Topcoats: Am I being impractical here? Have you done this?

omega4 · Feb 8, 2013

Hi all. Here's my question -

Have any of you bought TWO topcoats / overcoats in the same model but DIFFERENT sizes? If yes, are we being a bit impractical?

I wear a 38R suit, so I needed a 40R topcoat in this slim fit topcoat model to fit perfectly when wearing a suit jacket. However, this topcoat looks great in casual settings too, but the 40R topcoat doesn't fit as nicely (looks a little full cut) without a suit jacket on. But a 38R topcoat fits perfectly when NO jacket is worn.

IF this topcoat came in size 39R, I think I could have worn it WITH OR WITHOUT a jacket and it would have looked great in either scenario.

But this slim fit topcoat only comes in even numbered sizes so now I'm considering getting TWO topcoats.

Am I being impractical here? Thanks.

Here is the slim fit topcoat (Chesterfield):
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/john-va...extualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=0

PhilKenSebben · Feb 8, 2013

perhaps not my strongest area, but i believe most people here will tell you that a top coat should only be worn with a jacket.

that being said, you could possibly buy the larger one and have it tailored a bit to fit closer to a 39

omega4 · Feb 8, 2013

Marc Voorhees said:
perhaps not my strongest area, but i believe most people here will tell you that a top coat should only be worn with a jacket.

that being said, you could possibly buy the larger one and have it tailored a bit to fit closer to a 39

Thanks you for your comment.

Anyone else?

Scottyb06 · Feb 8, 2013

Personally, I'd only wear a topcoat if also wearing a jacket/suit. When not wearing a jacket/suit, I'd wear my peacoat or a non-topcoat. Of course, others may do things differently. Good luck!

omega4 · Feb 8, 2013

Scottyb06 said:
Personally, I'd only wear a topcoat if also wearing a jacket/suit. When not wearing a jacket/suit, I'd wear my peacoat or a non-topcoat. Of course, others may do things differently. Good luck!

Thanks! Normally, I'd do the same. I'm just really liking how this topcoat looks with a button down shirt without a suit jacket on, as well as how it looks with a suit jacket on too.

Ianiceman · Feb 8, 2013

I always thought a Chesterfield had a fly front and contrast velvet collar.

Anyway to your point, the clue's in the name - a top coat is supposed to go over a suit or jacket.

The suedeheads used to wear fitted Crombie style coats over a Ben Sherman. If your budget allows, why not get say a midnight blue overcoat (vertical pockets to put your hands in) to go over a suit in very cold weather, and a lighter weight herringbone Chesterfield with fitted waist and flapped pockets to go over a shirt in milder weather?

omega4 · Feb 8, 2013

Ianiceman said:
I always thought a Chesterfield had a fly front and contrast velvet collar.

Anyway to your point, the clue's in the name - a top coat is supposed to go over a suit or jacket.

The suedeheads used to wear fitted Crombie style coats over a Ben Sherman. If your budget allows, why not get say a midnight blue overcoat (vertical pockets to put your hands in) to go over a suit in very cold weather, and a lighter weight herringbone Chesterfield with fitted waist and flapped pockets to go over a shirt in milder weather?

My topcoat may not be a Chesterfield technically, but it's similar in style somewhat.

So your advice is to get two coats then, in a sense, right? One for wearing with a suit on, one for not.

Holdfast · Feb 8, 2013

I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with getting coats in two different sizes, depending on whether you intend wearing them with a jacket underneath or not, if you want the same slim look in both iterations.

However, if you do want to get two differently-sized coats, to fill these two niches, are you absolutely sure you want the same style of coat for both.? Seems more like an opportunity to get two styles of coat, each more specifically suited to its niche.

If you really, really, really like that coat in both environments, though, then why the hell not get two? My personal suspicion is that future boredom will be staved off by some coat variety, though.

omega4 · Feb 8, 2013

Holdfast said:
I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with getting coats in two different sizes, depending on whether you intend wearing them with a jacket underneath or not, if you want the same slim look in both iterations.

However, if you do want to get two differently-sized coats, to fill these two niches, are you absolutely sure you want the same style of coat for both.? Seems more like an opportunity to get two styles of coat, each more specifically suited to its niche.

If you really, really, really like that coat in both environments, though, then why the hell not get two? My personal suspicion is that future boredom will be staved off by some coat variety, though.

That's what I'm struggling with quite honestly at the moment. It does seem impractical to get the same model topcoat in 2 sizes....

omega4 · Feb 8, 2013

Here are pics of the sizes 40R and 38R topcoats, with and without suit jackets on. I wore khakis so you could better see the length of the topcoat in relation to its sizes.

Size 40R topcoat WITH suit jacket on:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Size 38R topcoat WITH suit jacket on:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Size 40R topcoat WITHOUT suit jacket:

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Size 38R topcoat WITHOUT suit jacket:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was my inspiration for getting a slim fitting topcoat that looked good with or without a suit jacket on underneath (please don't hate!):

HansderHund · Feb 8, 2013

Holdfast said:
I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with getting coats in two different sizes, depending on whether you intend wearing them with a jacket underneath or not, if you want the same slim look in both iterations.

However, if you do want to get two differently-sized coats, to fill these two niches, are you absolutely sure you want the same style of coat for both.? Seems more like an opportunity to get two styles of coat, each more specifically suited to its niche.

If you really, really, really like that coat in both environments, though, then why the hell not get two? My personal suspicion is that future boredom will be staved off by some coat variety, though.

I agree. I enjoy the variety of it all and when I reach for certain ties/jackets/suits that I need to wear for some reason on the weekend, it reminds me of going to work. It's really a small point, and maybe I'm alone in that thought, but I like wearing different clothes outside of the workplace.

VinnyMac · Feb 8, 2013

...sounds like a stupid idea. If you really believe that there's a sweet-spot between 38 and 40, then why don't you just buy one and have it tailored?

rob · Feb 8, 2013

VinnyMac said:
...sounds like a stupid idea. If you really believe that there's a sweet spot between 38 and 40, then one don't you just buy one and have it tailored?

Better yet. Have one made.

Rob

Holdfast · Feb 8, 2013

rob said:
Quote:
Well, he only hypothetically thinks there might be a sweet spot at around 39. I suspect that he would find that his hypothesised sweet spot doesn't exist. If you want the exact same & quite slim silhouette both with and without a jacket underneath, I think the difference (esp. with winter weight jackets) will be enough that he would need two different sizes to achieve that same silhouette. At least, even with my best fitting (with jacket worn underneath) overcoats, they look slightly big/slouchy without jackets. Admittedly, my jackets are nearly all typically English so they have significant shoulder structure, which would influence this effect. I suppose that if he wears cardigan-style jackets, with zero shoulder extension & padding, then, yes, his sweet spot does exist. My hunch, admittedly going solely on his overcoat choice in terms of outlet & price, is his wardrobe is not filled with the latter style of jacket, and so he will likely need two sizes to get his desired effect.

Besides, if his choice indicates his approximate desired budget (even if doubled), I'm not sure he could get a coat made for him at that price point easily.

VinnyMac · Feb 8, 2013

rob said:
Better yet. Have one made.

Rob

+1

Holdfast said:
Well, he only hypothetically thinks there might be a sweet spot at around 39. I suspect that he would find that his hypothesised sweet spot doesn't exist.

+1

Beyond that, both of those coats fit like shxt, so the actual sweet spot is probably a size or two smaller. He could probably have a mtm made with similar quality and much better fit.

Topcoats: Am I being impractical here? Have you done this?

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