Apr 1

Apr 1 Moncler x Craig Green Coolidge Jacket (2019)

Alex Rakestraw

Insulation, Review, Lifestyle

Moncler Genius 5 Craig Green Coolidge Jacket (2019)

Type: Insulator / Use: Lifestyle / Face: Nylon / Insulation: Down

Technologies: n/a

Price: $1880.00

Moncler Genius 5 Craig Green.

MonCraig.

A sophisticated down jacket. By sophisticates. For sophisticates.

MonCraig.

Goose down for wamth. Holes for breathability.

MonCraig.

That’s right. Holes. Oh, I’m sorry. Did ze little baby think this was outerwear?

MonCraig.

Why would you wear this outside? You are a silly, silly baby. And so small, too.

MonCraig.

In French, that translates to: “My Craig.”

MonCraig.

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So I’m not being entirely fair.

As evidenced by the $2000 price tag (MonCraig), the Moncler Genius 5 Craig Green Coolidge Jacket is not as utility piece. Designer Craig Green (Craig) made headlines worldwide with the unveiling of his larger-than-life Moncler line (Mon); Skepta even rocked a bulbous body suit in a now-deleted IG pic (MonCraig). For this year’s edition of the Green x Genius lockup, a collection of bubbles-as-sculpture pieces were complemented by more wearable editions.

And so goes the story of the Coolidge Jacket.

First things first: Craig’s Coolidge is just plain cool. The jacket is a mish-mash of colors and themes — some fashion, some outdoors, all somehow brought together in a compelling way. On the front, Voltorb colorblocks disguise zip pockets while showing off some truly unconventional paneling. On the back, a contrast gray textile (and “Moncler” logo hit) make the Coolidge a true head-turner. Armpit holes mark it as anything but a survival piece. A supersized, removable bondage-inspired hood makes every wear feel a shift in Snoke’s Praetorian Guard.

As a fashion piece, it’s wild — novel, stylish, and just quite grand. As a puffer, however, that wildness bites back.

Subjective fairness aside, I objectively struggled with this one. From un-strapping the hood to the fact that it’s just not that warm, it’s hard to recommend the Coolidge as a cold weather piece. I mean, I needed a mid-layer to wear it in 45 degree sun. If you’re wearing it in a 60 F Hong Kong February, the combination of underarm holes and light down filling might make this a great “winter” piece. It might be perfect no-check-required wear for glitzy Fashion Week parties. For the rest of us: I wouldn’t want to get caught waiting for a train in it.

But perhaps that’s the point.

It’s abundantly clear that this $2000 jacket is not a practicality piece. It’s overbuilt, convoluted, and just not that great as an insulator. The Migos wear it on magazine covers, for Quavo’s sake!

The reason why they’re wearing it, though, is that Moncler x Craig Green (MonCraig) is just fucking dope. As collabs go, MonCraig is legendary – and in the Coolidge, that lockup is made accessible. Even if “accessible” here means a rent check at retail (MonCraig).

For Aspen apres’s and Shanghai soirees, the Coolidge jacket is as cool as it gets. Otherwise? Eh.

The above was adapted from a January article for Highsnobiety.