Over the summer, we noticed an unassuming Free People puffer that was selling out like hotcakes (we repeat, over the summer). The quilted nylon layer in question is The Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket, and it’s available in 11 colors, offered in sizes XS to XL, and, as the name suggests, is designed to pack inside itself (into a large inner zippered left pocket, to be exact). This pillowy jacket — the first-ever performance outerwear from FP Movement, the brand’s activewear line — has struck an expected chord with its wearers, so we decided to take a closer look.
Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket in Violet Dust, $168
Made to satisfy these nippy, athleisure times, the Pippa is stuffed with insulating fluff called PrimaLoft®, making it ideal for all sorts of outdoorsy activities like day hikes or social-distanced brunches. The outer reflective shell is made from a water-resistant and non-wrinkle material, and its boxy and swingy silhouette is purposefully oversized for layering. “Absolutely love it. After 25 years of living in Montana, I’m an expert on cold weather clothing,” writes one reviewer. “The jacket is extremely warm and cozy, despite being loose-fitting. Just allows for layering. Maybe when it gets below zero I might go for one of my heavier, more close-fitting coats, but for fall and early winter, this is perfect.”
And, the hype factor doesn’t stop there. A Free People rep tells us that the Pippa has sold out three times this year, with two of the sellouts happening in less than a week’s time. The Pippa currently has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, a customer recommendation of 98% (out of 169 reviews), and the product has been favorited over 9.6K times on the site. With such crucial stats in tow, the Refinery29 Shopping team obviously had to test drive the Pippa for ourselves. (Plus, we’re now actually in puffer weather, so the timing is apt.) Ahead, we see if the Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket is as buzzworthy as everyone says it is.
Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket in Toasted Coconut, $168
“I live in oversized clothes out of sheer laziness and this transitional weather jacket is perfect for my wardrobe. I picked my normal size, a medium, and it is the perfect amount of oversized without hanging off my shoulders or swallowing my body. I wore a cropped crewneck under it and felt no restrictions. When it gets colder, you will find me wearing a comfy hoodie with this lightweight puffer cascaded over it for sure. I wore it on a high-50s/low-60s degree weather day and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to layer. When the windchill was running rampant, I zipped it all the way up and got warm; when it got hot I took it off and stashed it in my bag because it deflates so nicely.
“I don’t invest in puffers because they are often expensive, not colorful, and just unappealing. I like this one because wearing it is much less of a commitment — I don’t have to think about if I’ll get overheated because I can just stash it away (I am always carrying a tote bag). It also has cute design elements and I love the color. Although I won’t be squishing this jacket into its pouch too often (mostly because I don’t do too many outdoor activities that require quick packing) I think this is an extremely handy feature. One of the worst things about traveling somewhere cold is figuring out how to pack bulky warm clothes. With this, you could even just pop it into your carry-on or wear it on the plane worry-free.” — Alexandra Polk, Associate Writer, Lifestyle
Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket in Coastline, $168
“I was actually surprised that it felt true to size (I’m typically an XL in tops) because I feel like Free People runs pretty small. My first reaction when I looked at it, though, was ‘Oh, that’s it?’ It had a very basic, boxy look and just looked like a regular piece of outerwear. The color also didn’t feel super fashion-forward to me in person: Just a basic blue. But then I put it on, and I have to admit, it started to win me over fast. It was super warm and soft while still being light. I grew up in a pretty outdoorsy corner of Tennessee so outdoor apparel like North Face and Patagonia has LONG been in style for just wearing around town before the advent of athleisure made it OK to rock on the streets of more fashion-forward cities.
“Normcore style has been great for my chunky, clunky shoe collection and approaching-vintage Nalgene bottle, but at first blush, this didn’t feel like a fashion-forward athleisure pick. But as I wore the jacket around the house, I realized something. A few Christmases ago, my dad, who wears hiking shoes and fly fishing pants to the office, gifted all of us a super-fancy, down alternative outer layer very similar to the one from Free People. Thin, lightweight, crazy warm. But it was ABSOLUTELY designed for performance in real outdoor adventures like hiking or skiing. For serious outdoor activity, it makes total sense: you want to be able to layer it, pack it tightly, and not have loose-fitting layers in sub-zero conditions. But I’ve never wanted to don that jacket to, say, run to the store or the gym. It’s just SO sleek and form-fitting it’s kind of a pain to put over bulky, everyday shirts or sweaters and makes me feel like I should be heading to Everest, not CVS.
“The FP Movement jacket, on the other hand, has that everyday ease to it: I can toss it on comfortably zipped or unzipped. It may not be my personal style choice, either, but it feels basic enough that it will ‘go’ with almost everything I own. It’s still occasionally in the 80s here in Tennessee, so it hasn’t gotten much wear, but in the winter I can totally see it being my go-to outer layer for errands, especially because it will allow me to avoid wearing my bulky-but-cute wool coat for all of the 30 seconds it usually takes me to walk from my car into the grocery store or post office. I can also see it being a handy thing to keep around for trips since it’s so light and easy to pack.” — Marshall Bright, Freelance Affiliate Editor
Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket in Black, $168
“This jacket is definitely boxy and oversized, but not too much where it looks like it’s swallowing you whole. It isn’t super thick, but it’s also not the thinnest puffer I’ve ever worn. It would work really well for the fall to winter transition and you could get away with wearing it on colder winter days if you’re smart about your layering with Heattech or wool.
“I see myself styling the puffer super casually, with sweatpants and sneakers, but it would also look great with trousers and a t-shirt. I think the jacket is really universal and would look great on almost anyone, plus it comes in so many colors for all types of style preferences, but I do wish it came in a larger size range.
“I have a lightweight puffer by Uniqlo and I think I actually prefer this one by Free People. I think the shape is flattering and a bit more unique, and I like the side vents and the sleeve details. The packable design could potentially be handy when traveling, but it was difficult for me to efficiently pack it in the attached pouch. I couldn’t really get it to lay flat, so it ended up looking like a bumpy travel pillow. I could use clearer directions!” — Kate Spencer, Affiliate Strategist
“This puffer is perfect for layering — thin enough to style a thick sweater underneath without being too bulky. I think it stops at a very good length on me, and it’s not too tight or too oversized. I would wear it for everything really, but mostly I think it would look really good with some jeans or leggings. I think this is ideal for when the weather is down to the 50s and 40s. It keeps a lot of heat in even if it feels really thin. If I wore it during 60 or 70-degree weather in NYC, I would be sweating in under 10 minutes.
“I’ve never owned a puffer before (I’m very new to winter and fall weather), so I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it was going to be bulky and strange-fitting, hitting my hips at a weird length or impossible to layer anything underneath without feeling tight and uncomfortable. This puffer is none of that. It’s the exact opposite, actually. Soft and thin but effective and stylish. And, the packability definitely piques my interest. Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out the whole pouch-inside-the-jacket thing so I don’t think I folded it in the way I was supposed to. I think compared to other puffers, though, even without having figured out the magic of folding it correctly, it still doesn’t take up that much space in my closet.” — Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer
Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket in Regal, $168
“When my Pippa arrived, I immediately opened the box and tried it on — I was that excited. The second thing I did was Slack my team to tell them how **obsessed** I was. I got an XS, and the fit was truly perfect. Cropped but not impractically so, and not too snug. Puffer jackets (especially the more fashion-y ones) can sometimes overwhelm my petite frame, but not this one. The magic of the Pippa (aside from, you know, awesome colorways, plentiful pockets (!), and the compact element) is the fit. For my frame, I truly have *zero* complaints — how insane is that? It hugs where I need it — shoulders, at the cuffs — and is boxy (but not too oversized) throughout the torso. There’s also an inside pocket — in my perfect universe, every single jacket would have an inside pocket because inside pockets are the best. Finally, after years of lusting after chic puffers in the wild, I can finally join the club!
“While it is a puffer, it’s not too heavy that I couldn’t layer a turtleneck or a light base layer underneath. I have a couple of quarter-zip ski layers from Sweaty Betty and Patagonia that are my go-to for the slopes, and I think both would be super cool underneath for an après–ski kinda vibe. Because it’s so packable, I almost feel like it could work for any below–65° day. If it’s too warm, you can easily stash it, and if it’s chilly — boom, you’re prepared.
“Not going to lie, I was skeptical that this moderately-sized puffer would be able to pack into the built-in inside pocket pouch. To my shock and delight, the Pippa just kept getting smaller as I folded (okay, more like gently stuffed) it into the pocket. It zipped without much of a fuss, and voilà, it was roughly the size of folded-up pair of jeans. Packability generally isn’t something I care about when looking for outerwear — I kind of just assume it’s going to be bulky — but the fact that this puffer is so packable is definitely an added bonus to all of its other great features. But that’s not all! I actually traveled with this jacket (half in the name of journalism, half to see my parents) and I kid you not, this folded-up Pippa is the best fucking lumbar pillow ever. Like, I’m dead-ass serious: On my flight, I gently tucked my folded Pippa behind my lower back and was legit so comfortable for the entire three hours. Total gamechanger TBH.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Beauty & Wellness Market Writer
Pippa Packable Puffer Jacket in Maraschino, $168
“Gosh, I didn’t even realize I’m such a puffer phreak — this one from FP Movement is my sixth puffer which is ridiculous. But, what I love about the Pippa is that it’s far more unique than the others in my closet. I ordered my usual size of medium and found it more than roomy enough for D-cup bust. First, the shape is swingy and almost tent-like, which makes it easy to throw on, no matter what I’m wearing underneath. Secondly, the water-resistant material rules — I not only wore this in drizzly weather, but I also literally splashed water on the Pippa in my bathroom — and I’m pleased to report that the droplets patiently sat there, eventually rolling off when I swiped them with my arm. Third, this Maraschino is a real joy to wear. The photos on the site make the puffer look orange — and I initially picked Maraschino because it reminded me of Garbage’s iconic Version 2.0 album cover — but it’s more of a poppy red IRL, which I find to be an equally powerful color so it was no biggie.
“As for the packable portion of this puffer, as a few of my fellow reviewers have mentioned, there’s no elegant way to do this — you literally have to stuff it in, and disrespectfully so. What results is a lumpy sack, which is actually fine considering that the material is wrinkle-proof. Though, personally, I don’t see a world where I’d actually need to stuff my puffer into itself. I think the jacket will be just fine resting peacefully on a hanger or draped over me like a blanket when I have to travel. But I always appreciate an intentional design detail that’s purposeful and functional, even if it’s more useful for someone else.” — Jinnie Lee, Freelance Fashion Market Writer
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