” company launched in 2003 and has attracted a cadre of devoted outdoor (or at least outdoor apparel) enthusiasts. I appreciate the coat’s versatility. It’s a “dress-up dress-down” item, as my mom would say. It looks great with wool dress pants or skirts and tights. It looks great with jeans.
The coat isn’t just what I’d coyly call a “lady coat.” It’s not just “fitted,” that catch-all term like “architecture” that I use to obscure my lack of more specific vocabulary . This Lodge Jacket has princess seams and a demure little band on the back. The pockets manage to be both roomy and sleek.
I’m charmed by sleeves that are long enough for my dental-floss arms. These sleeves are not only long but they taper into “internal wind cuffs.” How’s that for Wanderchic superpowers? The “drop hood” fits snug and has a four-inch collar to block the chill. The coat boasts an “Internal Storm Flap With Rollover Chin Guard.” I’m not entirely sure what that is, but I’m definitely enjoying the benefits.
But reading about the coat’s specs, while a rich experience, is no substitute for trying one on. The Lodge Jacket may inspire a little backyard photo shoot, much like the one you see here.
Photo credits:
Photos 1 and 2 are from mountainkhakis.com
Photos 3 and 4 were taken by WanderMan in our backyard.