Overcoats

[bitchstewie]

I tend to wear "technical" clothing from the likes of Montane and don't really have much "smart" stuff.

I fancy a "smart" jacket from what I can see online "overcoat" or "epsom coat" seems to fit the bill but different makes seem to call the same style different things.

I don't know if I'll stick with it so don't want to spend a fortune but I don't like to buy crap either.

Next and M&S are both local and seem to have stuff that looks half decent for £100-150 so I'll pop over to those tomorrow.

Suggestions welcome

[48Valves]

I bought one of these a few weeks ago having forgotten my jacket. Very happy with it.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-blend-mac-w...

[bitchstewie]

Just realised why I hate retail parks

Anyway Next and M&S were skip fires very disappointed at the selection given they're pretty large stores so I'll have a look next week.

One observation is that the £99 ones seem to be £99 for a reason they seemed to feel very cheap and nasty though I'm not sure if that's me not really being used to that sort of material?

[Greenmantle]

Vinted!
search by brand

[parabolica]

bhstewie said:

Just realised why I hate retail parks

Anyway Next and M&S were skip fires very disappointed at the selection given they're pretty large stores so I'll have a look next week.

One observation is that the £99 ones seem to be £99 for a reason they seemed to feel very cheap and nasty though I'm not sure if that's me not really being used to that sort of material?

FWIW (and sticking my head over the trenches here) I have a M&S overcoat that is ~25 years old and still in great condition - in fact wore it on my commute to the office today; it's my winter coat and gets worn every year. Only thing I don't like is the collar doesn't have any reinforcement so wearing it 'up' on a cold windy day only lasts a few minutes before it collapses back down.

Anyway I dare say I'd be looking elsewhere if I were in the market today, but that coat is one of my best ever purchases!

[bitchstewie]

parabolica said:

FWIW (and sticking my head over the trenches here) I have a M&S overcoat that is ~25 years old and still in great condition - in fact wore it on my commute to the office today; it's my winter coat and gets worn every year. Only thing I don't like is the collar doesn't have any reinforcement so wearing it 'up' on a cold windy day only lasts a few minutes before it collapses back down.

Anyway I dare say I'd be looking elsewhere if I were in the market today, but that coat is one of my best ever purchases!

See I'm going to sound like a raving snob and I know I'm opening myself up to "well what do you expect" but there's something quite depressing about the "Tailored" or "Italian Collection" or whatever label right next to the "Made in Cambodia" or "Made in China" label.

I'll check Vinted but I also think I might need a reality check that something decent quality is going to cost decent money too.

[Mr Pointy]

parabolica said:

FWIW (and sticking my head over the trenches here) I have a M&S overcoat that is ~25 years old and still in great condition - in fact wore it on my commute to the office today; it's my winter coat and gets worn every year. Only thing I don't like is the collar doesn't have any reinforcement so wearing it 'up' on a cold windy day only lasts a few minutes before it collapses back down.

Anyway I dare say I'd be looking elsewhere if I were in the market today, but that coat is one of my best ever purchases!

Sadly the quality of many things made 25 years ago is way ahead of what you can buy now, even if they are both bought from M&S.

[Aunty Pasty]

Fishermans jacket?

https://www.endclothing.com/gb/armor-lux-fisherman...

Depends on how weatherproof you want it to be. I got this recently from John Lewis as I wanted a more "Going out for the evening" look instead of my usual "Going for a rummage in the forest" look.

[parabolica]

bhstewie said:

parabolica said:

FWIW (and sticking my head over the trenches here) I have a M&S overcoat that is ~25 years old and still in great condition - in fact wore it on my commute to the office today; it's my winter coat and gets worn every year. Only thing I don't like is the collar doesn't have any reinforcement so wearing it 'up' on a cold windy day only lasts a few minutes before it collapses back down.

Anyway I dare say I'd be looking elsewhere if I were in the market today, but that coat is one of my best ever purchases!

See I'm going to sound like a raving snob and I know I'm opening myself up to "well what do you expect" but there's something quite depressing about the "Tailored" or "Italian Collection" or whatever label right next to the "Made in Cambodia" or "Made in China" label.

I'll check Vinted but I also think I might need a reality check that something decent quality is going to cost decent money too.

Mine is from the "Italian Collection" FWIW

[bitchstewie]

Looks wise something like this appeals.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/wool-rich-overcoat...

https://www2.next.co.uk/style/st057077/t70011#t700...

But the quality of those two wasn't what I hoped or expected - probably fair with the Next one as it's cheap but £200 feels like it should be getting into "at least feels half decent" territory - maybe

[mattyn1]

I am far from an expert nor a fashion guru but I bought one last winter from here for a funeral -

https://www.skopes.co.uk/collections/coats/overcoa...

and I love it.

[zb]

bhstewie said:

Looks wise something like this appeals.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/wool-rich-overcoat...

https://www2.next.co.uk/style/st057077/t70011#t700...

But the quality of those two wasn't what I hoped or expected - probably fair with the Next one as it's cheap but £200 feels like it should be getting into "at least feels half decent" territory - maybe

Look at: Ted Baker, H&M, Debenhams used to carry some decent "designer" gear, lines by John Rocha, Jeff Banks etc. at non-eyewatering prices, not sure since they've been assimilated by ashley's empire. Likewise, House of Fraser had their in-house Linea brand covering this sort of style.

[captain_cynic]

Maybe this thread can help.

I'm looking for a new overcoat... My current one goes just past my knees and buttons up to the neck. Are they called something else in the UK?

My current one is 15 and starting to show its age, little things like missing buttons on the cuffs and pockets splitting at the seams... I can only bodge the pocket so many times.

Preferably wool rather than polyester. I've been looking at places like M&S, Charles Thwyrit, et Al. £300 seems.to he the going rate.

Edited by captain_cynic on Friday 3rd November 15:15

[zb]

Or OP, you can just cut the bullst, get in touch with your inner arfur daley and go the whole hog...crombie.

https://crombie.co.uk/

[Skyedriver]

Stewie, I know what you mean about a "smart" overcoat rather than a coat for out walking in the hills. I've thought about one myself but always come back to the situation "where would I actually wear it?"
You can't wear one while driving somewhere as they're too bulky, put it on when you get out and you're cold by the time it's fastened up, there's no decent hood if it rains, they're usually quite heavy etc

Have the same problem with jackets, love wearing a smart jacket but usually end up with a lightweight anorak or fleece.....

[popeyewhite]

bhstewie said:

Suggestions welcome

Stop misusing quotation marks please.

Both Barbour and Belstaff make coats that aren't available from SportsDirect, and are suitable wear for a gentleman on a night out/meal.

[Mr Pointy]

captain_cynic said:

Maybe this thread can help.

I'm looking for a new overcoat... My current one goes just past my knees and buttons up to the neck. Are they called something else in the UK?

My current one is 15 and starting to show its age, little things like missing buttons on the cuffs and pockets splitting at the seams... I can only bodge the pocket so many times.

Preferably wool rather than polyester. I've been looking at places like M&S, Charles Thwyrit, et Al. £300 seems to be the going rate.

Find a good repair tailor or seamstress & they will keep your coat going for many more years. The King would approve:

[bitchstewie]

Skyedriver said:

Stewie, I know what you mean about a "smart" overcoat rather than a coat for out walking in the hills. I've thought about one myself but always come back to the situation "where would I actually wear it?"
You can't wear one while driving somewhere as they're too bulky, put it on when you get out and you're cold by the time it's fastened up, there's no decent hood if it rains, they're usually quite heavy etc

Have the same problem with jackets, love wearing a smart jacket but usually end up with a lightweight anorak or fleece.....

Yeah there is that concern which I think is behind not wanting to buy crap but also not wanting to spend a fortune until I know if I'll get the use out of it.

The driving point is one I'd not thought through as I bloody hate being cold in the car on cold mornings.

Balls.

[5pen]

zb said:

Look at: Ted Baker, H&M, Debenhams used to carry some decent "designer" gear, lines by John Rocha, Jeff Banks etc. at non-eyewatering prices, not sure since they've been assimilated by ashley's empire. Likewise, House of Fraser had their in-house Linea brand covering this sort of style.

Sadly, at some point after Ashley took over House of Fraser, they dropped the Linea brand. I always thought it was good value for money, nicely designed and importantly for me, unadorned with logos. Ashley has always been canny at selling gear with good margins with a once 'quality' label and Linea did not fit this strategy I guess.

Btw, Debenhams the brand was sold to Boohoo.com, not Mike Ashley's Fraser group (though I think Ashley was quite a major shareholder before it was placed in administration).

Zara are probably worth a look or Reiss at a higher price-point.

[wyson]

https://suitsupply.com/en-gb/men/coats

I found this brand much better than normal. They are going for that half way point between full tailored and high street and will offer made to measure and customisation options.

Very reasonable prices for the quality that you get.

Usually for smart clothing, you can see off the peg stuff a mile off, I found it isn’t worth it, esp if you are an ‘odd’ shape. There are quite a few places like this however, you can probably find a made to measure specialist near you.

Edited by wyson on Friday 3rd November 16:55