Kathryn Fassett
Depending on the climate you live in, a winter coat might be a vital part of your wardrobe for five months out of the year, or it might only make an appearance for a chilly week or two. Men’s coats have been a central part of men’s fashion since civilization began. Some of the styles still extremely popular today have long social histories, even coming to be associated with groups of political thought.
Winter coats are expensive. It can be tempting to buy discount coats, but buyer beware. The reason that coats are so expensive is that a great deal of heavy material goes into making them.
For the best investment, buy a coat in an easy-to-coordinate color such as navy, black, or gray. These options will give you the best range of ensembles to wear under it, helping you get the most use that you can. With that said, here is our complete guide to men's winter coats!
Duffel
Duffel coats take their name from the town in Belgium where the coarse wool material that they are made from was first made. Duffel coats are easy to spot, with large hoods and wooden toggles fastened to leather loops. These coats date back to the early 19th century and are still popular today, although modern styles are made with a softer material.
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Warm Rating
Made from wool and with generous hoods, duffel coats are will keep you warm on chilly days. The versatility of the duffel coat makes it easy to pair it with casual wear or more formal attire.
Wet Rating
Wool is not a great fabric to keep you dry. In fact, wool is fairly absorbent, so don’t expect a duffel coat to offer much protection from the elements.
Trench Coat
Like many other styles of men’s coats, the trench coat was originally designed to for military purposes. The trench coat was designed to help keep soldiers dry in the wet trenches. Trench coats are designed to be good cover for winter wear, to repel water, and to stay lightweight and allow movement.
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Warm Rating
Trench coats were not designed for warmth, but rather to be worn underneath something heavier in the more cold months. Their lightweight feel make them ideal for spring wear as well.
Wet Rating
Trench coats are great for the rain because the pressed material repels water and help you stay dry underneath.
Overcoat
Overcoats were once the most formal sort of coat a man could wear. Overtime, the overcoat evolved to something more basic that can be paired with formal wear and informal wear alike. Although the overcoat is constantly being “reinvented,” the classic look of an overcoat doesn’t really change from season to season.
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Warm Rating
With so many different takes on the overcoat from designer to designer, it’s likely that you can find overcoats made from a wide variety of materials. However, the traditional overcoat is made from fine wool.
Wet Rating
The fine wool of a well-made overcoat will keep you dry in persistent rain. Check individual overcoat styles to make sure they are constructed from high quality wool.
Parka
A parka is a thick coat stuffed with down, usually with an attached, fur-lined hood. Parkas are long and provide a great deal of protection in cold climates. This style of coat comes from the Inuit living in the Arctic, who created them from warm animal furs and skins. The Inuits used to coat their parkas, called anoraks, with fish oil to help protect the wearer from rain and mud.
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Warm Rating
Parkas are very warm, due to the many layers of down or other stuffing inside. A parka will be sufficient by itself for most weather, and too heavy for mild days.
Wet Rating
Parkas work well to repel water, even though you won’t have to rub it down with fish oil every week. Today’s parkas are simply made from a water resistant material.
Pea Coat
The pea coat has nautical origins, designed to protect the wearer from the wind and sea spray aboard a naval vessel. Pea coats are versatile enough to wear to a formal occasion, or under a pair of jeans and a sweater to something more casual. Every man should have a pea coat made from heavy duty wool as a staple of their closet.
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Warm Rating
Pea coats are made from heavy duty wool, so they are very warm. However, they can easily accommodate a suit jacket underneath, so in the coldest weather simply add another garment.
Wet Rating
Dense wool makes a pea coat resistant to water. If you need to trust some one on which garment will keep you dry, a sailor seems like a good choice of authority.
Below is an incredibly helpful infographic pertaining to coats by Real Men Real Style.
And that's a wrap for this one! I hope that you have enjoyed reading this article as much as I did writing it!
