In recent years, our culture has become increasingly informal. I feel like there are fewer and fewer opportunities to dress up because no one is seriously dressing up anymore. With this shift to informal attire, we lost a lot of great things.
When you wear an overcoat, the noise of a winter sporty coat starts to stand out and is no fun.
Women wear heels less often. Men rarely wear ties. Sneakers are everywhere. Leather penny loafers are a little-known craft in the world of 2024. All of these and many others are missed, but one item in particular is missed. It's a long overcoat.
A versatile classic
Yes, of course, you can still find long overcoats. They are not like the lost city of Atlantis. They still exist and there are men like me who still wear them. However, they are not as common as they once were.
There was a time when it seemed like every American man had a heavy coat hanging at the front of his closet. A sturdy overcoat was just part of a man's wardrobe.
Men working in offices wore overcoats every day during the winter. Men who worked with their hands wore them to church every snowy Sunday. They were practical. A thick overcoat protects you from the elements and is also suitable for more formal occasions.
It served a specific purpose. But today, for many citizens, that purpose no longer exists. Unless you have a formal occasion, you don't need a formal winter coat.
Invasion of down jackets
The tragedy of the overcoat's decline is that it is a very powerful garment. It is unparalleled in our wardrobe. There is no substitute for the tragically abandoned overcoat. When the overcoat disappeared, so did the power it conveyed.
There are no modern jackets that reach past the shoulders and knees. Thick, heavy tweed was never considered. Where once there was an overcoat, there is now a padded jacket, making a sad synthetic whisper as you hurry down the sidewalk.
The power extinguished by an overcoat is often not known until you feel it yourself. Any man who has ever worn a real overcoat knows that feeling. It weighs more than any other item in the closet. When you put it on your shoulders, you will feel the weight on your body.
modern armor set
It may sound strange, but this overcoat feels like a kind of modern armor. As I button up my clothes and head out into the biting cold, I can't help but think of old photos of frozen streets. Stoic men stand still in black silhouette in the white blast of winter. Wearing a long, heavy cloak, it does not move even in the harsh winds. This scene is so powerful that it would be unimaginable without the overcoat.
Overcoats change our pace. There's no need to rush to put on your overcoat. Well, you can if you really want to. Of course, it is technically possible to run down the road wearing an overcoat. But you're not going to do that.
It's not something you do wearing a long, thick overcoat. You walk with a sense of purpose, strolling along paths and sneaking around the grounds in the late afternoon when the sun hangs low. He walks down the street with his overcoat open and the wind blowing at the sides, his hands in his pockets. This is a powerful act. It's a powerful feeling and a powerful aesthetic. If you know, you know.
A strange and unexpected benefit of the overcoat is its sound. The cloak is silent when you walk. This is not the case with modern winter jackets, which are almost always necessarily sports-inspired. When you wear these sporty coats, you will hear a constant whooshing sound. Get into the car. I'm walking down the hallway. put on shoes. Shift your position slightly on the chair.
I always have this fizzing feeling. People who have only ever worn these jackets don't realize this. When you wear an overcoat, the noise of a winter sporty coat starts to stand out and is no fun. The overcoat is a strong silent rest.
Of course, overcoats are traditionally suited for more formal environments, but they are flexible and can be worn in many different ways today. You can wear an overcoat over a jacket and tie, or over an oxford button-down or Shetland sweater. Going to work in the morning or rushing to the store for a glass of wine late at night. The durable and formal nature of heavy overcoats makes them easy to incorporate into a variety of formal and purposeful outfits.
powerful discovery
Overcoats are much less common than they used to be, but you can still find them if you know where. Mr. Drake, J Crewand Mr. O'Connell's There are some great places that sell overcoats at different price points. And, of course, eBay and thrift stores are also great options to consider. Old, long overcoats are a powerful find, often heavier than those found on OTR today.
You may be wondering about overcoats. You might think that its impact and power is blown out of proportion. “How can a coat express so much strength? Why is it really so important?”
Now, try wearing one. It doesn't have to be flashy. It doesn't have to be expensive. Try it and see how it feels. Walk around a bit. Feel the weight on your shoulders. Please put your hands in your pockets. Look in the mirror. As you can see. A long overcoat is a coat of power. What your wardrobe is missing is a coat.
