My 20-Year Affair With Eddie Bauer and CONTEST (~OVER~)

My Old Eddie Bauer Parka (Ridge Line), March 2011

It was 20-years ago in November 1992 when I was a freezing student with no winter jacket.   If you think that it’s absurd to be jacketless in -40⁰ Canadian weather, then you’re right!  My mother, fed up with my predicament, decided to buy me a down-filled winter jacket for the Holidays.  As she, my father and brother already owned great winter jackets, she decided to procure me the very same one.  She took me to Eddie Bauer to buy me, what was then called, the Ridge Line down-filled winter parka.

What I remember from that first visit, was that I had the choice of burgundy, navy, or forest green for my parka (I chose navy blue).  The sales associate suggested that I go one size up, should I wish to layer my clothing underneath.  I questioned the suggestion, but 20-years later I know now that I was given sound advice.  Little did I realize that this jacket would be with me for half a lifetime, through all major life events.

During those 20 years, my Eddie Bauer jacket was with me as my life began to unfold and blossom.  It came with me one winter to Paris, France, and toured with me inside the Louvre.  I wore my parka as I took in amazing sights like the Mona Lisa, the Raft of the Medusa, and The Bather.  While others froze inside the museum, I was toasty warm.

My Eddie Bauer Ridge Line winter parka always came with me to walk my large Newfoundland dog in -40⁰ weather.  It surprised me that I never bumped into a soul on our long winter walks, while I stayed toasty warm in my jacket.  On bitter cold nights, I had my down-filled hood done up tight around my face and stayed protected against the elements.  It was at this same time, that I also bought my fiancé an Eddie Bauer Ridge Line down parka for the Holidays.  He also chose the navy colour, so you could say we were “well-matched”.

-40⁰ and Not a Care in the World!

My fiancé and I were married in a February, and it was the one time I did not bring my Eddie Bauer jacket along.  My winter jacket was certainly fancy, but my body was chilled to the bone!  Many years passed, and my husband and I discussed having a child.  I was pregnant during the winter season, and it was a good thing that the Eddie Bauer associate so many years earlier had suggested that I purchase a jacket one size bigger.  I simply adjusted the waistband on the parka, and I stayed warm during my pregnancy. 

We played outside in the harsh Ontario winter with our little son.  He would be all bundled up in a full snowsuit as we pulled him in his toboggan, and our Eddie Bauer parkas kept us the perfect body temperature.  Four more pregnancies and winters later, the jacket still stood up to the extreme wear and tear that I had waged on the jacket. 

The parka was also with me on unfortunate occasions, such as at the cemetery for my Father-in-Law’s winter funeral.  It was bitter cold as the wind whipped through our grief stricken congregation.  Not that I thought about it at the time, but my husband, mother, brother and I were all wearing our Eddie Bauer Ridge Line parkas on that day.  We were sick of heart, but none of use became sick standing around in the freezing weather.  The year was 2010, and sadly my husband inherited his dad’s brand new Eddie Bauer parka.           

  

My husband and I began flipping through old photos, and the topic of our Eddie Bauer parkas came up.  Year after year, the jacket kept showing up in all my outdoor winter pictures!  I could not believe that 20 years had passed since mine had first made an entrance into my life!

I am very hard on my clothing, and decided that it was about time to retire my old parka.  Whereas every other family member still had a Ridge Line jacket in like new condition, mine was now frayed at the sleeves, one pocket was beginning to detach and my zipper needed replacing.  Amazing, if you realize that we’re talking about a well-used, 20-year old winter jacket!  I ignored these issues for many years, and my jacket was still immaculately warm, even snapped up—without even making use of the zipper!  I wore it up until this month—November 2012—20 years exactly!

Eddie Bauer WeatherEdge Superior Down Parka (hood has removable fur)

The choice was obvious to me: the heir to my retired parka’s throne would be another Eddie Bauer parka!  Although the new prince would no longer be called Ridge Line, but WeatherEdge® Superior Down Parka.  I went to the Eddie Bauer store this November wearing my old parka.  The associate showed me all the different down-filled parkas.  There were quite a few selections, but I wanted one as similar to my previous jacket as possible.  After all, it had been my formula for winter success before, and would be so once again.

My New Eddie Bauer WeatherEdge Superior Down Parka in Black

I decided to try on the parka that was the same size as my other jacket, and it was a perfect fit!  For the WeatherEdge Superior Down Parka, I had the choice of black, dark purple or off-white (I chose black).  I loved that unlike my old Eddie Bauer parka, the new hood had removable fur.  And my absolute favourite new feature of the jacket was the fleece-lined sleeves, neck-wrap and pockets.  The old men’s Ridge Line parka always had fleece-lined pockets, but not the women’s jacket.  The fleece makes your hands feel warm if you put them in your pockets and you’re not wearing any gloves.  Judging from its weight and feel—and from already having worn it outside—the WeatherEdge Superior Down Parka is just as warm as my Eddie Bauer Ridge Line jacket! 

It was a wonderful experience picking out my new Eddie Bauer WeatherEdge Superior Down Parka.  Could it be that another 20 years of memories are in the making?  Although I can’t tell you now for certain, check back in 20 years and I’ll let you know!

Spending Winters Outside in Our Eddie Bauer Down Parkas

The Eddie Bauer WeatherEdge Superior Down Parka is suggested for “extreme cold”, -29⁰ C to -17⁰C (-20⁰F to 0⁰F). 

CONTEST  (~OVER~)

WINNER: Srishayini S.

WIN your very own Eddie Bauer WeatherEdge® Superior Down Parka (Canada/USA)!  My friends at Eddie Bauer know how much I love my own parka, that they are giving away one WeatherEdge® Superior Down Parka (for men or women).  You can choose your own size and colour, (subject to availability)!  Jacket retails for $416.97 CDN ($369 + 13% HST) in Canada, or $299 USD (before taxes in the US).

How to Enter!Comment below if you would keep the jacket for yourself, or give it to someone if you are the winner!  And, fill out the contest entry form, below.  Ends December 21st, 2012 @ midnight EST.  Good luck, I hope you WIN!