Dress: Styles
A coat is one of the most expensive garments you will need to purchase. If you live in a location that regularly gets cold you'll need to purchase a good quality coat which will cost you upwards of $600. Search for a store you can trust and buy a coat in a label you respect. If you do not feel you can justify the cost of a good coat, invest in some quality thermal underwear for those chilly days.
Coats can be divided into three categories:
- Raincoats - these are lightweight and waterproof.
- Topcoats - these are lightweight and made from fabrics such as cashmere and gabardine.
- Overcoats - these are heavyweight and generally made from wool.
Each of the styles below, except the trench, can be a topcoat or overcoat. Raincoats are generally found in Trench and Balmacaan styles. An overcoat should always be made of natural fibers: long-staple wool, camel hair, cashmere or alpaca and, for those with money to spare, vicuna.
The way you put on your overcoat will result in whether you will be comfortable or not once it is on.
- First, hold each sleeve of your suit jacket as you slip your arm into the sleeves, this will prevent them from bunching up in the outer coat sleeve.
- Then, holding the collar of the coat at the back of the neck with one hand, reach up under the back of the coat; grasp the bottom of your suit jacket at the center back.
- Pull up on the coat collar and down on the suit jacket.
- With both hands on the coat lapels smooth it out. This should ‘seat' your suit on your neck while setting the coat in place over it so that both hug your neck.