Show Us Your OVERCOATS

[thunderw21]

New overcoat.

While on a recent roadtrip I stopped at a little junk shop and bought this fantastic overcoat for cheap. Has a '36 or '39 union tag. It weighs probably 10 pounds and the fuzzy fur is a bluish-gray. I can't wait for winter!

 

[AlanC]

^Cool weave. Is it alpaca? The critter on the tag looks to be, and the fabric has that type of look. Great find either way.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I suspect it's one of those fabrics very popular in the 30s and 40s that emuated alpaca as best they could. If it was alpaca, you can be sure they shouted from the rooftops about it. Otherwise they made up names - often variants based on the word alpaca.

I have one with a similar weave and of similar vintage. It feels like wool. I don't think i've ever felt fabric made from real alpaca hairs/wool.

bk

 

[thunderw21]

Yeah, I don't know for sure what it is. I doubt it's alpaca. Could be lamb's fleece, I've seen modern jackets made out of lamb's fleece that look just like this.
I searched for Chetelham fabric and found nothing. [huh]

 

[AlanC]

Alpaca has sort of a slick feel to it, very nice stuff. It tends to be somewhat fuzzy, though, and that fabric doesn't seem to have that at all. The Baron is likely correct that it's meant to emulate alpaca or else it would be more explicit about its content.

 

[Indy Magnoli]

Wow, thunderw21... your coat is VERY similar to the one I just got myself:





Though I have a feeling yours was a little cheaper than mine!

Kind regards,
Magnoli

 

[BellyTank]

TIGER is an old Swedish brand and is now a leading European "designer" label-
"Tiger of Sweden". They specialised in military uniforms, then went on to pioneer ready-to-wear Menswear.
They now have a line of "vintage denim".
I'm sure that there is some "collectible" value to that coat, with the TIGER label.

And the tiger tag was cool too.

B
T

 

[BellyTank]

I have a very similar Aquascutum (London)coat but the cloth is beige and black, with a little red- slightly more subdued.


B
T

 

[minstrel]

Today's find

I went by the local Swedish Salvation Army thrift store yesterday and saw a trench coat there made in the GDR. It was the classic khaki colour and had a double row of buttons in front. It was only $17.70, but I resisted the temptation to purchase it. But then I was thinking that I only have one trench coat, which is more or less ruined with rust spots all over it after being tossed in the trunk of my aunt's car some years ago. So, today I went back and purchased the coat. Here are my photos of it when I got home, still wearing the outfit I had on when going to town.

Being casual and having the coat and jacket open. (No tie, because I'm very uncomfortable wearing ties, unfortunately.)

Closed coat, with the belt around my waist. What you can't see in these pictures is the back, which has the centre split on the lower part, and two pleats, one on either side of the back. Pretty classic model, I believe.

A shot of the label inside, sewn onto the only inner pocket (which is very generously proportioned, I must say).

Since it only cost me $17.70, I won't worry too much about it, if I have to wear it in a downpour or if it gets splashed with muddy water or something.

 

[SteveN]

What's the etiquette regarding overcoat color? Surely we're not expected to have a black coat and a brown coat to coordinate with whatever color suit we might be wearing that day?

Charcoal grey would be my color choice for a first/only coat as it will coordinate best with most wardrobes, which tend to lean towards blues, greys and black. But to answer your question, an overcoat should work in harmony with what is worn under it; The more extensive a wardrobe's color palette, the more pieces of outerwear will be required. And let's not forget hats.

Is there any etiquette regarding the fabrics? I.e. can you wear these tweed overcoats with, say, a cashmere sportcoat?

Cheers,
- SteveN

 

[SteveN]

What's the etiquette regarding overcoat color? Surely we're not expected to have a black coat and a brown coat to coordinate with whatever color suit we might be wearing that day?

Charcoal grey would be my color choice for a first/only coat as it will coordinate best with most wardrobes, which tend to lean towards blues, greys and black. But to answer your question, an overcoat should work in harmony with what is worn under it; The more extensive a wardrobe's color palette, the more pieces of outerwear will be required. And let's not forget hats.

Is there any etiquette regarding the fabrics? I.e. can you wear these tweed overcoats with, say, a cashmere sportcoat?

Cheers,
- SteveN

 

[KeyGrip]

I would think that as long as the patterns and colors don't clash, it should be fine. Although there may be some rule against mixing material of which I am unaware.

 

[thunderw21]

Though I have a feeling yours was a little cheaper than mine!
Kind regards,
Magnoli

Cheers, Magnoli!
That's a great looking overcoat. Vintage or one you had made up? I like the length of it.

I have that feeling too.

 

[Indy Magnoli]

It's a vintage one I scooped up, modified and had tailored to fit better. I've had my tailors copy the final result to advertise on my site as the "Chicago Overcoat".

Kind regards,
Indy

 

[thunderw21]

We need to see more overcoats. Anyone?

 

[Dinerman]

Most of my pictures seem to have disappeared from this thread, probably from me reorganizing my pics a while back. Anyway- here are some of my overcoats.

German BWS leather. There are some detail shots of it earlier in the thread, but the overalls are gone.

------------------------

My favorite- a Swiss double breasted

Me- my dad, and my great great grandparents

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'60's German army

 

[Warbaby]

I posted this one awhile back in another thread, but since it's more appropriate in this thread, here it is again.

It's a very thick wool twill with a real fur collar. Not cold enough yet to wear it, but winter is not far down the road so it's off to the tailor this week to have the sleeves shortened a bit.

 

[thunderw21]

Excellent, that's what I'm talking about.



I have a couple I haven't posted. I'll try to dig them out in the next few days.

 

[thunderw21]

This has a '39 union tag, no other tags or labels. Very large, way too big for me. Rescued it from a Goodwill store for a couple bucks.

Neat double stitching cuff detail and herringbone pattern:

One bad spot on the left shoulder. Could probably be fixed:

 

[BrewCrew]

Hmm Thunder I just bought this one on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=350109099176

but I must say I like yours much better. What size is it?