Sarah is so good at digging out desirable menswear that I thought I'd invite her to write a guide to men's tweed overcoats. This was for a totally selfish purpose, of course. I'm hoping for one for Christmas and thought I'd simply pick from her choice. I'm dithering between two of the selection shown below.
Sarah Gilfillan writes: Tweed overcoats remind me of Italy and my granny; the former because I bought one back in the 80's when I lived on the Amalfi Coast, and the latter because my granny used to have a very hairy battered tweed coat that she'd wear for tea at The Ritz and to walk the dogs.
This may not sound like quite the inspiration you're looking for on a menswear blog, but I've always had a penchant for wearing menswear inspired clothing and my granny's coat just proves how very versatile tweed is whether you're male or female. So if you haven't yet got a coat for winter, then may we suggest you take a look at tweed this season.
The most fashion forward amongst you will be opting for an oversized, long style with raglan sleeves with a 40's film star /80's rock star style to them (Grey Fox's preferred look) but for the more classic look there are plenty of single breasted straight knee length styles around and, as you'll see from the selection below, pretty much everything in between.
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Oliver Spencer (above) - £459
Oliver Spencer is master of producing clothes that look like they already belong to someone and have that vintage feel. This coat is perfect for getting that "something I just threw on" super stylish look, and I love the unusual half belt cinch detailing at the back which lends it a slightly military slant. Click here.
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Toast (above) - £545
The oversized herringbone pattern and slanted pockets make this coat just that extra bit special. It will look just as good over jeans as a 3 piece suit. For any one feeling especially generous this festive season, Grey Fox tells me that this is one of those on the list that he'll be sending to Father Christmas in a month or so! Click here.
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Private White VC (above) - £895
How cosy and cool does this look?! Based on their traditional motor trench, Private White VC have combined all the trench detailing with modern elements to come up with a uniquely styled jacket. Shield yourself against biting winter winds with the cosy shearling collar kept in place with the adjustable throat tab. Click here.
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Cordings (above) - £595
This is the daddy of Donegal tweed coats is it not?! Reassuringly long and heavy, it's also made in England which Grey Fox approves of (this is his other Christmas gift choice). Your offspring will benefit from it too, as according to their blurb, it'll last for generations. So for just £595, you'll not only have a fabulous tweed winter coat but an heirloom too. Click here.
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E Tautz (above) - £1295
As we saw in the photo shoot Grey Fox and I did a few weeks ago, E Tautz opts for extreme shapes. This is certainly true of this dressing gown style extra long coat, but the softness and ease of wearing something like this is sure to win you over. This would be an ideal shape for a tall, large man with the simple detailing and wide lapels which would perfectly balance a big physique. Click here.
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Dashing Tweeds (above) - £1450
This mohair and wool tweed raglan is made of the softest, most luxurious tweed you could ever imagine. Tailored in Dashing Tweed's own herringbone Donegal Tweed woven in Ireland, this coat is an all time classic. Lined in silk and with horn buttons, this is a modern, luxurious take on a traditional design. Click here.
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M&S (above) - £199
You can always rely on M&S to come up with a good looking, traditional piece and this coat ticks all the boxes. If you find black and navy coats too dark and harsh against your skin tone, then it's likely you'll find brown more forgiving and the check overlay softens it further, giving an elegant and refined look. Click here.
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Folk - £450
Folk always provide their customers with earthy, raw, natural fabrics which somehow still manage to look urban and contemporary. An ultra-simple silhouette on this coat lets the fabric take centre stage, and in this shorter length it'd be a great choice for a shorter guy. Click here.
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Richard James - £875
Super chic and smart, I'm about to recommend this coat to a client of mine. The peak lapels are a great tool to use to widen the shoulders and the fitted shape gives a very sleek look. If you work in the city but like to stand out from the crowd then I'd definitely be trying this coat on if I were you. Click here.
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Ami - £478.75
Having a coat with a great texture is the perfect way to add some variety to your wardrobe, if you tend to wear a lot of plain dark colours. This nubbly alpaca blend tweed coat would look perfect over a plain charcoal roll neck and slim black jeans for a cool 60's vibe. Click here.
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J Crew - £595
An excellent coat from J Crew with raglan sleeves and an unstructured shape. The unlined nature of it means it would be an easy piece to layer over a suit or a denim jacket on the weekends with no risk of overheating then having a cumbersome coat to carry around. Click here.
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Acne - £580
Acne's styling over on their website is of the "too cool for school" variety, but what I love is that they also produce some brilliantly wearable things like this coat. You can be assured that although it looks very classic it'll be cut in just the right way to give it a modern edge. Click here.
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Johnstons of Elgin (above) - £450
[Grey Fox writes] Finally I'm going to add a final coat to Sarah's selection. This lambswool tweed overcoat is made of Johnstons of Elgin cloth woven in Scotland. Fully lined, it provides a sophisticated, stylish, tailored town or county look. Click here.
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Styling a tweed coat is easy. Such a classic will go with anything from a business suit, through semi-casual jacket and chinos, to a roll-neck jumper and jeans. The most suitable footwear would be brogues, but boots, trainers, loafers, Converse and wellies all go well, showing the versatility of the tweed overcoat.
NOTE - We've received nothing from the brands mentioned above. Please mention us to suppliers if you buy. Thank you.
