GQ articles editor Chris Gayomali had been eyeing an old Cav Empt fleece, which was reselling online for upwards of $400, when he made that most fortuitous of fashion discoveries: the source material. “I realized it was essentially a carbon copy of these old U.S. Military bear jackets, which are so warm you feel like an actual bear,” Chris says.
Chris hopped onto Etsy with the quickness, where he nabbed a real-deal vintage version from a military surplus store for a measly $9. “It arrived beaten up, pilling, and covered in dog hair,” he says. “Meaning it's well-loved. Meaning it's perfect.” Given the unforgiving cold New York endured all winter, it's hard to imagine a wiser investment. “It's meant to be used as a liner, but I've gone outside with only a T-shirt underneath in 25-degree weather and felt sufficiently toasty.”
If you're looking to follow in Chris's cozy footsteps, there are plenty of affordable versions available in a variety of sizes on both Etsy and eBay right now. And to get a closer look at Chris's underpriced grail—and for further installments of #StaffStyle—be sure to follow @GQ on Instagram.