I have a problem. I hate puffer coats. I know, they are warm as heck, and the function is inarguable. I wear them often when I brave the snow to shovel, scrape ice, etc. But, the inescapable truth is, they just aren’t flattering. Do you remember when you were ten years old and you had a wicked awesome Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costume and your mom ruined it by making you put on your coat? (No? I am the only one? Well, I remember it, and it hurts) Thirty years later, the same concept holds true. The trauma of ruining my Michaelangelo costume is relived today every time I have to put a puffer coat on over one of my favorite outfits. Lucky for me, Monty Goodson exists. He has been one of the faces with Overland Sheepskin Company for decades. Nobody knows staying warm better than him. And he gave me advice that elevated my winter in amazing ways. He had me trade out my puffer for a sheepskin coat. Then, he showed me how to wear it. Since I am not a gatekeeper by nature, I will let you in on our conversation .
I think what makes sheepskin a smarter choice than a puffer is, first and foremost, its uniqueness. The styles, textures, and types of sheepskin are all so varied. Puffers generally look the same, and they’re not particularly flattering. Sheepskin contours to your own body’s shape and wraps around you in a cozy, thermal layer. – Monty Goodson, Product Development Specialist, Overland Sheepskin Company
How to wear the sheepskin
I met Monty a few years ago when I got the opportunity to tour the company’s flagship store just outside Santa Fe. While browsing, I came across this thigh-length Jackson Toscana Shearling coat. I fell in love with it immediately. Three years later, and it is my number one coat. I find myself waiting and hoping for the snow to fall simply so I can wear it. But, I had to learn how to wear it without looking like I was cosplaying Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2. Monty had some tips for me.
“When thinking about styling a sheepskin coat versus a puffer, it all depends on the person,” Monty says. “A puffer basically looks the same; it’s a utilitarian piece that is a weather-ready cover, often made of synthetic materials. A sheepskin reflects the wearer’s unique personality and style. Each sheepskin coat is unique and becomes even more personal as it molds to your form. You can dress a sheepskin coat up or down, all the while, draped in natural beauty and comfort.”
After giving me some pointers on how to make my sheepskin coat look either western, rock & roll, or luxurious with a rebel wink, he hits me with a bit of sheepskin wisdom. “With a sheepskin coat, it’s always as original as its owner.”
Does it hold up
Yeah, I couldn’t help it while wearing this coat. I had to throw on my Arthur Morgan hat and pretend, at least for a second, that I was in the Old West. And, the moment I put it on, I thought about the moments in the game where he was in rain, snow, and the harsh elements of the West. It made me think; this is an expensive coat, is it going to hold up in that environment? The puffer may not be flattering, but the rain, sleet, snow, ice, and seemingly even tornados can’t hurt those things. Does the sheepskin coat keep up with it?
“Sheepskin coats are made to be worn in inclement weather,” Goodson points out. “Personally, I have been snowed on, rained on, and hailed on while wearing a sheepskin coat. I just shake the excess off, lightly wipe or brush. And then let it dry naturally, with no heat. Then I’ll follow up with another light brushing or wipe down. There are a few professional dry cleaners that will clean sheepskin coats; however, as with leathers, many use solvents or chemicals that can impact the texture and color.”
But how do you care for it
Look, I don’t mind admitting this, I am as lazy as the next guy. So I always think of how much care is going to go into something I buy. Whether or not I take on the care of a garment directly corresponds to how much I love it. Now, I love this coat, so I was ready for the hours of care a coat like this would take to keep looking as good as it does.
“Sheepskin is much easier to care for than people assume,” Monty assures me. “Depending on the surface finish and color, one can generally wipe things off with a damp, soft cloth, or if the finish is sueded, lightly brush to remove any debris. As with any natural product, shearling and leather will develop a unique character and patina over time.”
Switching to sheepskin completely revitalized my coat wardrobe. And I am never looking back to my puffer. Unless, of course, there is a ten-year-old on the street wearing a Michaelangelo costume, then I may get some use out of it yet by passing on my trauma. But, on the day to day in the winter, I know which coat I am going for. My new favorite from Overland Sheepskin Company.
