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I've heard tailors refer to topcoats as being coats made from at least an 18oz cloth, and an overcoat as being made from at least a 22oz cloth.
In the Bay Area, I generally wear topcoats in the fall and overcoats in the winter. But for a while, when I lived in Moscow, I was surprised by what I could get away with when I was willing to wear baselayers. With a heavier wool baselayer (WoolX makes the heaviest ones I know of), I could get away with a baselayer + oxford shirt + wool sweater + waxed cotton coat. I could have been warmer, but I was still reasonably OK.
I don't know how cold it gets where you live, but I think the topcoat for fall and overcoat for winter is a good rule of thumb, so long as you're willing to layer. I do find that heavier coats drape better, but sometimes they're not practical in 60-degree weather.
In the Bay Area, I generally wear topcoats in the fall and overcoats in the winter. But for a while, when I lived in Moscow, I was surprised by what I could get away with when I was willing to wear baselayers. With a heavier wool baselayer (WoolX makes the heaviest ones I know of), I could get away with a baselayer + oxford shirt + wool sweater + waxed cotton coat. I could have been warmer, but I was still reasonably OK.
I don't know how cold it gets where you live, but I think the topcoat for fall and overcoat for winter is a good rule of thumb, so long as you're willing to layer. I do find that heavier coats drape better, but sometimes they're not practical in 60-degree weather.