Rick Owens first introduced this parka design in his Fall/Winter 2007 "Exploder" collections. The appearance of the parka closely resembles the classic N2-B military bomber design, but Owens, as to be expected, made some interesting design changes. The jacket has an elongated cut and features a signature oversized hood.

Due to the popularity of the design, variations of this parka have popped up again in successive collections. These included a long, full-length version produced through Owens' DRKSHDW line as well as puffy, down-filled variations. The most elusive might still might be the original version done up in heavy cotton moleskin featured in the "Exploder" lookbook.

Visvim does what Visvim does best on their "Valdez" parka. The parka has become a recurring style in their F/W collections and for good reason; it’s weatherproofed for all but the most extreme conditions. Like almost everything they do, Visvim combines technical know-how with expert craftsmanship on these.

The jacket features waterproof Gore-Tex 2L laminate with white goose down fill for serious warmth. Additional details include a removable coyote fur trim at the hood. The entire package makes for a fantastic parka that fits perfectly into the brand’s aesthetic.

ACRONYM is the 800-pound gorilla in the techwear world and the J46-WS is easily their coldest weather piece of outerwear. The execution on this jacket is actually quite subtle, but, as always with ACRONYM, the devil is in the details. The jacket features Climashield continuous filament insulation on the inside and 2L Gore Windstopper shell fabric on the outside. Perfect for cold rainy or snowy conditions, the J46-WS features tons of pocket storage and even a jacket sling to help carry the parka indoors. If you have a full ACR kit ready to go and need something for the winter, it’s hard to do much better than this.

Before anyone did anything, Helmut Lang did everything. An expert in refinement and minimalism, Lang made some legendary garments that only get better with time. His take on the Biker Parka is no exception. There are loads of amazing details on this, from the biker style sleeves to the insulated lining, fur collar and internal bondage carrying straps. From his iconic A/W 99 "Seance de Travail" collection, this parka is an excellent example of just how ahead of the curve Mr. Lang truly was. For those looking for this parka, keep in mind there were several versions of it in, from a standard cotton moleskin to ballistic nylon.

"The mentality of reverse running" has been an ongoing theme in Jun Takahashi’s designs for many seasons. The idea was encapsulated under the acronym G.I.R.A.—Gyakusou International Running Association—and the concept was even the basis for his work with Nike on their collaborative line of runner's gear, Gyakusou.

One of the best outerwear pieces from UC is this "G.I.R.A." parka, which looks like a futuristic take on a classic M-51 fishtail. The details are countless and include the MA-1 style sleeve zip pocket, high wind collar, wire structured hood and high quality hardware. The jacket also has a removable insulated lining which gives it added versatility, making the piece suitable for both rainy spring weather and frigid northern climates.

The parka is minimally branded on the outside, but features illustrated graphics on the back and arms. The inside tag is one of the most interesting things about this piece as it serves as a manifesto of sorts, explaining how Undercover strives to operate differently than companies in the typical "fashion system." Mission accomplished.

Raf Simons’ legendary career needs little introduction at this point. As one of the most influential forces in fashion, Simons has made a career out of creating pieces worth collecting. Some of his most memorable work is the result of a collaboration with famed art director and graphic designer Peter Saville.

Saville is best known for his design work for Factory Records. Simons was given access to Saville’s full graphic archive for the Fall/Winter 2003-2004 collection entitled "Closer," widely considered one of Simons' strongest menswear collections ever. Simons appropriated the fishtail style popularized by British mods while putting his own signature spin on the classic.

The result were a series of amazing parkas that heavily featured Peter Saville’s artwork for albums including New Order’s Power, Corruption & Lies and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's Dazzle Ships. These parkas have since become some of the most sought-after pieces for Raf Simon’s collectors and, as such, you can expect them to fetch prices upwards of five figures.

This Junya Watanabe parka stays in my memory even years after seeing it. It’s pretty simple in concept—a standard take on the military fishtail—but it’s got so many little things about it that make it such an iconic Junya piece. The leather elbow patches and back plaid patch are distinctly on brand for the Japanese designer, and the duck camo lining is something to behold. Unlike more milspec parkas, the slimmed down cut is on-point for anyone who wants the perfect jacket to pair with Junya jeans or trousers. For those who are fans of Junya or the Comme universe in general, this is a criminally slept on grail. The only downside? Good luck finding somebody willing to part with theirs.

Jun Takahashi's first "Earmuff Maniac" F/W 2007 collection saw the designer experimenting with techwear fabrics and detailing. One such experiment used a fabric called Diaplex, which is both breathable, windproof and waterproof. The result was this beautiful parka that is something straight out of a cyberpunk film. The high-neck zippered collar and unique pocket design really make this piece something special. If you’re a hardcore Jun Takahashi loyalist this one is worth the hunt.

Stone Island is the industry leader when it comes to technical outerwear and their "David-TC" jacket is the perfect casual parka to throw on with pretty much anything in your wardrobe. That being said, it’s far from boring and Stone Island’s expertise in fabrication and textiles really shines. The "David-TC" is sewn and then simultaneously garment-dyed, during which the fabric undergoes heat induced compression, giving the jacket its signature feel. With this down-padded parka you’ll get through even the coldest of winters. Look for it in a variety of colors and even some variations featuring a detachable sheepskin liner.

Yohji Yamamoto's classic hooded fishtail is nothing short of stunning. With a mix of black wool and cotton, and an assortment of details, from an exaggerated hood to zipper details at the back of the shoulders, this jacket drapes slightly oversized and is the perfect accompaniment to Yohji trousers and combat boots. As with most Yohji pieces, it’s all about the fit and feel of this coat. If you’re confident wearing and collecting other pieces from him, this parka is a must own.