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Should suit and overcoat styles match?

ZenEdge

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I am curious as to whether a suit's style and an overcoat's style should match for the sake of consistency. Does the style of the overcoat need to reflect the style of the suit underneath? For example, if one wore a two-button single breasted suit with peak lapels and side vents, would one wear a similarly styled overcoat? Personally, I have never seen a single breasted overcoat with side vents.
 

GBR

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No. Complete nonsense
 

Ennius

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I have heard mobsters will match them exactly from bespoke tailors....
 

comrade

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Match, maybe not. But what about formal vs informal?
Unless one is limited to one overcoat, I think that a conservative business dress
conservative business suit looks a bit odd with a Raglan sleeve,
Balmacan collar tweed overcoat. Something the British would categorize
as Country clothing (vs. Town):

http://williampowell.s3.amazonaws.com/p/l/MJC910.jpg
 

Mid-Modernist

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Providing you wear something like a Mac or Trench with a suit, and not something like a wax jacket or Parka. You'll be fine.
 

ImTheGroom

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Since most men who wear suits own more than one suit, and only one overcoat, that would severely limit one's choices when purchasing suits. An overcoat should match the level of formality of one's attire, but does not need to match a the jacket's style. Of course, there are many, many overcoats that are fine with the full range of formality, from suits upward, so you can still get by with only one. I would avoid pairing an opera cape with a lounge suit, but that's just me :p
 

Balfour

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Match, maybe not. But what about formal vs informal?
Unless one is limited to one overcoat, I think that a conservative business dress
conservative business suit looks a bit odd with a Raglan sleeve,
Balmacan collar tweed overcoat. Something the British would categorize
as Country clothing (vs. Town):

http://williampowell.s3.amazonaws.com/p/l/MJC910.jpg

Agreed, although the example given by the OP did not suggest he was drawing this sort of distinction. There is definitely a case for different modes of overcoat for formal dress, conservative business dress, informal city suits / odd jackets, country suits / odd jackets, etc.

If the OP is looking for something versatile (not to be conflated with optimal), then a tan raincoat with detachable lining will cover a lot of bases in a relatively temperate climate.
 

ZenEdge

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I was thinking more along the lines of wearing a single breasted peak lapel suit with side vents under a single breasted notch lapel overcoat with a center vent. Peak lapel suit contrasted with notch lapel overcoat. Suit with side vents contrasted with an overcoat with a center vent. Judging from the responses generated, it seems to be a non issue.
 

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