As the legend goes, the sleeping bag coat was invented by Norma Kamali after a camping trip. Here is the story in her own words from an interview with the NY Times: After splitting with her husband, Mohammed (Eddie) Kamali, in the mid-1970s, she took to camping in the woods with a boyfriend. “It was cold,” she recalled, “and I was always getting up at night to go to the bathroom.” On one particularly nippy night, she threw on her sleeping bag and sprinted for the bush. “As I was running,” she said, “I was thinking, ‘I need to put sleeves in this thing.”  (also see her below in a wonderful video we found talking about the origins of that coat from the

From there the rest is history and this coat and its many versions since then, have become synonymous with her name and spurned a versions and inspirations every winter season since by countless other designers. This version is from the eighties and has a more flared and dramatic silhouette then the short one you see in the video that is more modern. It is also longer, cut tot he knee and the hood is very dramatic and can be worn down as a giant shawl collar or up and over the head as a hood. The sleeves are cut with her signature length and the waist can be cinched in as tiny as you want with the attached tie. I just love that huge flared bottom/ That and the shawl collar/hood is where all the drama comes from. It is remarkably warm - in the video below Norma explains just why that is. Its a forever classic that will never go out of style. I love it and have to tell you that it was a very hard piece to list and let go of so its does not go quick - it may go into my own closet. Excellent condition.

Lined in the same lightweight nylon as the exterior is made from. Pockets along the seams of the hip. A tie extends from one side only and you wrap it and tuck and tie it. Tagged a small but the loose cut will allow it to fit a variety of sizes.

Sleeves: 27"
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 17.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 24" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# C451

Reference Photos: Norma Kamali by Dustin Pittman, 1982.  /  Christy Turlington, in Norma Kamali, photographed by Arthur Elgort for Vogue, September 1990.  /  Kara Young in Norma Kamali, US Vogue, September 1984.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.