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Double-breasted coat, 1876
Napoleon, mounted, campaigning in France in 1814, wearing a grey overcoat.

An overcoat is a long coat which is worn over other clothes. Overcoats are made from a warm, heavy cloth or even animal fur. They go below the knee in length. A coat that is knee length is known as a topcoat. Overcoats have been worn for hundreds of years. Many armies dressed their soldiers in overcoats during the winter.

There are many styles and types of overcoats. These include:

Furlinedgreatcoat dec1907.jpg
The Greatcoat, a very large overcoat with shoulder capes. These were worn by European armies including the former Soviet Union.
The Redingote (riding coat), a long fitted coat for men or women.
Frockovercoat 1903.jpg
Frock overcoat, a very formal daytime overcoat, worn with a frock coat. It had a narrow fitting waist.
Ulsterovercoat jan1903.jpg
The Ulster coat, a working daytime overcoat. At first it had a cape top covering sleeves. It was called a polo coat when it had no cape.
Invernesscoat 1901.jpg
The Inverness coat, a formal evening or working day overcoat, with winged sleeves.
Paletotcoat dec1909.jpg
The Paletot coat, a coat shaped with sidebodies. It was a less formal overcoat.
Paddockcoatd jan1904.jpg
The Paddock coat had very little shaping.
Chesterfieldcoat oct1901.jpg
The Chesterfield coat, a long overcoat.
The Covert coat, a single breasted country coat that became accepted for wear in the city with a suit as well as with tweed.[1]

References[change | change source]

  1. "The Covert Coat". Gentleman's Gazette. http://www.gentlemansgazette.com/covert-coat/. Retrieved 2012-01-24.