Lifestyle
Ice-Cold ‘Fits: 6 Classic Men’s Coats And How To Style Them
Not sure whether you need a parka, a puffer or a peacoat? This simple guide can help you make the best choice for you – and style it like a pro
If you think about it, coats are one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your wardrobe. You can pretty much have as many T-shirts and jeans as you want (sustainability concerns aside), but financial and spatial constraints limit most of us to just a few pieces of outerwear – so choosing the right coat is a crucial step for stylish dressing.
Outerwear also needs to perform in the face of adverse weather conditions, making each purchase all the more worthy of careful consideration. To make the process a little easier, we’ve selected six tried-and-tested styles that pair perfectly with any aesthetic, while seeing you safe and dry through the cold seasons.
The Overcoat
Best For: City Living
Let’s open the floor with a controversial hot take. Layering like an onion is a much-touted piece of advice for winter wardrobes, but if you know you’ll be transitioning from the freezing outdoors to a toasty office, packed commuter train or indoor shopping centre, a single heavy but easily removable outer shell may be a better approach. Luckily, few things are more stylish than a coat with some heft to it.
Chunky textures are one of the best parts of dressing for the cold, and overcoats go particularly well with substantial knitwear, so opt for something big enough to slide on over your thickest jumper (you could even take it shopping with you). For maximum versatility, choose a neutral hue, like camel or black, or a classic pattern, such as tweed or herringbone. The right model looks just as chic over a full three-piece as it does over shirts for the office and casual jumpers. You can even throw it on over your just-for-the-house joggers and hoodie for weekend runs to the shop – and get mistaken for an off-duty celebrity. Pro tip: A good overcoat should be highly durable, so with some patient hunting, you could score a great vintage find.
The Parka
Best For: Carrying Cargo
Born for functionality among the Indigenous Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, this heavy-duty layer is now the preferred outerwear of everyone from polar scientists to Liam Gallagher. An olive green model with a fur-trimmed hood is a ubiquitous – and versatile – choice, but you could mix things up with a fresh hue like this minty number from The North Face. Just remember: Your coat needs to match a lot of different outfits, so it may be worth mentally scanning your wardrobe first to make sure it jibes with your favourite pieces.
Alternatively, lean into the old-school Arctic explorer vibe with a sandy shade, like this one from Fjällräven, to wear with workwear trousers, sturdy boots and plenty of plaid. Or embrace nineties-esque primary colours via the Berghaus Trango, which would work especially well with casual looks. Just add jeans and trainers underneath, and let the top half do the talking … leaving you free to quietly stuff your roomy pockets with everything you could possibly need for the day.
The Trenchcoat
Best For: Wet Weather
This pick may not be suited to the most frigid climes, but for those dealing with more rain than snow, it’s an excellent choice. This Les Deux model has a belt, epaulettes, a storm flap and cuff straps – in short, everything one could desire in a trench – whereas this Hugo Boss option pares it back to just the most recognisable features.
Admittedly, trenches have an innate retro feel that makes them a bit trickier to style. Too modern, and your fit won’t be cohesive; too old-school, and you risk looking costumey. Strike a balance with a pair of low-key Derbies and loose-leg trousers for an outfit that could belong to any time period. If you’re still worried about looking like a private investigator (unless that’s your vibe, in which case by all means, don that deerstalker and go to town), this Uniqlo coat is perhaps an easier first step. It does away with many of the bells and whistles, dials down the saturation on the traditional honey colour to a highly wearable taupe, and integrates a hood to ensure you’re 100% rain-ready.
The Peacoat
Best For: Biting Wind
If the trench is the perfect outerwear for rain, the peacoat is your ultimate weapon against wind. First worn by Dutch sailors in the 1800s, the style’s double-breasted front forms an impenetrable two-layered defence, while the ample collar can be flipped up to protect the neck and nape.
As for styling, peacoats don’t usually scream “edge”, so lean into their timelessness with tried-and-true menswear hues like navy and grey (this LL Bean option comes in all three and is made from 100% Italian wool). The boxy cut accommodates even the chunkiest underlayer, so embrace the peacoat’s nautical history with a fisherman’s rib or an Aran knit. Add leather shoes and some thick woollen trousers – peacoats don’t tend to cover much of the leg – and you’re ready to go.
If you prefer a longer fit, try this Hugo Boss style. Or, for a more up-to-date take, this minimalist COS design keeps just the most recognisable essentials, so it will integrate better into more fashion-forward ‘fits.
The Waxed Jacket
Best For: Vintage Chic
Waxed jackets are an enduring choice for a reason: they look just as good – if not better – as they age. UK brand Barbour, synonymous with the style, offers a few different models. The most archetypal is perhaps the oft-imitated but never equalled Beaufort, which has crept from countryside staple to sharp city dressing. Styling-wise, you don’t have to go full gentleman farmer, but waxed jackets do pair nicely with classic pieces – think collared shirts, knit jumpers, cords and Chelsea boots (or wellies for muddy strolls through the fields).
Sister brand Barbour International, on the other hand, prefers a biker-inspired aesthetic that makes more of a statement. Slightly cropped designs, such as the Transport, have a subtly modern feel that pairs nicely with the current workwear trend. They come in a wider range of colours, too, including a striking burgundy. Barbour also offers a Repair & Re-wax service to maintain your jacket for years to come.
The Puffer
Best For: Lightweight Warmth
Like many of the coats on this list, the puffer was invented as a solution to a problem. In this case, it was when outdoorsman Eddie Bauer contracted hypothermia in a sodden wool jacket on a winter fishing trip in the 1930s. Despite these decidedly practical roots, this staple pops up periodically in fashion in every shape and shade – which gives us a wealth of inspiration to draw on. Our advice is: don’t fight the puff. Swaddle yourself in its ample cosiness until the springtime sun emerges.
The North Face’s iconic Nuptse parka comes in an extra-long version that pretty much allows you to step out in a sleeping bag. Throw it on over anything – your whole outfit will be covered anyway. Cropped North Face puffers have been everywhere in recent years as well, and this shiny black design in particular works well with streetwear. Alternatively, puffers are a great way to inject some colour into dull days; try this neon-orange Tommy Hilfiger one. A slimmer jacket like this Save The Duck model can even make an excellent lightweight middle layer.
