From varsity jackets to quilted puffers to parkas and biker jackets, casual outerwear styles are having a moment. Part of the reason is that so-called “business casual” style is now the five-day dress code across most companies, and guys have learned that there’s nothing more effortlessly stylish than pairing, say, an all-purpose parka with a smart buttoned-up Oxford and chinos. Still there’ll come a time when you need to impress, and if you need to top off a suit or take things up a notch on a date, we’ll be the first ones to admit that nothing charms quite like the classic wool overcoat. To be sure, there’s been some buzz about the return of Chesterfield and even Balmacaan styled coats for fall. (Chesterfields resemble the most gentlemenly of the lot with their velvet tipped collars; Balmacaans are known for their looser, flaring shape.) Regardless of their style, the majority of today’s overcoats now come in more versatile wools, cut without the bulk of dad’s topcoats and with a higher collar for a leaner look. If you’re a classic kind of guy, we suggest investing in a solid gray, black, camel, deep blue or burgundy, but if you’re looking to stand out, there’s many a check, from houndstooth to windowpane plaid in single or double-breasted versions, to go around. L-R: Alberta double-breasted wool coat, AllSaints, $625; Garret wool overcoat in camel, Acne, $680; Grafton wool coat with leather collar, Rag & Bone, $895; deep blue twill Jarvis coat, Nudie Jeans, $599; Bertrand topcoat, Steven Alan, $595; double-breasted wool blend coat, H&M, $199; slim-fit Prince of Wales check wool coat, Ami, $895; raw edge wool coat, Vince, $695; slim-fit houndstooth wool coat, Hentsch Man, $475; Chesterfield wool coat, Uniqlo, $99.90.
