We may only be at the beginning of winter, but if you haven’t broken out the big coat yet, consider yourself lucky. There are many varieties of big coat—puffers, ski coats, parkas—and while we’re into all of them, when we think about big coats, we think about topcoats.
The men’s best topcoats are those you can fit any number of layers underneath. They tend to be long, and should, for the sake of the season, be fairly heavy. Your grandparents wore them, old Hollywood celebrities wore them, and we wear them today for the very same reasons: Whether you’re stepping out in a suit or your softest old hoodie and jeans, throwing on a topcoat over it all will keep you so much warmer, and help you walk a little taller.
To help you layer up like history’s most advanced dressers, we’ve gathered up 10 of our favorites below.
The Winter Topcoat Hit List
American Trench Highlander Balmacaan
American Trench
The Highlander Balmacaan
Made in New York from an impossibly handsome gun-check cloth from England’s almost two-century old Abraham Moon mill, The Highlander is a vintage riff that stays so true to the source material that it almost looks colorized. Like many of the coats on this list, it has raglan sleeves, which are far easier to move in because of their wider underarm areas. Also, like many on this list, it could also be considered an overcoat, given its longer length and heavier weight.
Gap Herringbone Topcoat
Gap
Herringbone Topcoat
If you’re looking for a bang-for-your-buck option, this one from Gap is currently under $200, has all the details you’d look for in a jacket three times the price—like raglan sleeves, a full lining and welt pockets at the waist—and comes in a wear-with-anything brown.
Buck Mason Donegal Tweed Balmacaan
Buck Mason
Donegal Tweed Balmacaan
Drawing heavily from WWII models, this Buck Mason joint has the kind of blown out plaid pattern, assertive lapels and generous fit normally reserved for suspicious-smelling thrift finds.
Wythe Raglan Wool Overcoat
Wythe
Raglan Wool Overcoat
Pretty much every coat on this list is an eye-catcher, for one reason or another, but between the oversized herringbone pattern, the big ol’ flap pockets, the corozo concha buttons and the general silhouette, this raglan-sleeve coat from Wythe is an absolute showstopper—the kind that will have strangers asking you for an ID.
Our Legacy Collapse Coat
Our Legacy
Collapse Coat
There are long coats throughout this guide, but only one can be the longest. That honor goes to the Collapse Coat from Our Legacy, which is made with a wool-blend bedford corduroy fabric—the lesser-known basketweave version, not the waled one—and has a single-breasted front and a length that may even verge on “perilous” if you’re on the shorter side (like me).
Todd Snyder Oversized Herringbone Polo Coat
Todd Snyder
Oversized Herringbone Polo Coat
If you ever needed proof that you don’t need to get weird with colors or pattern to stand all the way out, take a look at this Todd Snyder piece. The XL herringbone pattern and generous proportions do basically all the heavy lifting in the Sheesh Department, and the belted front works like a little exclamation point.
3sixteen Mac Coat
3sixteen
Mac Coat
There are jackets 10 times the price of 3sixteen’s Mac Coat that don’t look, feel or wear as nicely as this stunner, which is made with a soft 90/10 wool/cashmere fabric, has a full cotton lining, and all the pockets you could want.
Auralee Baby Camel Flannel Coat
Auralee
Baby Camel Flannel Coat
The list’s only camel hair coat—which is softer than most other wools, super durable and admirably sustainable—this knockout from Auralee has exactly zero frills but remains unambiguously luxurious. (And we as a species must do all we can to protect that perfect shade of brown, whatever it takes.)
Madewell Raglan-Sleeve Topcoat
Madewell
Raglan-Sleeve Topcoat
There isn’t an award for sub-$500 overcoats (yet), but if there was, this would be a serious contender. Raglan shoulder, funky flecked herringbone fabric, covered placket and the kind of fit that works over a hoodie, blazer, chunky-ass sweater, whatever. In other words, just a super easy jacket that also happens to look great.
J.Crew Rivington Car Coat
J.Crew
Rivington Car Coat
A slightly shorter option for anyone looking for a little less length, but also all the warmth, versatility and sartorial glory of an overcoat, J.Crew’s Rivington Car Coat sits somewhere between a peacoat and the rest of the coats on this list.
Stoffa Asymmetric Coat
Stoffa
Asymmetric Coat
If you’ve ever messed around with any Stoffá wares, you know that the NYC-based brand makes things that feel a type of nice that once felt impossible. Their Asymmetric Coat only drives home that reputation, wherein massive lapels, a goofy (in a good way) buttoning point, and some beautiful undyed wool all play starring roles.
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