Are you interested in fashion and, in the heart of winter, are you in a hurry to find a coat you like? You don’t know how to choose your future jacket? Which brand? Which cut according to your morphology? Short or long? Wide or fitted? Which colour? How do you match it with your other pieces? Which style according to your wardrobe? Within what budget? In short, choosing a coat is not as simple as it seems. Choosing your coat should be based on both practical and aesthetic criteria. On the practical side, of course, it must fulfil its primary function of keeping you warm, while on the aesthetic side, you need to choose a coat that enhances you perfectly and fits your silhouette. So avoid coats that make you feel heavy. If you only have to choose one, choose a model that will fit most of your outfits: streetwear, urban chic, working, sport…
A few general rules before you start. First of all, since you will be wearing your coat during the coldest months, don’t wear it too close to your body. With other under layers of clothing, you may be uncomfortable and look puffy. Second, think about the colour and style of your future coat. If you’re going to have only one piece in your wardrobe, consider getting a versatile coat that will go well with trainers and dress shoes, jeans as well as suit trousers, a chino… To go further in the choice of your future men’s coat, IRO PARIS for instance offers many perfectly documented thematic items.
The different types of coats
Among the different types of coats, there are several categories:
formal clothing (overcoat) :
- the straight cut crombie coat : classic coat par excellence, it mainly accompanies suits but not only (casual chic look) ;
- the chesterfield: it is identified by its hidden buttonhole, simple buttoning, ticket pocket…
- the ulster coat: you can recognise it by its belt and its martingale. It falls below the knees and protects from the cold thanks to its crossed buttoning.
- the raglan: it is called raglan because of the absence of seams on the shoulders. The cut is necessarily ample and you need to have your own style to wear it.
Rainwear :
- the mackintosh: a formidable weapon when it rains too much, the mackintosh is named after a great Scottish chemist who invented the first mackintosh in 1823.
- the trench coat: also formidable in case of bad weather, it is a military garment originally worn by officers. It is recognizable by its shoulder pads, its raglant shoulders, its belt, its crossed
- buttoning, and, finally, its storm flaps (flaps at the front and at the back) which prevent water infiltration.
Casual coats :
- the parka: windproof, waterproof and very useful in countries with polar cold, its padding is made of feathers or down.
- the duffle coat: coming from the naval world, this coat is recognizable by its rope closures with small horns,
- the pea jacket: like the duffle coat, it comes from the marine world. Practical, easy to close, the raincoat protects from the wind thanks to its two-way buttoning,
- the comforter: a practical piece that provides perfect protection from the cold. The comforter must be dense and form beautiful curves. For style, avoid fabrics that are too shiny and colours
- that are too strong. The material must be strong and waterproof. Beware of horizontal socks!
Tips on the future choice of your coat
- Avoid coats below the knees if you are small,
- Avoid synthetic materials in order to avoid excessive perspiration: avoid using more than 30% of materials from the oil industry and favour natural materials such as wool for more than 70% of the composition,
- Choose a silky, tightly knitted fabric, a sign of good quality fabric, for a formal coat,
In conclusion, know that the coat is a timeless piece and that it is better to invest in quality.