Isis Monashee Jacket
December 28, 2008
Get the Monashee on sale at REI.com – click here!
FINALLY I feel fashionable on the ski hill. This is a jacket made for ladies only. It’s a super warm, waterproof, high-performance shell that also flatters. Because Isis makes gear just for women, the fit and styling is not just a women’s version of a men’s jacket. This jacket is for women who want warmth and performance while not sacrificing mobility – it’s cut just right. I like that shell jackets are moving away from parka styling and more and more of them, like the Monashee, are cut to hipbone length. It helps eliminate bulk and those weird issues you can get from the waist drawstrings on the parka-style jackets. You know, when your mid-layers ride up so that they kind of sit on top of the drawstring? That sucks, looks goofy, and is uncomfortable to boot. I think the longer parka-style with the waist drawstring might have worked well for men, since they typically don’t have to contend with pesky things like waist-hip ratio, but I have long thought that that style did not translate well to women’s jackets. I don’t see much benefit from the longer parka-style, and much prefer the more streamlined shorter cut of the Monashee. It doesn’t do weird things with your base and mid-layers, I can tell you that. Your inner fleece is free to fit just like it’s supposed to. I can even fit a light insulated layer underneath without feeling too stifled, and it’s still easy to access pants pockets since the jacket doesn’t go halfway to one’s knees.
The Monashee gets lots of positive comments on the styling and color. Most of the outdoorswomen I know will wear good gear even if they don’t like the color, but they will indeed complain about it. I think the top complaint I’ve heard from women is that manufacturers offer women’s gear in colors that are, frankly, stupid. You’ve probably seen references in other posts to gear that is the color of flesh, puke, road signs, etc. Not the Monashee – it’s got a nice selection of very agreeable color choices. They still have kind of stupid names (Fire, Lagoon, etc – what is wrong with “orange”, “blue”, “green”?) but the colors themselves are nice and the jacket is awesome. You’ll stay warm, dry, and fashionable. And you will get a little note in the pocket that reminds you that “you are a goddess” which is cute if you’re into that kind of thing I guess. I find it kind of interesting that gear now comes with personal affirmations; it’s very Stuart Smalley and all that. Personally I don’t need to be a goddess, but I do need to be warm and dry, so I’ll toss the little note and take the Monashee out to play.
Isis Peony Crew
December 28, 2008
$53 at backcountry.com. Click here!
It took a while for me to actually test this as an activewear base layer, because, frankly, it’s such a cute shirt that I kept wearing it as a stand-alone piece. I don’t know what’s up with the product photo because the shirt is really cute but the picture is not, so just take my word for it here. It’s soft, silky, and flattering, but I knew that I’d have to actually make a post about its performance so I grudgingly wore it for actual exertion. Because I’m becoming familiar with the Isis base layer line, I was not surprised to find that the Peony Crew performs like the rest of the Peony line – perfectly! The Peony fabric is so smooth that it slides over both your skin and your outer layers, surrounding you in comfort and harmony. There’s nothing to bind, pull, or chafe, and the fabric will wick away moisture, keeping you comfortable and warm. And the shirt is cute enough to wear straight out on the town for aprés ski/climb/run/whatever. Another excellent offering from Isis.
