Editing Overcoat

{{short description|Coat worn over street dress}}
{{Other uses}}

[[File:Mens Coats 1872 Fashion Plate.jpg|right|thumb|Overcoat (left) and topcoat (right) from ''The Gazette of Fashion'', 1872]]
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 [[#Topcoat|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]].

==History==
In many countries, coats and gowns reaching below the knee have been worn for centuries, often for [[formal wear|formal]] 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|Regency]], 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]].

===Chesterfield coat===
{{Excerpt|Chesterfield coat|files=0}}

===Greatcoat===
{{excerpt|Greatcoat|files=0}}

==Topcoat==
[[File:Frank-carr-businessperson-common-history.jpg|thumb|Frank Carr carrying a top coat c. 1965]]
{{excerpt|Covert coat|files=0}}

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Image
!Description
|-
 | [[File:Furlinedgreatcoat dec1907.jpg|150x150px]]
 | The [[Greatcoat]], a voluminous overcoat with multiple shoulder capes, prominently featured by European militaries, most notably the former Soviet Union.
 |-
 | [[File:1813-male-Costumes-Parisiens.png|150x150px]]
 | The [[Redingote]] (via French from English ''riding coat''), a long fitted coat for men or women.
 |-
 | [[File:Frockovercoat 1903.jpg|150x150px]]
 | The [[Overfrock|Frock overcoat]], a very formal daytime overcoat commonly worn with a [[frock coat]], featuring a waist seam and heavy waist suppression.
 |-
 | [[File:Ulsterovercoat jan1903.jpg|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.
 |-
 | [[File:Invernesscoat 1901.jpg|150x150px]]
 | The [[Inverness coat]], a formal evening or working day overcoat, with winged sleeves.
 |-
 | [[File:Paletotcoat dec1909.jpg|150x150px]]
 | The [[Paletot]] coat, a coat shaped with side-bodies, as a slightly less formal alternative to the frock overcoat.
 |-
 | [[File:Paddockcoatd jan1904.jpg|150x150px]]
 | The [[Paddock coat]], with even less shaping.
 |-
 | [[File:Chesterfieldcoat oct1901.jpg|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.
 |-
 | [[File:Covert Coat.jpg|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.
 |-
  | [[File:Yalta Conference cropped.jpg|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.
 |}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Clothing}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Coats (clothing)]]
[[Category:History of clothing (Western fashion)]]