2 BEAUTIFUL COATS! USAF Officer's Dress Overcoat; GORGEOUS Saks Fifth Harris Tweed Overcoat from UK!

[tweedydon]

1) United States Air Force Officer's Overcoat

This is wonderful! Cut from wool gabardine in (of course) Air Force Blue, a former owner of this lovely coat had the original set of Air Force buttons replaced by a set of civilian buttons in a complementary shade of blue, thereby converting this from a military jacket to one that is perfect for civilian use.

Cut as a classic belted double-breasted overcoat this coat has a classic six-button front. The belt has six lines of longitudinal stitching throughout to ensure that it keeps its shape--a testament to the Air Force desire for smartness at all times. The collar is oversized, with modified shawl lapels with elegantly rounded peaks; it has been cut so that it can be fastened upright with its functional throat latch to provide an additional layer of protection against the cold. This coat also has a zip-in liner; together with the lightness of the gabardine this ensures that this coat could be worn all year round.

The coat features a standard button and belt system to adjust the cuffs; all of the buttons are present and correct. The sleeves feature lapped seams, and the shoulders feature epaulets. The front of the coat features two very deep slash handwarmer pockets; these have been cut so that one can also reach through to the interior of the coat, or the pockets of the jacket that one is wearing underneath it. The interior of the coat features a deep interior pocket that is horizontally set into the seam. The coat also has a single hook vent, and, true to the trenchcoats that lay in its ancestry, a gun flap on the right hand shoulder.

This coat was made in the USA by the Hampton-Lansdale Corporation to full USAF specifications.

It does have two minor flaws. First, the button underneath the gunflap is missing; this cannot be seen when the coat is worn. Second, it has two tiny snagholes on the front under the front flap; these too cannot be seen when worn. This is thus in Very Good/Excellent condition--and is a bargain at just $75, or offer, boxed and shipped in the USA.

Measurements:

Chest: 22 1/2
Sleeve: 28 (+2)
Shoulder: 19 1/2
Length (bottom of collar): 50
Length (top of collar): 52 1/2

(NB: This is that modern rarity--a truly full-length overcoat, designed for style and warmth!)

 

[tweedydon]

2) STUNNING Vintage Double-breasted Harris Tweed overcoat. Made in England for SAKS Fifth Avenue!

Unfortunately, a lot of vintage Harris tweed overcoats are rather shapeless, with their function of keeping the wearer warm the sole consideration--style being left far behind.

That's certainly NOT true of this beauty!

Cut from old-fashioned, heavyweight Harris Tweed--the sort of cloth that is traditionally associated with the brand--this was Made in England for Saks of Fifth Avenue. As well as being the proper weight for an overcoat the tweed that this coat is cut from is absolutely wonderful. It is a classic broad herringbone tweed in brown and cream, flecked throughout with gorse yellow, pumpkin orange, forest green, and peat black--absolutely beautiful!

The coat itself does full justice to the cloth. Cut as a double-breasted overcoat with a six button front, this has lovely rounded peak lapels and shoulder epaulettes with button fastenings. All of the buttons are the classic dark brown leather-covered and metal shanked football buttons that are perfect for Harris tweed. The coat is fully canvassed and fully lined, and has a single center vent. The lining is a wonderful 1960s geometric lining in crystallized-honey brown. But the period details don't end there--this coat still retains its retailer interior label--usually removed prior to sale--which is hand-stamped "EXPORT" in red--a testament to the 1960s restrictions on foreign trade that British manufacturers labored under.

This coat has a single deep interior pocket, and two deep slash pockets on the outside, together with a single deep breast pocket. The Harris tweed label on the interior is a lovely rare example, being baby blue, rather than the usual red or green from that era,

This coat is in absolutely excellent condition; it still has acid-free paper in one arm from its careful storage in a cedar closet. It was very sparingly worn--if it was worn at all. (Although please note that the lining is merely basted in for a length of the bottom hem--and easy fix, should you wish to fix this!)

This is an exceptionally rare and very beautiful coat, and so is a bargain at just $125, or offer, boxed and shipped in the USA.

Tagged 44L, but this is a vinatge size--and likely generous even then. This measures closer to a modern 40L or (maybe) a slim 42.

Chest: 22 1/2
Sleeve: 27 (+2 1/4)
Shoulder: 18 3/4
Length (bottom of collar): 44

 

[tweedydon]

Both available!