Topcoats: Am I being impractical here? Have you done this? - Page 2

I have a couple pieces of outerwear that fit well without a jacket, and a couple that fit well with a jacket (more room in the shoulder mainly)

Plenty of brands today make coats aimed at being worn without a jacket. I doubt sizing up would work.

Worse the printed size is only the chest. It doesn't tell you anything about the rest of the coat. I own coats from different brands ranging in EU size for 48 to 52. The 52 coats are the smallest and can only be worn with a sweater

Dress how you intend to wear the coat then go into the shop and try it on. Look in mirror.

FWIW from the fit pictures you posted I wouldn't buy either. You need a different cut more then a different size.

I wear a topcoat without a jacket or suit. But it is a soft tailored camel one. I wear it over jeans or cords, a sweater and a scarf. Of course I wear it over a jacket as well.

One of the most stylish men I've even known used to wear a soft tailored, navy polo coat, without buttons and with a tie belt. I never saw him wear it with a suit. but he did wear it over jackets sometimes. Most often it was with cords or flannels and a cashmere sweater. It was quite an elegant casual statement.

omega4, Welcome to Styleforum.
Not much I can add at this point but to answer your querey about purchasing multiples; there are those who do this for what ever the reason, be it fit, comfort or preference.
The famous physicist Albert Einstein had duplicates of his shirts, jackets, ties, pants & shoes. He did this so he would not waste time to what he would wear next but just grab the next one on the rack. This would allow him to focus on his work.
One example of this right here on Styleforum is a gent (name withheld) who purchased not 2 but 5 pair of identical shoes, as seen here.....



The practice is not unheard of but as has already been mention by Holdfast et al, you may become bored wearing the same look all the time.

Doesn't Obama do a diluted version of this, on a similar basis?

Obama's wardrobe is very cleverly chosen and photographed with deliberation. While Einstein was not a political figure in the proper sense (holding political office), Obama is. A photo such as this one ....



...was not published by accident. Taken on his first campaign trail, Obama was astutely aware that the photographer was taking the photo with emphasis on the holes in Obama's shoes. Obama himself asked the photographer if he was taking a shot of his shoes and when the photographer confirmed, Obama told him they had already been re-soled once. The photo was deliberately used to create sympathy for Obama. 'Oh well just LOOK at how hard the man works! Why he's even got holes in his shoes. Now there is an honest hard working person I would be happy to support as my president.' ..or something to that effect. It worked. Last time I checked, Obama's suits (worsted wool and cashmere) were custom made for him by Hartmarx of Chicago and all basically look the same. His shoes, again, last time I read, are made by Johnston & Murphy. Obama uses the austere look with poitical tactfulness; meaning that he fulfills the basics of dress requirements, always looks good yet is not perceived as being flamboyant in times of political and economic unrest. A very wise move that served him well in his first term but is dubious now that the honeymoon is over. Einstein on the other hand was simply not interested in fashion or style. He was far more interested in his work and whatever he believed he could contribute to humanity. Perhaps even he would agree, were he still alive, that the world would be a lot safer today had he preferred clothing interests over harnassing nuclear energy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesterfield_coat

I have five topcoats, 3 fit over suit jackets , 2 don't.

They are all different styles, no repetition.