Men’s Coat Types Explained, 15 Coats and Jackets and How to Style Them

The Chesterfield coat is a traditional tailored overcoat named after the 6th Earl of Chesterfield and worn since the 1840s.

The Chesterfield is a knee-length overcoat, usually single-breasted with a straight body, often with a fly front and a velvet collar.

To style a Chesterfield, wear it over a suit, a formal shirt and men’s dress shoes; black, navy, charcoal and grey are the easiest colours.

Wear it in autumn and winter for formal and business occasions, and in tweed or camel for smart weekends.

It is worth owning as one of the most versatile formal coats, smart without looking showy.

An overcoat is a long, heavy coat worn as the outer layer in cold weather, usually reaching below the knee.

Read our overcoat guide to learn how to choose one and wear it through the working week in winter.

Cut as a long tailored coat in heavy wool or a wool blend, the overcoat comes single-breasted or double-breasted.

For styling, wear it over a suit, a formal shirt, a tie and dress shoes, in black, charcoal, navy or camel.

It works in autumn and winter for formal and business occasions, and over knitwear and jeans at the weekend.

Owning one makes sense because a plain navy or charcoal overcoat goes with almost every suit you own.

A topcoat looks like an overcoat but is lighter and shorter, usually ending at or just above the knee.

For comparison, the navy peacoat above ends at the hip, while a topcoat reaches the knee and covers a suit jacket fully.

The topcoat is a lighter tailored coat, often in a cloth such as gabardine or covert.

Wear a topcoat with suits, formal shirts, ties and dress shoes in grey, black or navy.

It suits autumn and spring, and mild winter days, for formal and business occasions as well as smart casual outfits.

A topcoat is worth having because it covers the weeks when an overcoat feels too warm.

The mac is a plain, waterproof raincoat whose name comes from the Mackintosh, a rubberised cotton coat first sold in the 1820s.

Typically, the mac is a single-breasted, unbelted raincoat with a simple collar, made today in rubberised cotton, waxed or treated cotton or technical fabrics.

Style it over a suit or with business casual trousers, a shirt and leather shoes.

Reach for it in spring and autumn, and on any wet day, for business and smart casual outfits.

The reason to own one is that it keeps rain off a suit while looking cleaner and simpler than a trench coat.

The trench coat takes its name from the coats British officers wore in the trenches of the First World War.

Look for a belted, water-resistant coat, traditionally double-breasted in cotton gabardine, with shoulder straps and a storm flap.

Wear it over a suit, or with chinos, a shirt and leather shoes.

It is a spring and autumn coat for business and smart casual outfits; add a wool liner for colder days.

You should own one because it is one of the classic wardrobe staples and works over both tailoring and casual clothes.

A raincoat keeps you dry, and the right cut can look as smart as a wool coat.

The term covers any water-resistant coat, from casual hooded styles to tailored business raincoats.

In styling terms, tailored raincoats suit business clothes, while hooded and technical styles suit casual outfits.

Wear one in wet weather in any season.

Owning one is the simplest way to stay dry and keep your clothes underneath in good condition.

A double-breasted overcoat has two rows of buttons and a wider overlap at the front, which adds warmth across the chest.

Expect a long overcoat with a double-breasted front, usually with peak lapels.

To style it, wear it over a suit, a formal shirt and dress shoes, or over a roll-neck and flannel trousers.

Keep it for formal and business occasions in autumn and winter.

Many people see it as more formal than a single-breasted coat, and it gives a broader, more structured look, which is why it is worth owning.

An alpaca coat is an overcoat made from alpaca fibre, often blended with wool.

Strictly speaking, it is a coat style defined by its fibre, which is soft and warm; the cut can be any overcoat style.

Pair it with a suit, a formal shirt and dress shoes.

Winter is its season, for formal and business occasions.

Buy one because alpaca feels soft and keeps you warm without a very heavy cloth.

A funnel neck coat has a high stand collar instead of lapels, which keeps your neck warm without a scarf.

In short, it is a coat with a funnel-shaped collar and a clean, modern front.

Wear it with business casual outfits, such as a shirt, tailored trousers and brogues or loafers.

Bring it out in autumn and winter for business casual and smart casual occasions.

Own one for its modern look and the extra warmth it gives on cold days.

A padded blazer or overcoat combines a tailored shape with a padded or quilted layer for warmth.

It can be a tailored jacket or coat with padding, or a coat worn over a padded gilet.

Style it with business casual outfits; read our guide on styling a blazer for ideas with chinos, a shirt and loafers.

Wear it in autumn and winter, for business casual and smart casual occasions.

Its value is that it keeps you warm on days when a regular blazer is not enough.

The pea coat, or peacoat, is a naval coat that has become a classic for everyday winter wear.

Cut short and double-breasted in heavy wool, it is traditionally navy.

Style a pea coat with jeans or chinos, a jumper and casual shoes or boots.

Wear it through autumn and winter for casual and smart casual occasions.

It earns a place because it is warm and sturdy, and its short length is easy for cycling and driving; see our peacoat guide for more outfits.

A field jacket is a practical casual jacket with roots in military and country clothing, and our guide to the classic Barbour jacket covers one waxed example.

The field jacket is hip-length, with several front pockets and a relaxed fit, often in waxed or cotton drill.

Wear it with chinos or jeans, a casual shirt and casual shoes.

Its seasons are spring and autumn, for casual and outdoor activities.

The appeal is practical, with plenty of room for your belongings.

The duffle coat is a British classic named after the heavy wool cloth from Duffel in Belgium.

It is a hooded wool coat fastened with toggles and loops, usually reaching the upper thigh or knee.

Team it with casual trousers, a knitted jumper and boots.

Wear it in winter for casual occasions.

Two details make it worth owning. The toggles are easy to fasten with gloves on, and the hood adds warmth.

A corduroy jacket gives a relaxed, vintage-inspired look and is warmer than a cotton blazer.

It comes as a tailored or casual jacket in corduroy, a cotton cloth with raised ribs called wales.

It pairs with chinos or jeans, a casual shirt or roll-neck, and loafers or boots.

Choose it in autumn and spring for casual and smart casual occasions.

A corduroy jacket pays its way because its texture adds interest to plain outfits, and it can be dressed up or down.