The time has come again for you to begin packing away the swimsuits, put your shorts and knit polos away in the back of the closet, and start rotating your winter wardrobe to the front. While that means you get to reintroduce yourself to your favorite sweaters and fabrics like cashmere, wool, and tweed, it also means you get to reacquaint yourself with your comfy and cozy winter coats. If you’re like us, you may look back at last year’s coats and think it’s time for an update. And you are probably right — and this year there are some great choices in the best men’s winter coats.
Of course, there are dozens of coats and brands that you can choose from. From duffle coats and leather bombers to overcoats and peacoats, you can always find something new and different to upgrade your collection. But no matter what you choose, there are a few things that you should keep in mind when you’re shopping for the men’s winter coats.
What’s in style in 2024?
You may be asking yourself what could be different in the winter of 2024/2025. It’s a fair question, and the truth is, there is one big difference — last year was all about making a statement and going for something new and different. Bright colors and unique styles were all the rage.
This year, “Grandpa Core” is in, so shooting for classic styles and ageless looks is the way to go. The best way to do that is to look at the collection you have and compare it to your grandfather’s. What would he say you need? Most likely, he would say you need a whole new collection of coats, but we can bet there is one or two you could pick up that would satisfy even the oldest of the old school.
Here are the ones we think you should grab.
The dress overcoat: Southern Gents Men’s Anniversary V Double Breasted Topcoat
It is most likely time to update your overcoat. While there are all kinds of options you can go for in this arena, gray Chesterfield for versatility, camelhair for pizzazz, and so forth. This year, we suggest opting for an updated classic. Going for a double-breasted overcoat gives this look an air of classic style. This harkens back to the years of the midcentury when men wore fedoras everywhere, and we thrived in our post-war superpower status. Southern Gents gives this classic option n modern twist with an updated blue that is sure to keep you stylish this winter.
The car coat: Cockpit USA Admiral USN Peacoat Z28P006
Nothing says Grandpa like World War II. And few things come to mind when you think about WWII Navy style (maybe we’re the only ones who think about WWII Navy style, but someone has to) than the classic Navy peacoat. Developed by the British Royal Navy and later adopted by the United States Navy, this classic never goes out of style. Cockpit USA released this near thread-for-thread recreation of the classic, and now you can make Grandpa happy by adopting his look from the post-WWII American style.
The leather jacket: The Jacket Maker Airin G-1 Brown Leather Bomber Jacket
We promise that we’ll jump off the WWII train in a minute. But it’s definitely time to upgrade that leather jacket you have to something a little more vintage. Pilots are cool … you know it, I know it, and their flight jackets are simply an extension of that coolness. You can go with the Top Gun ’80s jacket Tom Cruise looked so cool in, or you can go all the way back to the one it was modeled after. The Jacket Maker creates a brand-new throwback effortlessly, making Tom Cruise wish he were this cool.
The suede racer: Thursday Boots Suede Cafe Racer
Let’s face it … our grandfathers knew how to wear some pretty cool coats. The mid-20th century brought a bevy of great coats, and one that gets overlooked a lot (and misnamed) is the racer jacket. This style was made popular by bike riders (both bicyclists and motorcyclists) on the British Isles in the mid-1900s. The racer is the casual version of the biker jacket, with loose cuffs, a loose waist, and a mandarin collar. Often mistaken for a modern-day bomber jacket, this is a must-have for your casual outfits. Thursday Boots is one of the best jacket makers on the market, and its suede racer is one of the tops in the game.
The weatherproof protection: Burberry Long Kensington Heritage Trench Coat
Every guy should have a trench coat. And when we say trench coat, we don’t mean the wool overcoat. We mean the gabardine belted coat your great-grandfather wore in the trenches of WWI. If you didn’t pick up on it, that is where the name came from. The weather doesn’t always have your best interest at heart, so prepare with something to keep you dry in the fall weather that leads up to the first couple of snows. Burberry is one of the original trench coat makers, and Burberry is the best of the best.
The statement: Y.Chroma Altavista Down Jacket
Look, we were never going to completely stick with this whole old-school thing. Sure, we love the trend … call it nostalgia, call it a relief that clothes are getting a little baggier so we don’t have to worry so much about fitting into slim fit … whatever. But sometimes, we just want to stand out. And nobody helps you stand out better than Y.Chroma. There is a science to it — more than just bright colors. It’s the difference between you screaming, “Look at me” and others whispering, “Look at him.” This coat will keep you warm while keeping you from disappearing among the neutral colors of the coats above.
Looking great is one of the most important things we like to preach here at The Manual. But of course, staying warm has to be the number one concern for anyone who’s braving the harsh cold this winter. Lucky for you and all of us, the above selections accomplish both feats. Choose any one of these men’s winter coats, and your collection will immediately be elevated to the best it has ever been.
