Outerwear
Contents
Wool Coats and Jackets
Over Coat
A heavy coat that is worn over a suit or a jacket. Generally reaches down to between the top of the knee and all the way down to the ankle. Traditionally made of fabrics as thick as 30 oz or more per yard. They can seem antiquated, especially if they're too long.
Top Coat
Similar to an over coat, but generally made of a lighter wool fabric and shorter in length (reaching down to the knee or higher). These are still fairly popular and can be found from a variety of retailers.
Duffle Coat
The duffle (or duffel) coat is made of a heavy woolen fabric and features toggle closures, a hood, a square shoulder yoke, large front pockets, and traditionally a tartain lining. This jacket trended heavily in the fall/winter season of 2012.
Pea Coat
Worn by sailors for centuries, the pea coat features a large lapel, a double breasted front, a double row of buttons, and a thick wool fabric. Very popular a few years ago. /fa/ tricked a lot of people into buying them by claiming they were "timeless."
Cotton
Field Jackets
A broad range of jackets with a similar design and aesthetic, these are generically called fatigue, field, mechanic, or utility jackets. Typically made with cotton fabrics and feature four front pockets, a small collar, and occasionally a hood and epaulets.
Military Field Jackets
The M51 and M65, introduced in 1951 and 1965 respectively, are specific types of field jackets originally issued by the United States military. The most notable difference between the two is that the hood of the m-65 folds up and zips into the collar.
Synthetics
Quilted Jackets
Originally invented by Steve Guylas in 1965, an American who retired from the US Air Force and moved to England, the quilted jacket was used for hunting, equestrianism, and other sports. Typically features a corduroy collar, a single breasted front with snap button closures, and patch pockets. Cheaper models will use nylon or polyester shells, but more expensive ones may use polyamide. Barbour is well known for their quilted jackets, but their models tend to be poorly fitted. Some of the nicest version come from companies not dedicated to the design of the boxy original, like Burberry Prosum or Ralph Lauren.
Quilted Down Jacket aka The Puffer Jacket
Older than the quilted jacket, the quilted down jacket was introduced in 1936 by Eddie Bauer as a light weight and water resistant alternative to wool jackets that he dubbed the Skyliner. The quilting served a functional purpose: to keep the down in place. Nowadays down jackets can be found everywhere, and Uniqlo is known for their line of quilted downs.
