Overcoat

Double-breasted coat, 1876

Napoleon, mounted, campaigning in France in 1814, wearing a grey overcoat.

An overcoat is a long coat which is worn over other clothes. Overcoats are made from a warm, heavy cloth or even animal fur. They go below the knee in length. A coat that is knee length is known as a topcoat. Overcoats have been worn for hundreds of years. Many armies dressed their soldiers in overcoats during the winter.

There are many styles and types of overcoats. These include:

	The Greatcoat, a very large overcoat with shoulder capes. These were worn by European armies including the former Soviet Union.
	The Redingote (riding coat), a long fitted coat for men or women.
	Frock overcoat, a very formal daytime overcoat, worn with a frock coat. It had a narrow fitting waist.
	The Ulster coat, a working daytime overcoat. At first it had a cape top covering sleeves. It was called a polo coat when it had no cape.
	The Inverness coat, a formal evening or working day overcoat, with winged sleeves.
	The Paletot coat, a coat shaped with sidebodies. It was a less formal overcoat.
	The Paddock coat had very little shaping.
	The Chesterfield coat, a long overcoat.
	The Covert coat, a single breasted country coat that became accepted for wear in the city with a suit as well as with tweed.

Overcoat Media

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  Overcoat (left) and topcoat (right) from The Gazette of Fashion, 1872

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  Grey covert coat with black velvet collar. From the British retailers Aquascutum.