Worn with high-waisted, stovepipe trousers and chunky brogues or creepers, the Teds breathed new life into the silhouette, lending it a little rebelliousness. As with many contemporary menswear staples, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when the overcoat first emerged. Several online accounts name 1772 as the year the overcoat was invented, while others claim the early 19th century was when they really came into their own. While designers are constantly re-imagining the overcoat, adding elbow patches, appliqué details, contrast collars and raglan shoulders, there are two main styles to choose from: single-breasted and double-breasted. A gigolo—an American gigolo to be exact—wore the best camel coat in cinema. He was played by Richard Gere and outfitted by none other than Giorgio Armani. It was the late ’70s, and every man, regardless of their profession, was suiting up. Some did it with flares and bright colors to stand out at Studio 54. Others opted for plaid patterns to (surprisingly) fit in with their colleagues in a shared cubicle. But those with a corner office—those who traveled first class on TWA, dined at Delmonico’s, and read the Wall Street Journal every morning—preferred a sharp gray or navy two-piece suit, made bespoke by an Italian tailor. And their coat, of course, was camel.

In the 1960s, as skinhead culture began to seep out of the more radical sectors of the disenfranchised British working class, the men’s overcoat was once again given an all-new guise. Despite being the final thing you throw on before heading outside, how an overcoat hangs off your body shouldn’t be a last-minute thought. By the 1980s, the men’s overcoat had made an almighty return to the mainstream, becoming a key piece in the power dressing professional’s wardrobe – often cut boxy, slightly oversized and worn over the relaxed suiting made so popular by Italian designers like Giorgio Armani. As you’ll likely have gathered by now, the overcoat is intended as an outer layer for wear during the colder months. Many people think it’s merely the final, winter-appropriate addition to a suit, but this essential has so much more potential.

What is an overcoat?

If you’re a shorter guy, don’t overwhelm yourself with fabric and go for a neat, single-breasted, above the knee style. If you’re taller and a large build then you can afford to experiment with raglan sleeved styles and calf-length coats.” It was also around this time that knee-length silhouettes really gained traction as the more versatile, practical style, rather than the dramatic full-length versions that originally defined the overcoat. The topcoat, on the other hand, is a variant plenty of people often confuse with the overcoat and is made from a lighter fabric, extending to the knee at its very longest. To add to the confusion, there’s the greatcoat, which – for all intents and purposes – is just a way of referring to an overcoat that’s particularly bulky, heavy and hard-wearing.

Single-breasted versions are more minimal and clean, enabling them to be paired with everything from your nine-to-five suits to a jeans and Oxford shirt combination at the weekend. Double-breasted overcoats, on the other hand, have a formidable air of tradition about them and pair more easily with tailoring unless worn unbuttoned and dressed down. Some of my favorite overcoat styles this season have been single-breasted belted styles,” says Frazer Goater, a personal stylist at Harvey Nichols in London. “I think something with texture and a herringbone finish can help make a statement too.” What Is An Overcoat? Formerly used as a means of indicating (usually higher) class and social status, the men’s overcoat found itself the subject of some serious re-appropriation in the 1950s, when the Teddy Boys started gleaning style inspiration from the Edwardian Era. If you’re looking to invest in an overcoat that you’ll wear for years to come, choose a style that is 100 per cent wool and that has a decent weight to it (around 4lbs for most men).

Men's Wool Overcoats Online

Men’s Overcoats made entirely of wool will keep you warm and can weather the storm without falling to pieces,” says Chris Gove, founder of British menswear brand Percival.