coat length

[Donald]

I have been wondering what exactly determines a good length for a coat to wear? Does it make a difference if one is wearing a dress or a skirt? If not, does a long coat need to be above the hemline or can it be below the hemline? I have a suede jacket that comes down to my waisline and I know that tends to look good with a skirt. But will such a length look good with a dress of knee to ankle length? I have searched and I have not seen any posts that seem to go into great detail about what length goes best with a skirt vs a dress and how long a long coat should be. So any guidelines would be appreciated!

[crfriend]

I have been wondering what exactly determines a good length for a coat to wear?

Conventional wisdom seems to dictate that the length of the outer-coat be longer than the length of the skirt (or dress) underneath -- at least for womens' fashions. Men may be able to bend that a bit.

Obviously, the traditional trench-coat works well for most skirts that only come to the knees or upper calves. Another option might be what's known as an "Ike Jacket" (named for General Eisenhower) or various "bomber jackets" which are waist-length. The shorter ones won't help keep your legs warm, but also don't put an extra horizontal line in inconvenient places.

[RichardA]

I saw a lovely coat this morning in church a full length sheepskin right down to the ankles you could wear a mini skirt under that and not get cold in this weather

[ChristopherJ]

I want one of those long coats that all the guys wore in The Matrix. Almost down to the ground. I believe they are called 'duster' coats or something like that. The real thing would cost a fortune, but I keep my eye open in charity shops hoping to find something like it. A long coat like that would be great winter wear for me as I wear fairly short skirts.

[DavidsSkirts]

I believe if you choose to wear a shorter skirt (above the knees, especially a mini'..) during colder weather, the coat should be mid-calf or longer...
A mini skirt with tights/pantihose, calf-high boots and a calf length coat is a good winter look..

If you're wearing a skirt that's knee length or longer, you can probably go with whatever coat/jacket looks "right" on you at the time (and suits the occasion..).

[DavidsSkirts]

I want one of those long coats that all the guys wore in The Matrix. Almost down to the ground. I believe they are called 'duster' coats or something like that. The real thing would cost a fortune, but I keep my eye open in charity shops hoping to find something like it. A long coat like that would be great winter wear for me as I wear fairly short skirts.

I think a genuine coat, from somewhere like Armani, could cost around $2000 to $4000, down here (= probably over a thousand British pounds ??).

[ChristopherJ]

I think a genuine coat, from somewhere like Armani, could cost around $2000 to $4000, down here (= probably over a thousand British pounds ??).

Oh.

[Departed Member]

I want one of those long coats that all the guys wore in The Matrix. Almost down to the ground. I believe they are called 'duster' coats or something like that. The real thing would cost a fortune, but I keep my eye open in charity shops hoping to find something like it.

I 'dipped out' at the Culdrose Air Show four years ago - they had coats like the ones you describe, at one of the retail outlets, for under forty quid. Why, oh why, didn't I 'invest'? Never seen such value since!

[ziggy_encaoua]

I've got two long coats one a tailor made leopard print job & the other a full length Gestapo type leather coat. The lepard print one is actually quite light but keeps me warm at this time of year but the leather one is well heavy & I hardly wear it.

[ChristopherJ]

I've got an ordinary mans' raincoat that comes down to my mid calf - so at a push I can wear that if I want a longish coat. But it is very 'staid' if you know what I mean. I want something a bit sexier than that.

[DavidsSkirts]

I think a genuine coat, from somewhere like Armani, could cost around $2000 to $4000, down here (= probably over a thousand British pounds ??).

Oh.

That's for top shelf coats - soft-handed full leather like David Boreanaz wore on the 'Angel' TV series - and remember we are talking about full-length coats, which will be a lot more expensive than the waist and hip length styles...

At the other end you could get a stiffer, and much lower quality, split leather coat from somewhere like Turkey for only a few hundred dollars (a couple hundred pounds..) but those can't be cleaned (they fall apart), won't be as comfortable, and won't last anywhere as long..

This gives a wide range of prices, but you get what you pay for - pick up a coat costing several hundred dollars/pounds/euros and compare to the cheaper items, and the differences are immediately obvious. Those nice long leather coats we see on people in Russia and eastern Europe are probably somewhere in the middle of these prices by the looks of them.

And at the bottom to medium end of the price range, you also have those coats made from canvas weight cotton, oilskins (wax impregnated cotton or poly-cotton, which these days has a dry finish, rather than the 'oiled' finish they were originally named after..), nylons and nylon/polyester blends. And not forgetting leather-look vinyl and 'leatherette' - though these will be heavier, stiffer and warmer ..

Then again, there's always an outside chance that someone could get lucky, and score a bargain at a fraction of the original price - a discount sale, eBay bargain, Op Shop discovery, 'someone-who-knows-someone'.

[Milfmog]

I want one of those long coats that all the guys wore in The Matrix. Almost down to the ground. I believe they are called 'duster' coats or something like that. The real thing would cost a fortune, but I keep my eye open in charity shops hoping to find something like it. A long coat like that would be great winter wear for me as I wear fairly short skirts.

Christopher,

I have no idea what your budget is, but I found this on ebay earlier and thought it might be of interest.

Have fun,


Ian.

PS A search for "coat matrix" will find many more...

[sapphire]

If you can sew, Simplicity patterns has a pettern for this coat. It is in the costume section.

[ChristopherJ]

Thanks for the eBay link, Milfmog. The coats look pretty good for that price, don't they? I would be a bit dubious about them though - as for that money the quality must be quite low. I think I would be quite happy with some sort of heavyweight cotton type of coat, as David suggested. Like a barbour jacket material - it's a waxed cotton type of stuff. That might be good. But I would want to see something and try it on before buying. Although I am happy to spend £100 (well, happyish, if you know what I mean . . ) for a really good coat - I would not buy one on the internet, as I would be worried that if I didn't like it I could not return it.

I'll just keep looking.

If you can sew

No I can't. Well, only the basic 4-thumb hammerstitch, using carpet thread. This is how I repair all of my clothes.

You think I am joking - don't you? I'm not.

[Milfmog]

I think I would be quite happy with some sort of heavyweight cotton type of coat, as David suggested. Like a barbour jacket material - it's a waxed cotton type of stuff.

In that case it would be worth checking out the Driza-Bone range, their long coats are well made, if I recall correctly I paid about £120 for my brown stockman which reaches to about 6 inches from the ground. (There are pictures here. The coat I have is the traditional wax "full length coat") The design detailing is not quite as good as my shorter Barbour jacket but it's well made and even keeps the worst of the rain off

Have fun,


Ian.

PS I don't recommend the matching waxed cotton "Top ender" hats, the brim tends to curl up in the rain making it virtually useless!