At the very least, outerwear should be three things: comfortable, capable and durable. If your down jacket fits right, can handle the elements you're braving and can stand up to hiking, climbing, camping and more, it fits the bill and should serve you well for years to come.
But what about the less tangible, still important aspect of style? Do you want to walk around in a shapeless, trash bag-like puffy resembling the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, or would you rather slip on something that not only feels good and performs well, but also reflects your personal panache? If you're like me, you prefer the latter — and if you're looking for a brand that can keep you warm and cool (looking) at the same time, let me introduce you to FP Movement.
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FP Movement Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket Read More -
FP Movement In a Bubble Shine Jacket Read More
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FP Movement All Terrain Fleece Lightweight Puffer Read More
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FP Movement Pippa Packable Puffer Vest Read More
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FP Movement In A Bubble Conversational Quilted Vest Read More
You may already be familiar with Free People, the bohemian-inspired sister brand to Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie with well over 4 million Instagram followers. If not, here's a quick recap: Free People was actually the name of the original West Philadelphia retail store launched by Richard Hayne, Judy Wicks and Scott Belair in 1970 that became Urban Outfitters.
The name Free People found new life as a wholesale line in 1984, carving out a nice with nonconformist women's clothing that is decidedly not outdoor-oriented at all. In 2012, the brand launched its activewear line, FP Movement, and in 2019, ramped it up with a focus on fitness, wellness and, somewhat surprisingly, outerwear.
You may be rolling your eyes at this point — "How can a fashion brand compete with Patagonia or The North Face?" — but FP Movement didn't just slap its tag on a white label puffy and call it a day. The team pulled in quality components to keep its customers properly warm, including Primaloft, which plays into the majority of its insulated outerwear. (The synthetic insulation is also used by Patagonia, Black Diamond, La Sportiva and Norrøna, among more than 50 other brands.)
FP Movement doesn't stop there — outerwear pieces like its In a Bubble Shine Jacket use durable construction techniques like a reinforced, woven nylon shell material to prevent snags and tears — and keep that Primaloft in place. You'll find vegan-friendly, sustainable fabrics like Primaloft Thermoplume in a number of the packable puffers, and almost every insulated outerwear piece is treated with a water-resistant membrane to keep moisture where it belongs — out of your jacket.
If you need more evidence that FP Movement is legit, just look where it's available: you can shop FP Movement's outerwear on its dedicated subsection of Free People's site, but also at top outdoor retailers including Dick's Sporting Goods, Mountain High Outfitters and Backcountry. You'll find it sold right next to your favorite puffies from Marmot, Mountain Hardwear and Fjällräven, among other industry stalwarts.
If you're interested in FP Movement but don't know where to start, I've rounded up a few of my own favorite pieces from the brand. Whether it's a soft fleece or a unique quilted vest, odds are you'll find something that speaks to you, becomes a conversation starter with your most outdoor-oriented friends and, most important of all, keeps you cozy when the weather turns.
The Pippa Packable Puffer is made with PrimaLoft ThermoPlume, a vegan alternative to down that has the same loft and similar weight-to-warmth ratio. It can pack down for easy storage and travel.
The In a Bubble Shine Jacket features a reinforced woven nylon shell that helps it withstand the elements, and the heavier fills, quilting and detailing are designed to keep the chill at bay.
This super-soft fleece fleece is perfect for chilly rather than outright freezing days. The Hot Watermelon is our favorite colorway, but it also comes in more muted options if you're not ready for neon.
The vest counterpart to the Pippa Packable Puffer, this style is great for keeping your core warm during high-output winter activities. It features the same vegan Primaloft down alternative insulation and comes in a variety of colors.
Sometimes you just need a vest that does the talking for you, and if its near-sold-out status tells you anything, this is the vest of this season. It features an oversized fit, reinforced nylon construction and a unique quilted pattern, all designed to keep you toasty during the colder months.
