An overcoat is a staple of any man’s wardrobe. In business situations or more formal social occasions, you don’t want to make do with your puffy down parka. So which topcoat will you select? Men’s overcoats are traditionally made of wool or wool-blends and there are many well-tailored examples. However, if you want to stand out from the crowd, go with a herringbone wool coat.
Click to see more views and purchase the distinctive Marc Jacobs Avalon Herringbone Coat from SSENSE
Herringbone has been a distinctive design pattern for thousands of years. Herringbone designs in masonry, wood flooring, and tile date back to Roman times. There’s something out-of-the-ordinary and eye-catching about that repeating chevron pattern, which echoes the back-swept pattern of bones in the skeleton of the herring (hence the name).
In men’s clothing, the herringbone design has been used for hundreds of years. It is difficult to sew the herringbone pattern so that it lines up evenly across the garment. For that reason, only the most skilled craftsmen and tailors have consistently used herringbone cloth (which fits in the category of twill) to make clothing.
To this day, a herringbone weave sets men’s clothing apart from other patterns. It is overwhelmingly employed in men’s clothes that are meant to signify style, high quality, and authority — that is, it is used mostly for suits and overcoats. (You will almost never find underwear or T-shirts, for example, with a true herringbone weave.)
Marc Jacobs Avalon Herringbone Coat from SSENSE
This winter, when you want to stand out from the crowd while making your way to work, or meeting your significant other (or someone you might want to be your significant other) for drinks, attending a gala or concert, or just walking your dog in the park on a chilly day while exuding an air of definite self-expression (because, bottom line, you never know who’s watching), a herringbone coat will fit the bill. Plus it will keep you warm.
You will want to wear the most well-tailored herringbone coat you can find. For that, I recommend the Marc Jacobs Avalon Herringbone Coat from Ssense (pictured above). Its coloring distinguishes it from run-of-the-mill herringbone coats — it is an intriguing combination of black, brown, and beige herringbone interspersed with orange and yellow flecks. The cloth is 70% wool, with a judicious addition of nylon and acrylic for strength, shape, warmth, and durability. It’s fully lined and made in the USA.
Earlier this year, the clothing editors at Details magazine called out herringbone as a design to employ to set yourself apart when looking for a suitable topcoat. For a herringbone overcoat, they recommended looking for one with high armholes, well-constructed shoulders (i.e., not overly boxy or shapeless), and sleeves that reveal a bit of cuff. The Avalon Herringbone Coat by Marc Jacobs meets these criteria. In addition, it is double-breasted, which makes it even more uncommon, and it comes with a belt for when you want to wrap yourself against the wind. Bottom line, it is a high-quality, uniquely-styled warm coat. Click the link or photo above to get it.
Another Herringbone Coat to Consider: the Bomber Duffle Herringbone Jacket from Paul Fredrick
Click for the Paul Fredrick Bomber Duffle Herringbone Jacket
In certain situations you don’t necessarily want to go with overly serious attire but still want to wear a more individualistic, well-styled coat — and the conditions may not call for quite as warm a coat as a full-length herringbone topcoat. In that case, go with the flattering Bomber Duffle Herringbone Jacket from Paul Fredrick (that’s it to the left).
A distinctly masculine design, it is also luxurious in execution (100% wool, fully lined), and quite stylish, with a blend of elements from the bomber jacket, the duffle coat, and the herringbone weave. Yet it is eminently practical. In slightly less formal situations, it will set you apart without “trying” too hard. Plus it will keep you warm. And the price is surprisingly reasonable.
Check the glowing customer reviews for this jacket on the Paul Fredrick site. You can get discounts and free shipping on certain purchases, too.
A Practical Herringbone Topcoat that Will Serve You for Years: Michael Kors Herringbone Long Peacoat
The Michael Kors Herringbone Long Peacoat from Zappos Couture
Last year I wrote about the practical and personal reasons every guy would want to own a peacoat. Well, the Herringbone Long Peacoat by Michael Kors is a practical blend of peacoat utility and herringbone style. Double-breasted, 70% wool, fully lined. Deep hand-warmer pockets. Covers everything that needs to be covered when you want to keep warm (and in that regard it’s a little looser in fit — and therefore easier to layer — than the Marc Jacobs Avalon Herringbone Coat). It’s long, masculine, and flowing in profile.
It’s available from Zappos Couture, so you know it’s top-quality, and you know that you’ll either be totally satisfied or you can send it back. Which also goes for Paul Fredrick and Ssense.
But of course you’ll be satisfied with your herringbone coat. You will wear it when the occasion calls for it or just whenever the hell you feel like it and, either way, it will be appropriate. Because it’s your expression.
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