Features like a raglan sleeve and high rear center vent give it a sharpness and louche quality that’s normally elusive. And small touches like ethically-sourced horn buttons and a silky satin lining make the IRL experience even sweeter. Pop the collar, wear it open, layer it over a turtleneck and vintage jeans, and you’ve got a head-turning look. Or keep it chill by buttoning it up to the top with nothing peaking out but corduroy pants and beat-up sneakers.
Best Topcoat for Bad Weather: Haven Bureau Coat
The charm of a topcoat is its classic nature, but what if you could have all the splendor of a traditional topcoat with the technological advancements of a military bomber jacket? Haven’s Bureau coat looks just like most topcoats. It’s got a balmacaan-style front that buttons all the way to the collar, it extends down to the knee, and has that tasty drape. But look a little closer and you’ll see that this is an evolved version of the topcoat genus.
It’s made from Loro Piana’s most technical fabric, a three-layer weather-resistant material they call Storm System. It has the all-wool look on its face, but the subsequent layers imbue the coat with windproofness while maximizing breathability, not to mention a good amount of water-resistance. From there, gorpy details like snap plackets, articulated sleeves and underarm gussets, upgrade it from walking coat to weather coat. It’s the ultimate answer for dudes who appreciate the impenetrable nature of a Gore-tex raincoat but prefer a more time-honored design.
More Topcoats We Love
What to Look for in a Great Topcoat
Topcoats can solve a ton of fashion problems, but some are better than others. Here are the key points that delineate the best from the rest.
Start With the Right Fabric
Great topcoats start with great fabric which start from great raw materials. High-quality wools, cashmeres, mohairs, and alpaca wools are a great start but are often adulterated with cheaper synthetics to cut manufacturing costs. That’s not to say that a little polyester means your coat will disintegrate after two seasons, however. Just don’t be fooled when a brand calls a topcoat cashmere when polyester or nylon is higher on its list of ingredients than said cashmere.
Pay Attention to How It Fits
Topcoats, as the name suggests, are meant to be worn on top of other layers. That means they should be roomy enough to drape over your other winter layers like sweaters and even other jackets. So expect a topcoat’s shoulder seam to extend past your natural shoulder. The sleeves, likewise, should be accommodating enough to slip over thick sweaters and jackets and should extend to just below the wrist. Another key component to a topcoat’s identity is its length. Generally, topcoats should extend to the knee or even as far as the ankle.
Double-Check the Finer Details
While the body of a good topcoat doesn’t need to be lined, it does provide more warmth and wind-resistance. Perhaps what is more important is lining the sleeves with a smooth material such as satin to make donning and doffing much easier. From there, buttons should be thick and well-sewn with anchors. Hand pockets lined with corduroy or flannel feel more premium and help keep your hands from freezing.
Think About What You’ll Wear It With
Aside from the overall silhouette and materials, there’s a variety of styles under the topcoat umbrella. Classic balmacaan-style topcoats are designed with a single-breasted front closure that buttons all the way up to the collar. Others feature a suit-style lapel with either single- or double-breasted fronts. Some topcoats feature a mixture of button and zip-fronts or even come with a belt or a hood. No style is wrong, so have fun and choose what speaks to you.
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