Overcoat

 ( Coats ) 

An overcoat is a type of long coat intended to be worn as the outermost garment, which usually extends below the knee. Overcoats are most often used in winter when warmth is more important.

They are sometimes confused with or referred to as topcoats, which are shorter and end at or above the knees. Topcoats and overcoats together are known as outercoats. Unlike overcoats, topcoats are usually made from lighter weight cloth such as gabardine or covert, while overcoats are made from heavier cloth or fur.

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History In many countries, coats and gowns reaching below the knee have been worn for centuries, often for formal wear uses, establishing either social status or as part of a professional or military uniform. In the 17th century, the overcoat became widely stylized and available to the different classes.

In the Western world, the general profile of overcoats has remained largely unchanged for a long time. During the Regency era, the fashion was to have very form-fitting clothes, with sidebodies, waist seams, and a flared skirt. Examples of this included the frock overcoat and paletot.

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Chesterfield coat

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Greatcoat

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Topcoat

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Examples of overcoats Some of the most common historical overcoats, in roughly chronological order.

150x150px]]	The [[Greatcoat]], a voluminous overcoat with multiple shoulder capes, prominently featured by European militaries, most notably the former Soviet Union.
	150x150px]]	The [[Redingote]] (via French from English ''riding coat''), a long fitted coat for men or women.
	150x150px]]	Overfrock]], a very formal daytime overcoat commonly worn with a [[frock coat]], featuring a waist seam and heavy waist suppression.
	150x150px]]	The [[Ulster coat]], a working daytime overcoat initially with a cape top covering sleeves, but then without; it evolved to the [[polo coat]] after losing its cape.
	150x150px]]	The [[Inverness coat]], a formal evening or working day overcoat, with winged sleeves.
	150x150px]]	The [[Paletot]] coat, a coat shaped with side-bodies, as a slightly less formal alternative to the frock overcoat.
	150x150px]]	The [[Paddock coat]], with even less shaping.
	150x150px]]	The Chesterfield coat, a long overcoat with very little waist suppression; being the equivalent of the "sack suit" for clothes, it came to be the most important overcoat of the next half-century.
	150px]]	The [[Covert coat]], a classically brown/fawn, straight cut, single breasted country coat that became accepted for wear in the city with a suit as well as with tweed. It has a signature four lines of stitching at the cuffs and hem. It also had a fly front closure and 2 side pockets. The collar is sometimes made of velvet.
	150px]]	The [[British Warm]], a taupe, slightly shaped, double-breasted, greatcoat, made of Melton, a heavy wool fabric, was first designed for British officers during the First World War, but was made famous by Churchill. The civilian variant usually drops the epaulettes.

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