In a striking departure from traditional power dressing, the humble windbreaker is taking centre stage in global politics and pop culture, symbolising a broader societal shift towards practicality and realism.
Geopolitical Statement in Glacial Blue
This shift was powerfully illustrated this week when Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stood alongside Denmark's leader. He firmly rejected former US President Donald Trump's past desire to "own" Greenland, delivering this significant geopolitical statement not in a formal suit, but in a distinctive glacial-blue windbreaker.
This practical garment, a regular feature in Nielsen's wardrobe, transformed into a loaded symbol. It is seen as a modern interpretation of the Inuit anorak, a garment with roots in the Arctic designed for survival, originally crafted from marine mammal membranes.
Pop Culture Fuels the Resurgence
Concurrently, the windbreaker is experiencing a remarkable revival in popular culture, largely ignited by the promotional tour for the film Marty Supreme. A specific $250 (£185) jacket, created by luxury brand Nahmias in collaboration with A24, actor Timothée Chalamet, and his stylist Taylor McNeill, became a sensation.
Worn by celebrities from Kendall Jenner to Ringo Starr, the jacket, emblazoned with the film's title, sold out rapidly. It now commands prices up to £16,000 on resale sites like StockX. Searches for "Marty Supreme" on Depop soared by 1,475% in just six weeks, highlighting its viral status.
Fashion’s Embrace of the ‘In-Between’ Moment
The trend has been cemented on high-fashion front rows, with Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, and Charli XCX sporting versions at Saint Laurent's Paris show. According to fashion journalist Daniel-Yaw Miller, windbreakers are having a definitive moment, driven by an elevated take on 90s sportswear.
Trend forecaster J’Nae Phillips pinpoints the garment's timely appeal, stating it sits at a crossroads of "practicality, nostalgia and irony". She links its popularity to a permanent "in-between" climate and a broader mood shift. "Windbreakers are designed for uncertainty," Phillips notes, "which mirrors how people are dressing more broadly: adaptable, layerable, non-committal."
This sentiment reflects a move away from pure aspiration. The windbreaker, Phillips suggests, is "democratic, vaguely sporty, slightly unfashionable in a way that now reads as chic. They acknowledge that life is windy, unpredictable, and often a bit damp."
High Street and Lifestyle Adoption
The trend has cascaded down to the high street, with brands like Zara, COS, and Ganni offering their own iterations. London-based label Damson Madder frames its windbreakers as a "lifestyle object rather than a technical one", catering to everyday needs rather than extreme expeditions.
Lorenzo Boglione, CEO of K-Way's parent company, confirms this evolution, noting that windbreakers have transitioned "from simple protection from the elements" to "true lifestyle pieces." From the political stage in Greenland to the streets of London, the windbreaker has broken through as the definitive garment for turbulent times.
