I'm not a big buyer of jackets, I normally only have two, one for the summer and one for the winter. Unfortunately, i adorned my old winter jacket to attend to a jump start in a rainstorm. In the dark. The resulting mix up of cables and an exploding 12 volt battery rendered my then jacket with more holes than a colander. So with the winter just around the corner, I choose to finally buy something with a designer label. Liking the look of this Superdry Windcheater jacket, I bought it on line and found I was pleasantly happy with the money I had parted with. Here are my thoughts on this snug and smart wind cheating coat.

--Super Branding, Super Pricey, Super Dry--

You wouldn't believe it, but despite the American styling and Japanese designs of their clothing, Superdry is one the brand names of Supergroup PLC, a British fashion company based in the humble surroundings of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Over the last few years they have become a major designer label all over the world, rivaling America's own Hollister Company brand with a range of T-shirts, jackets and hooded tops. They have dedicated branches all over the UK, mainly in the larger towns and cities, with a flagship branch in London's regent street. Just take a look around the next time you are wandering your local shops, and you are bound to see at least one item of Superdry clothing, they are very popular. This popularity also comes from a bit of naff-ness about it, the bright colours and logo, but mostly from the high quality materials. I must admit, it is very comfortable clobber.

As with most designer labels, it also comes with a heavy price tag. I say this, but in all honestly it's not the most expensive with this range of clothing. Some items are ridiculously expensive, but for the most I would say it's just above reasonable. Any clothing range with the celebrity endorsement of the likes David Beckham and squeaking teen crooner Justin Beiber is marketing gold, and for Superdry, it's made them continue to grow and grow.

--Price and Packaging--

Coming to you in a simple Superdry emblazoned polythene cover, I would have expected a little more in the way of protection, but it did seem to keep it clean and dust free in storage and transit. This plastic is also fully recyclable and easy to remove from the jacket itself.

Apart from the branded stores, Superdry clothing is not readily available in just any clothes retailer or department store. A few large chains stock selected items, and I got mine from the on-line Littlewoods catalogue shop for around £70. I paid slightly over the odds because of the installment payment system Littlewoods have. You can buy this jacket from the official Superdry website for £65. I found this out afterwards of course. Live and learn!

--Design and Comfort--

This jacket is of a comfort fit style, not loose or tight but just right, particularly in the torso area. Be wary however, Superdry clothing seems to be naturally smaller than standard sizes, so I brought an extra large when my actual normal size is just a large. It fits perfectly. Its layered with an outer nylon based shell material which Superdry call 'ripstop' fabric, which is extremely light but strong too. It has a kind of crunchy texture, but is not rough or irritating to the touch. The inner layer is not a fleece-like material as expected, but a soft mesh polyester. I was worried about this on first glace, but it's actually very comfortable and easy on the skin. These layers are attached together with quality stitching, but still leaving the inner layer free to move around within the outer layer. The neck line and cuffs have an extra double layer of thick ribbed fabric, the cuffs have thumb holes too or as I incorrectly assumed, watch holes. This is different than the material on the rest of the coat, and is more of an slightly elasticated cotton mixture, as to hug your wrists and neck. All this is quite comfortable with no itchiness or annoyances to speak of. There is also an outer ruff on the neck line too, but no hood. The jacket is machine washable on a cold wash too, but is not suitable for tumble drying or dry cleaning.

On the front alongside the two zip-up pockets, there are three zips, one of each layer of fabric. Two are in the center, and the outer one is outset to left side. The middle one is matched to the secondary colour of the jacket, which is a nice little bit of design. These zips are a tad over the top I feel, because it can be fiddly to do the zips up easily with so many fobs hanging from the teeth. The middle one also has a tendency to stick, and doesn't attach smoothly enough for me. Elsewhere, the design colouring and general shape is good, with a bright and well embroidered Superdry logo on the front left front shoulder, and another alternative logo on the back right shoulder. It also has a mark of authenticity in the form of a small rubber tag on the right cuff. These design traits are a sort of trademark of Superdry jackets and coats, and makes it look modern and stylish. My jacket is in a light blue, but other colours are available such as yellow, white, pink, red, green and more, with the base material always in black. This makes for a good selection, and makes this jacket appeal to both sexes and across an age range.

--Results--

With all the impressive talk that the company officially give about this jacket, does it really keep me warm and comfy, but more importantly, stop the wind-chill from getting in? On the whole, yes. The outer shell is wipe clean, withstands the odd scuff without damage, and provides a good break against the wind. The inner mesh gives a very nice feel, warm but breathable. The cuffs are useful, and the neck ruff can be zipped up smug, but again without being too tight. I also love the design as a whole, the graphics are eye-catching but also familiar to modern fashion. This make you feel a little better whilst walking down the high street. Mostly I can only speak of positives about this jacket, but I do have a few small issues.
The zips are, quite frankly, a bit silly. It's not a dry-suit after all, so they all seem to be present merely out of a quirky part of the design. If the middle one was missing, the jacket would feel even better, and lighter too. I also wish it had inner pockets, but because of the mesh inside this would be tricky. The zip fobs, while quite fun, are again a little over the top for me. It;s of course not completely waterproof neither, but doesn't claim to be anyway. Shower and splash resistant only.

--Conclusion--

While you may be able to pick up a slightly thicker and warmer jacket with a lower price tag, this is a fine contemporary item of clothing, which is not only functional but fashionable too. The lightness and flexibility combined with the apparent robustness and warmth of the materials makes me think that £65 is a justified price indeed. Washable and stored easily too, this is a jacket I recommend fully. Great for casual or sporting use, but could also be used for trips out or as an overcoat.


Thanks for Reading. © Novabug