The Power of a Winter Coat

When I was first accepted into Cornell, I often heard, "a Canada Goose Jacket is the unspoken dress code at Cornell." At the time, I didn't even know what a "Canada Goose" was; however, four years later I now find the brand everywhere I turn. While warmth and protection may appear to be the primary drivers of this trend, the steep price tag of these down parkas help them take on an entirely different meaning. These jackets are far more expensive than your typical winter coat, with prices ranging from $450 to well above $1,000. Canada Goose jackets are distinguishable from other coats by their small red, white, and blue patch on the upper arm. While the patch is good branding, it is a status symbol more than anything.

Winter coats have long served as status symbols on Ivy League campuses, and the Canada Goose Parka is simply the latest iteration. Nearly a century ago raccoon coats were popularized by elite male students in order to combat the cold, but also to convey their social status. While these fur coats definitely helped to keep the wearer warm, they were flashy more than anything. Like the current Canada Goose Sale , these raccoon coats served as a symbol of affluence and privilege. Raccoon coats boasted a colossal price tag: according to a 1921 advertisement, they ranged from $325 to $450, which is the equivalent of about $4,000 to $6,000 in today's U.S. dollar. The roaring 20s were a period of prosperity and overindulgence, which trickled down into Cornell's youth culture.

There is a clear parallel between the fashion for raccoon coats and what we see now with Canada Goose Parka s. Both coats serve as a symbol of affluence amongst Cornell students, past and present. Never underestimate the power of a coat to convey privilege and social status.