The power of the overcoat, courtesy of Le Corbusier and four well-dressed monks.
| ALL Big Picture |
TAGS
|
An
UrbanDaddy
Publication
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES
You'll know what we know.
Must Haves
“overcoats”
Winter is upon us, and for the next two months all your chances of surviving the outdoors turn on a single item: your winter coat. And since you’ll be brothers-in-arms until at least March, we thought we’d put together a few pictures showing off the best the winter coat has to offer—from classic duffels to mountain-ready waxed cotton coats. It’s going to be a good winter…
| ALL Big Picture |
TAGS
|
ADVERTISEMENT
This snap comes from Billy Reid’s newly arrived Holiday book, in which a sharp gentlemen has stacked a tweed overcoat, a double-breasted sweater and a scarf. Winter skills at their finest.
| ALL Big Picture |
TAGS
|
via Mighty Sword
You can take or leave most of the style advice we dole out. As cool as they are, you don’t need a checked blazer. You don’t need an advice-giving pen. But if you’re living anywhere that sees snow on a regular basis, you’re going to need a winter coat—and you’re going to be living with whichever one you choose for quite a while.
So choose wisely.
And to help you survey the territory, we’ve broken the world’s winter coats into three easy categories and singled out the best items in each one—starting with the most classic item in the bunch, the overcoat…
File this one under “one more for the road.”
On the heels of our layering guide to end all layering guides, we’ve come across another example of how it looks when it’s done right.
The look comes from United Arrows, effortlessly mixing a tartan scarf, cableknit sweater and densely graphic button-up. Even the overcoat’s colorful—at least by overcoat standards. If we manage to look this stylish once fall starts up in earnest, we’ll consider it a job well done.
| ALL Good Idea |
TAGS
|
ADVERTISEMENT
via Not all navy blues are created equal.
Take, for example, this navy blue topcoat seen on Imran Amed, editor of Business of Fashion.
It doesn’t stray too far from the standard brass buttoned mold, but the shade of blue is just sharp enough to elevate it into brilliant territory. And it doesn’t hurt that he sets it off with an opposite-toned scarf. It’s a simple combination, but when you’re working with pieces this good, you don’t need to get complicated.
Coming off of a winter of bubbly parkas and coif-destroying hats, we’re about ready to call Mr. Amed the MVP of the season.
| ALL Scene |
TAGS
|
via GoaGThere’s a fine line between advanced layering and looking like a homeless person.
Timo Weiland is walking that line.
On a pure design level, the scarf-and-overcoat is the same thing you see on bankers and senators once December rolls around, but on Timo it seems a little more…adventurous. The semi-floral pattern pushes everything off kilter, into strange haute -formal territory where only fashion designers dare to tread. Depending on the lighting, the look changes from businessman to bag lady—exactly the kind of edge most designers are happy to adopt.
And of course, the shaggy beard and bewildered expression only help to sell it all. Anyone who can stay that aloof on a red carpet can wear whatever they want.
| ALL Scene |
TAGS
|
You might not know it from today’s swelter, but someday in the next few months, you’re going to be faced with a brisk, drizzly day that’s too wet for a blazer, too dry for an umbrella and too hot for the deep-winter parka.
And on that day, you will need something like this coat.
Designed by the hip minimalists at Folk, it’s part of the same treated cotton genus as Barbour and Belstaff, but it’s a little less impenetrable and a lot less heritage-minded. More importantly, it makes for a perfect outer layer—particularly if you leave the top strap unbuckled and show a little sweater.
And if you have a hat handy, now might be a good time to get it ready.
| ALL Object |
TAGS
|
In honor of his newly rescued documentary/concert flick, we couldn’t resist posting our new favorite Leonard Cohen pic, which finds him wearing a suit and tie to a lunch counter, just because he can. One of the perks of growing up in the garment business: the man knew his way around an overcoat.
| ALL Icon |
TAGS
|
© Adrian BootThis picture of Tom Waits comes by way of the newly released tome, The Story of Island Records, showing the correct form for strolling down a cobblestone street in heavy wind. Gentlemen, start your overcoats.
| ALL Big Picture |
TAGS
|
In honor of the beginning of Fall/Winter (in shops not calendars, of course), we thought we’d call attention to this skewed overcoat from Vivienne Westwood that just arrived at Sefton Men’s boutique in London. It’s not a bad way to kick off the season, especially if you’re gearing up for a brisk yet uncannily refined winter.
And if you have a top hat handy…now might be the time.
| ALL Object |
TAGS
|
The Lebow Clothing Factory has been abandoned for upwards of 20 years, but apparently nobody thought to remove the stock. It’s a shame. From what we can tell, they’re not bad…but we’re guessing they’ve seen better days.
While it’s usually best not to think of exactly where that vintage trench has been, it may have looked something like this.
| ALL Big Picture |
TAGS
|
It’s still fall, so your thin, non-rumply coat will stand up for a while, but at some point things will get very very cold, and you’ll want something embarrassingly large to protect you from the elements. You may only wear it for a few weeks of the year, but when winter really kicks in, it’s an essential. (At least, for everywhere outside of California.)
This anorak from Danish designer Henrik Vibskov should fit the bill quite nicely. It’s a slicker Euro version of the duffel coats we usually gush about, but if things get slushy, you may be glad to have the update.
And the zipper, for that matter.
| ALL Object |
TAGS
|
We’ve updated our must-haves—that’s the line of well-chosen items on your left—to bring in a new fall feeling and a helping hand for those of you scrambling for a good pipe. Add in some stomping boots, a classic holiday sweater and this rag & bone overcoat, and you should have enough swag to last you through the winter.
Consider your wishlists officially filled.
| ALL Dress Code |
TAGS
|
Turning antiquated staples on their head is an old game, but classics are still classics and Technicolor isn’t going anywhere…
Gloverall has been making duffle coats for more than 50 years now, meaning they were around for the post-war boom, the gradual decline and now the hipster-fueled revival. Of course, it wouldn’t be retro if there weren’t a twist, so these come in a Pantone-approved range of hues, from bright yellow to a muted aquamarine.
And, surprisingly enough, it all works. It’s tough to pull off a strongly colored coat, especially for men, but the payoff is worth it. We suggest picking up the red version and holding it for the coldest day of the year. We guarantee you’ll be the most colorful thing on the street.
(Thanks to High Snobriety for the dig.)
| ALL Object |
TAGS
|
We’re always impressed by a British import—something about the slim, boxy cut—so we were especially pleased to see Bamford & Sons landing in Barneys New York’s flagship Madison Avenue store this week. They’ve taken over a patch on the ground floor with fall offerings, most notably the iconic Trapper and Trackside jackets, but what caught our eye was this double-breasted overcoat.
It’s a hard garment to pull off without squashing your suit or swallowing up your shoulders. This one balances the two as only a Brit could.
| ALL Labeled |
TAGS
|
