Big Coat Season is almost upon us. And that means it's high time to get in on one of the best winter coats for men.
That's no bad thing, of course. It's fun to shop for a winter coat. Not like denim, or hunting for the best men's underwear. Because a good winter coat – the flashy, versatile, punchy sort of coat – can really upgrade your outfit. Everyone likes a sharp coat. Better yet, everyone notices a sharp coat. And, while they may cost a little more than everything else in your wardrobe, you can nail the cost-per-wear ratio, and you'll continue to do so for a few winters to come.
"A good coat is the one thing that defines your whole winter look," says Carin Nakanishi, head of menswear brand and retailer, The Garbstore. "It's the piece that people see you in the most. Your seasonal statement, so you’ve got to make it count."
You've also got a loose set of rules to follow. As summers get warmer, and winters get wilder, it needs to actually provide some protection against arctic winds. So either look for insulation, or something that can house many, many layers (heaven is: an overcoat atop a chore jacket atop one of the best white T-shirts). What's more, know that while your transitional jacket works well in autumn, and looks great year-round, it'll struggle to give you the plating you need. Don't moan that we didn't warn you when a nice, clean, sparse denim jacket gets you a nice Hinge photo and a case of hypothermia.
The first thing you need to consider is your lifestyle and what part of that lifestyle the coat is for.
“And finally, and probably the most practical of them all, is a quality down coat in either a boxy, to-the-waist silhouette or an oversized parka shape.”
These four classic coats lay a solid foundation, but they’re by no means the only choices on the table. Here, we take a more detailed look at the winter warmers worthy of a spot in your wardrobe.
