Where style starts? The parka. Practical and a classic slice of cool. What more could a girl want?

1929 LET’S GO ESKIMO

Pub-quiz fact: the word parka came from the Nenets of northern Russia to denote their outerwear. The Inuit classic, left, had a fox-fur lined hood to protect from sharp, blistering winds, while the sealskin jacket or moncler jackets was treated with fish oil to keep it water-resistant. We may be shallow, but they’re rocking those hoods.

1940s SNOW COSY

 While skiing has been a popular acticity since the last century, fashion-wise, it took some time to develop its game. It wasn’t until the Forties that dedicated skiwear appeared and, by the end of the decade, the humble Inuit parka was integrated into the look, above.

1964 NEW NODEL ARMY

The fifties saw the US army produce two versions, both of which found their way to civvy street. The snorkel(as modeled by Kenny in South Park) was developed for marines, while Korean War conscripts had the fishtail. Adopted by Brit Mods, it was the anti-establishment symbol of the era. We could have shown you Phil Daniels in Quadrophenia, but, um, we were more taken with Mick, pictured, in his Glam-rock fur.

1970 ROYAL AFFAIR

Oh, who doesn’t love a royal tour? On a family trip to the Northwest Territories of Canada, Queen Eand Princess Anne dutifully went native-albeit with a very jaunty Seventies spin. We’re loving Anne’s teaming of her hound’s-tooth check flares with sky blue parka and printed headscarf, right.

2000 SHE’S NO ANORAK

And then there was Britpop. Where Liam Gallagher shuffled along looking stroppy, a generation followed worked with John Lennon specs and a bucket sunhat, the parka was the perfect companion to a wash-out Glastonbury. Not forgetting Miss Moss, the doyenne of grunge chic, setting the tone for the girls in a denim mini, vest and pirate boots topped off with a parka, right.