What kind of topcoat is this, and . . .

[Benzadmiral]

. . . where can I find one?

I know it's not Golden Era, but the early and mid-'60s are a favorite era of mine, too. Vaughn only wore this particular topcoat in this one episode. Was it gabardine, you think? Where could I look to find something like it, single-breasted, lapels, no hidden buttons?

 

[Noodles]

HI there,

this is a so called Macintosh coat, short Mac and is a british traditional coat offered for example by Burberry or Aquascutum.
so long

 

[Hal]

this is a so called Macintosh coat, short Mac and is a british traditional coat offered for example by Burberry or Aquascutum.

Yes, except that the coats you mention (and those made by many other traditional firms at the time) nearly all had fly-fronts rather than button-through.

 

[Tomasso]

this is a so called Macintosh coat, short Mac

AKA a Balmacaan.

 

[Hal]

AKA a Balmacaan.

On your side of the Atlantic, not here! (Yet the term is clearly Scottish in origin.)
I believe that it refers to fly-fronted tweed overcoats as well as to fly-fronted raincoats, but not to the button-through type shown in the OP's illustrations.

 

[Tomasso]

I believe that it refers to fly-fronted tweed overcoats as well as to fly-fronted raincoats, but not to the button-through type shown in the OP's illustrations.

How have you come to this conclusion?

 

[Hal]

I have seen the designation "balmacaan" referring to both raincoats and overcoats in both written postings and in pictures contributed by Americans to clothing fora many times, but never once have I seen any such showing, or implying a button-through fronted coat. How else would I come to such a conclusion? I don't pluck dogmatic statements out of the air, but react to what I see. I accept that, on one hand, this could be taken as arguing from lack of evidence.

 

[Hal]

I have since "googled" balmacaan, and find that Mr Lyles is right with respect to tweed overcoats. I still have seen no evidence that the term is ever used for such a raincoat as displayed by the OP.

 

[Tomasso]

I still have seen no evidence that the term is ever used for such a raincoat as displayed by the OP.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/cole-haan-balmacaan-raincoat-microfiber-for-men~p~84844/

 

[Hal]

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/cole-haan-balmacaan-raincoat-microfiber-for-men~p~84844/

Very well! I stand corrected. But why, on earth, should anyone go looking through clothing catalogues simply to find this term? (In any case, catalogues can be wrong - how many oridnary raincoats are stated to be "trench coats"?) I have, throughout this dialogue, said "I have not seen...", NOT "There isn't..." I have the feeling that you are trying to put me down.

 

[Benzadmiral]

A.C. Lyles, that would be a great coat and a great deal. However, right now it's sold out! Darn!