New overcoat commission - What colour?

I'm going to be meeting with Rishi Hemrajani (from Mytailor.com) when he comes to Toronto in a couple of weeks and ordering an overcoat. I'm going to ask them to copy (or get as close as possible to) the styling of this (see below) Tom Ford overcoat which was floating around the B&S for a while.



My only question is colour. I'd like to go with camel, or something similar, but I'm not sure that would be as versatile as I need. I need it to work:
1) Dressed up with suit and tie
2) Dressed down with jeans and polo
3) Sport coat (with or without tie) and slacks in a "professorly" stye (earth tones,tweed, checks, etc)

Would camel be versatile enough? Or should I be going with Navy, midnight, or charcoal?

If it is your first overcoat, go with navy. IMO, navy is more versatile than camel. But if it's a good deal, go ahead and get the camel.

I'd second navy - but camel is a little less common so might be somewhat more unique. Camel goes with everything except khaki so for versatility you're fine.

Could I suggest going for some peak lapels? I just think big peaks on an overcoat look great is all

Get NAVY

If its your first, I would second the navy rec

Navy or black are excellent choices. Camel is ok but if that tone is what you prefer I would one that is as close to gold as possible because that will make it the most versatile of all. TBH if you like overcoats you will probably end up with all 3.

"Get Navy (so you can look like everyone else, as per the SF formula)"

Get whatever color coat YOU think looks good.

I like charcoal, myself

That cut in that camel color cloth will look fine for all your intended uses. Will it be more conspicuous than a dark-cloth coat? Yes. Will people notice it more than they would a dark-cloth coat? Yes. Will they notice in a bad way? No, I don't think so.

Decide accordingly. If you can find the right cloth, Michael Alden's button-two DB overcoat in a charcoal-brown tweed would be another good versatile option. It can go from country to city.

I'd go with taupe as in the traditional British Warm.
More distinctive than Camel. Also, if it is melton cloth it
wears better than real camel's hair.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...l&id=F6F2625B266649938141F045CE9A145C5542515D

You will look ridiculous if you wear that with jeans and a polo. Firstly, why are you wearing a polo when you need a heavy overcoat. Secondly, something like a peacoat or car coat is a far better choice for jeans.



Quadcammer said:

You will look ridiculous if you wear that with jeans and a polo. Firstly, why are you wearing a polo when you need a heavy overcoat. Secondly, something like a peacoat or car coat is a far better choice for jeans.

Click to expand...

Because it's warm in my apartment and cold outside and I don't feel like getting dressed up to go to the grocery store or take my dog out to ****. I'm aware that a peacoat or car coat would be a better choice for jeans and a polo (or sweater, or whatever) but I have limited funds and am trying to find something that would work fairly well across the board.

This style does not work across the board for all your needs. It looks more casual than dressy. You need to focus on how it is worn most and pick a style and color.

1) Dressed up with suit and tie: lose the patch pockets and use charcoal or navy. Navy is dressier. Camel doesn't look right at night over a suit to me. It's been done but I don't like it. Camel will never be as dressy as charcoal or navy with a suit.

Make up the coat as is and wear it with 2 & 3. You could pick a neutral oatmeal/taupe color or medium brown. Charcoal if you need the multi purpose color, it will work with the casual usage better than navy but don't get patch pockets. Get flaps, no patch. Navy is too dressy to wear with options 2 & 3.

2) Dressed down with jeans and polo
3) Sport coat (with or without tie) and slacks in a "professorly" stye (earth tones,tweed, checks, etc)

If you change from patch pockets you could add turn back cuffs on the sleeve and or a pleated back with sewn down or loose belt for extra detail. This coat has an inverted pleat on the back and a kick pleat vent.



Quadcammer said:

Secondly, something like a peacoat or car coat is a far better choice for jeans.

Click to expand...

I wear a charcoal overcoat with a v-neck sweater, OCBD, and jeans. I think it looks good and it receives many compliments, but I wouldn't try this with anything less than a dress shirt (OCBD included). I agree the polo looks silly, mainly because (as Quadcammer said) it is seasonally conflicting. It's kind of like when girls wear Ugg boots with skirts.