The Winter months often bring with them the necessity to add layers for warmth, and these layers are potent tools for men to dress in exceptionally stylish ways. If you need a quality coat to keep you warm during the brisk months of the year, here are some examples and recommendations that might suit your needs and style preferences.
NOT ALL COATS ARE CREATED EQUAL
Not every coat is a quality piece, and not every variation will work where you reside. Investing in various attributes when selecting a Winter coat while not breaking the bank is essential. Luckily, when it comes to dressing warm, there are many options you can consider depending on the surrounding conditions.
PRIORITIZE VERSATILITY
I won't assume you want five or ten coats in your closet. This post is for the average man who needs something to keep him warm while satisfying his desire to remain stylish. Investing in a highly versatile coat that can be worn with almost everything else in your wardrobe is critical if you value minimalism. When selecting your first coat, I recommend starting with something neutral-colored, such as navy blue, charcoal, gray, tan, olive green, etc. These colors pair well with other neutrals and can easily slide from one color palette to another.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Where you live will ultimately dictate what your coat should be made of and its heaviness. Don't overthink it. If you live somewhere where you experience all four seasons and a fair amount of snow, prioritize something thick and warm. If you live somewhere such as Southern California, where the nights can occasionally be brisk and windy, look for something lighter but thick enough to provide warmth when needed.
FOCUS ON FUNCTIONALITY
Depending on what you usually wear and the needs you must have met for your everyday lifestyle, you might need to focus on various functions for your coat. If you have a specific need, such as carrying items with you, then perhaps it's worth having extra pockets. If you are occasionally exposed to rain, maybe a shield from the elements is something you need to pay close attention to, etc.
Whatever functions your coat should have that are commensurate with your lifestyle and place of residence, ensure that you focus on meeting those needs, as it will surely enhance your life while wearing the garment.
QUALITY MATTERS
I understand that money can be tight. You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a coat but think critically about the cost per wear of this piece. Additionally, consider how long you wish to keep it in your closet. If there is a high probability that you will need to grab this coat regularly throughout the Winter months year after year, then be sure never to skimp on quality. A quality coat will save you money in the long run and better perform its job for you as a result.
OVERCOATS
An Overcoat is meant to have bulk and be worn on multiple layers. You'll typically see men in two or even three-piece suits wearing thick and heavy coats on top of their ensembles. These are coats with a lot of heft to them in most cases. They can be very long, have all kinds of collar types, and can be single or double-breasted.
Choose an Overcoat if you need to add several layers underneath it, or you typically wear suits and need something with extra room to fit over them.
- For a reasonable price, check out the Ben Sherman Brenton Double Breasted Wool Overcoat.
- For a bit better quality, look at the H&M Double-Breasted Wool Blend Coat.
- Check out the Italian Wool Overcoat from Bonobos for something with superior quality.
TOPCOATS
Topcoats are also overcoats and can be used for the same reason and atop numerous layers. Overcoats with less bulk and heftiness have been made available and popularized in recent years due to fewer men needing to wear suits to work. Additionally, the rise in sleeker, more fitted garments (such as slim and tailored fits) has caused outerwear to be produced, marketed, and sold similarly.
Enter the modern Topcoat, which maintains the similar look of an Overcoat but is now designed to fit much closer to the body. A Topcoat is an excellent choice for those who do not need multiple layers but want a classic long coat in their closet. These are best paired with single base layers such as t-shirts, hoodies, polos, sweaters, etc.
- For a reasonable price, check out the Ben Sherman Brenton Double Breasted Wool Overcoat.
- For a bit better quality, look at the H&M Double-Breasted Wool Blend Coat.
- Check out the Italian Wool Topcoat from Bonobos for something with superior quality.
TRENCH COATS
The Trench Coat is an intriguing-looking piece often made of gaberdine, a tightly woven cotton and worsted wool blended weave that is lightweight and water-resistant. Gaberdine was invented in 1879 by Thomas Burberry (famous for his Burberry Trench Coats). Of course, many of today's Trench Coats are made of a cotton (51%) and polyester (49%) blend, serving the wearer well in the rain.
If you live somewhere that rains during the Winter, I recommend a Trench Coat for its protection from the brisk wind and cold rain. The silhouette of a classic Trench is undeniably iconic, with its double-breasted closure, epaulettes, D-ring belt, throat closure, and storm pockets.
- For a reasonable price, check out the Pantete Men's Double-Breasted Trench Coat.
- For a bit better quality, look at the Banana Republic Trench Coat.
- Check out the Khaki Trench Coat from Hawes & Curtis for something superior in quality.
MAC COATS
The Mackintosh Coat (a.k.a. "Mac" Coat) is an excellent option for those who want the same functionality of a Trench Coat without all of the unique stylings that make up the classic coat that Burberry popularized in the 19th century. Mac Coats offer the same water and wind resistance due to their similar construction and a more minimalistic look.
You can style a Mac Coat the same way as a Trench Coat, so choosing one over the other won't cause many issues. These types of coats look particularly handsome with various sweaters and collared shirts.
- For a reasonable price, check out the Cole Haan Men's Classic Stand Collar Rain Jacket.
- For a bit better quality, look at the Peter Manning NYC Carnegie Coat.
- Check out the Cotton Rain Coat from Charles Tyrwhitt for something superior in quality.
CAR COATS
A Car Coat is the same type of silhouette as the aforementioned Mac Coat but instead made of a more traditional cotton or wool blend that is less waterproof and often softer. As the name would suggest, the Car Coat was traditionally worn as a driving coat that was more minimal in construction and had a lower cut to assist in entering, exiting, and sitting within vehicles.
The Car Coat is an excellent option for someone wanting a longer coat but not wanting something as thick or heavy as an Overcoat. The simple design is usually more versatile, with various patterns such as herringbone or plaid.
- For a reasonable price, check out the H&M Men's Regular Fit Car Coat.
- For a bit better quality, look at the Docker's Weston Wool-Blend Coat.
- Check out the Italian Wool Car Coat from Bonobos for something superior in quality.
PEACOATS
The precise origin of the Peacoat has been somewhat lost to history. Still, we can infer that much like other classic menswear pieces, the history of the Peacoat stems from military use and has maintained its pedigree within the U.S. Navy amongst sailors, chiefs, and officers alike. The Peacoat is a handsome, sophisticated, double-breasted, six-button coat with an ulster collar that looks dapper with anything from a sweater and jeans to a dress shirt, tie, and trousers.
If you want something that provides the warmth and structure of an Overcoat but isn't as long, then the Peacoat will work wonders for you. It is a timeless and classic piece that can be dressed up and down in various ways and can provide some shielding from the elements depending on its precise fabrics (though the aforementioned Mac and Trench Coats will do much better). I recommend a deep navy blue, charcoal, or brown coat. Black is painfully generic and will draw attention to dust or pet hairs (assuming you have pets) and clash with other neutral-colored garments in your closet.
- For a reasonable price, check out the Kenneth Cole Double-Breasted Wool Peacoat.
- For a bit better quality, look at the Express Boucle Wool-Blend Peacoat.
- Check out the Dock Peacoat from J. Crew for something superior in quality.
CHOOSE WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU
If you decide on any of these timeless and classic coats, you can rest easy knowing they will provide warmth and shielding from the elements. So long as you make a point to invest in quality, you'll find that any number of these pieces will stand the test of time and can be kept in your closet for years. Just remember to consider everything I have shared in this post about functionality, your present location, and color versatility.
