The above the knee overcoat, often called a car coat in America, came about to accommodate the restricted space in automobile seats. All right for spring and fall, on truly cold days chilled knees make the wearer realize what a compromise a short coat can be.
A car coat is probably a fifth or sixth coat in the wardrobe, for men like Charlie Watts who may enjoy having that many. Most of the rest of us should start with a raincoat and liner, adding a day overcoat, a topcoat, an evening coat and a tweed according to our need and our circumstances.
Accompany the coats with a selection of scarves which, like the necktie next to the suit, are a relatively inexpensive way to add variety to the daily look. Unlike the necktie, they also serve the practical purpose of keeping the upper chest warm and dry.
Nothing they can do about the temperature of the knees though. Short coats have that problem.
Photo: Fulvio Iazzaro
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7 comments:
Will,
What is the difference between a day overcoat and a top coat? Where I live in Canada, the winters can reach -30F.
Hi Will,
This has me thinking as I have just commissioned a British Warm from 22oz camel hair. I want the Warm for when the Covert coat is not quite enough. maybe a longer coat is still necessary. Of course at 5'7" tall most off-rack knee length coats are a mid-shin on me.
Cheers,
CFC
For his pea coat it appears Mr. Charlie chose a practical kind of luxury length that has no real danger of kissing wavlet while boating, but is maximally warm.
He appears quite pleased with it, as I would be, to say nothing of the scarf!
very cool site, keep it up!
Generally, an overcoat is made from 22 ounce/660 gram cloth or heavier. A topcoat is usually 18 ounce/540 gram cloth or lughter.
One would wear an overcoat in minus 30F weather and a topcoat in 30F weather.
A good friend of mine comments that overcoats are only used by those who haven't a driver.
Always brings a smile to my face.
On heavier and longer coats I question how useful they really are; they're an encumbrance on the tube, tiresome in a pub and not required in the car.
When I do need the protection and warmth I also need a higher degree of movement.
Above knee is a better investment for me.
Mr. Watts and his friend illustrate the night-and-day difference between the well-dressed and, hmm, shall we say, the other-than-well-dressed.
In response to Mr. Brown, those of us who live (or have lived, as the case may be) in regions of heavy snows and sub-zero temperatures often find a heavy overcoat to be indispensable, and far more stylish than what some choose to wear, but your points about the difficulties of added bulk--and heat--are on the mark.
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