how to wear a topcoat | The Style Guide

Here’s the deal when it comes to today’s #OOTD, one focused on how to wear a topcoat for winter, folks. These days, things are all the more casual, but as I always say, you’re going to have to get dressed again eventually. That’s where this ensemble comes into play. We’ll blend the refined and highly stylish with the ever-versatile to make a high-low outfit that gets the job done, starting with arguably the best men’s topcoat on the market, courtesy of one Todd Snyder. It’s the kind of bold, classic men’s topcoat designed to turn heads in the all the right ways, so it can more than stand on its own as a statement piece with more classic picks along for the ride. Don’t believe me? This Todd Snyder topcoat is so cool as to elevate even the most straightforward men’s style essentials. While we’ll take things in a business casual direction today, you could even wear this topcoat over a Todd Snyder x Champion crewneck sweatshirt. But I digress — back to business casual style.

Consider the classic Oxford shirt from Faherty Brand we’ll tell you all about shortly. It’s seemingly simple on the surface, but utterly timeless and designed to be worn with anything you please (especially a sharp new topcoat). And the rest of these style picks, including classic slim blue jeans, are designed to take you (safely) out and about on the town, back to the office or on a weekend getaway (hey, Valentine’s Day is on the horizon!). When you’ve got some of the best leather dress shoes for men along for the ride, not to mention a refined-yet-versatile supporting cast of gear, the world is darn near your oyster. It all starts with the Todd Snyder Italian Wool Double-Breasted Officer Topcoat, as you’ll see in 3 … 2 … 1.

The coolest topcoat your money can buy, worn the best way possible.

The Topcoat: Todd Snyder Italian Wool Double-Breasted Officer Topcoat, $1,108 — Yes indeed, this topcoat is the best of the best. The price is as eye-catching as the styling potential, but this could be the last topcoat you ever buy. Step out accordingly, folks.
The Classic Shirt: Faherty Brand Stretch Oxford Shirt, $128 — This subtly stylish Oxford shirt is the perfect complement to a statement-making topcoat, and that’s just a fact.
The Dark Blue Denim: Bonobos Dark Wash Premium Stretch Jeans, $148 — The makers of your favorite chinos are here with a pair of the best blue jeans for men, the kind that are highly versatile, office-ready & yet nice enough for a dinner date.
The Dress Shoes: Bruno Magli Butler Cap-Toe Oxfords, $395 — As I’ve said, you’ll have to get dressed again eventually, and what better way to do it than with some of the best men’s dress shoes — they’re a great way to play off your refined topcoat.
The Everyday Watch: Timex x Todd Snyder Q Bracelet Watch, $179 — Go right ahead and wear one of the best men’s watches under $200 right alongside your stylish leather dress shoes and bold-as-can-be topcoat — this Timex x Todd Snyder watch can handle everything that gets thrown its way.
The Socks: Proof 72-Hour Merino Crew Socks, $32 — Get a two-pack of highly versatile, wear-anywhere socks designed to keep your feet warm and free of odor. Yes sir, Huckberry also makes some of the best men’s socks, this is true.
The Everyday Carry: Standard Issue Leather Duffel, $279 — Keep this handsome leather duffel bag handy if your itinerary includes a weekend getaway, or else, use something like the Standard Issue Leather Messenger for a more efficient way to haul your EDC essentials.
The Gloves: Hestra Montgomery Lambskin Gloves, $175 — This outfit is nothing if not as sharp and subtly stylish as it gets, and these classic suede gloves are a fitting cold-weather accessory.

How ready are you to step out in style with the best winter style essentials for men, ehh? I know I sure am ready, to say the very least. The key when you invest in something like the Todd Snyder Italian Wool Double-Breasted Officer Topcoat is to really get the most out of it. For me, that means taking this refined topcoat and teaming it with the sort of picks you hopefully already have in your closet, like the best blue jeans for men and of course, a stylish Oxford shirt you can wear with anything. Those pieces should be the pillars of many an #OOTD, and they’re even amped up a notch when you team them with the best men’s dress shoes for business casual or outdoor date night style.

Accessorize with some of the best men’s socks, and you’ll really be letting your Todd Snyder topcoat do the talking. Naturally, you need something crisp and yet highly wearable on your wrist, like a Timex x Todd Snyder watch thathelps offset the pricier items in this ensemble. If you’re headed out of town, load up a leather duffel bag with the best men’s gear around, or else use it as a carryall for everything you need to return to the office. Last but surely not least, keep your digits warm with some classic suede gloves to really tie this look together. It’s all on the table when it comes to dressing the right way this winter, so let’s get into it for the new year.

Bundle up with a great topcoat this winter. Jacket by Kenneth Cole. Scarf by J. Crew Factory. Slim denim by Bonobos. Tan suede Chelsea boots by ASOS. Black leather gloves by Target Merona. Glasses by Burberry.

Now that we’re over a week into January, it seems like winter’s finally kicked off in earnest — we’re talking freezing, freezing cold temperatures. That was bad news for your humble style blogger — I was scrambling to throw on extra layers after spending some time in Florida over Christmas break. Perhaps you found yourself in the same situation, and didn’t quite know where to turn. It can be a tricky balance to stay warm but also check the boxes in terms of functionality and style. For instance, if you’re wearing a solid blazer or suiting up, a peacoat won’t normally cut it (although here are some great peacoats for winter, regardless).

That’s when a topcoat will be your best bet. They can lean extremely refined — as in, able to be worn over a suit or a blazer and chinos — or they can be styled much more casually (a la Mr. David Beckham) when cut trimmer and in a neutral color. But the key point is, they’re cut longer and provide more coverage and warmth. The trick also comes in looking for one that fits nearly as well as your favorite blazer — with enough room to move around in and layer up, of course. (Just look at how well 007’s topcoat fits him for reference). Although double-breasted variations exist on the style, the picks here cover single-breasted options at a range of prices — note that many retailers, from J. Crew to Uniqlo, seem to have put their topcoat stock on sale early, so the picks have been a little scattered! Fear not, though — The Style Guide has sorted things out for you. Happy shopping!

#1. Bonobos Mainline Topcoat — $498

Versatile, trim and yes, pricey. A reliable investment pickup from Bonobos.

Ahh, yes — good ole, reliable Bonobos. The brand’s Bristol Peacoat made this site’s roundup of the best men’s peacoats for winter, and the outerwear game is certainly one area in which Bonobos seems to deliver. The quality and fit of the Mainline Topcoat looks to be on-point, as well. It should fit decently trim in a size Slim, and offer just enough room in the Standard fit. A solid range of sizes is available in that versatile Navy color, so scoop it up while you can.

#2. JackThreads The Topcoat — $229

A nice price, a slim fit and a great color — just what you want in a topcoat.

Like its Bonobos brethren above, a JackThreads option also made last week’s peacoats shopping list. And in a similar vein, it’s not hard to see why The Topcoat (they love their simple names, yeah?) makes this list as well. It’s priced quite reasonably compared to other options on this list (and topcoats in general), and it combines some pretty key #menswear checkpoints — a slim, modern fit, versatile styling potential and a terrific camel color. This is the type of coat that’s going to look especially good with slim dark denim and a navy crewneck sweater, and it’ll also sharpen up suiting from light grey to navy.

#3. Banana Republic Plaid Topcoat — $219

A super-sharp jacket with an eyecatching pattern.

It doesn’t seem like it’s very often that outerwear — especially a pretty straightforward item like this plaid topcoat — goes on sale at Banana Republic. And this piece, while slightly more unique-looking, could be every bit as reliable as the above two options when styled correctly. The covered placket and flap chest pocket are two different design features that stick out, but not in a bad way thanks to the toned-down grey-and-black plaid pattern. It’s fully lined, so it should be extra warm. To boot, it’ll look downright lethal with a navy or charcoal suit.

#4. Shades of Grey Overcoat — $189.99 (On-Sale)

A clean and minimal jacket for equally cleaned-up looks this winter.

As JackThreads is to the mainstream, on-trend overcoat option, this Shades of Grey Overcoat is to the minimal, more unique side of the equation. Shades of Grey By Micah Cohen certainly leans more toned-down and minimalistic as a brand, so it makes sense that this coat is pretty straightforward. The covered placket and slanted hip pockets change things up visually, but this overcoat looks to have a tailored fit and pretty solid styling potential (it is a variation on heathered charcoal, after all).

#5. Steven Alan Scuba Topcoat — $507

All sorts of weatherproof features found their way into this minimal navy topcoat. Worth the price?

Steven Alan’s offerings tend to skew a little pricier and sometimes lean a bit more high-fashion (just look at the price of this topcoat), but they seem to have thrown everything but the kitchen sink into this topcoat. That is to say, this jacket is wind and waterproof and crafted from Italian melton wool. On top of that, it features hygroscopic fabric (which is definitely worth a trip to Wikipedia). The point is, this is one heck of an investment, and yet it packs both function and style into one package. Whether it’s worth the sale price is up to you.

It was unexpectedly tricky to put together this list — as noted above, lots of brands seem to have put out sales on their topcoats. Scooping up a great top layer should certainly be top of mind for you as right now and as it gets colder and colder — there’s nothing that beats putting on a well-tailored topcoat. It can feel like a suit of armor, complement your sharpest suit and even dress up a pair of joggers (yes, I went there). Sticking to minimal branding, slim fits and neutral colors can provide excellent versatility in your topcoat, too — and for the money you’ll put up, that’s exactly what you want.

Have you bought a topcoat yet this winter? Which of the above would you pick up, or what do you already have in your closet?

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