2020 Winter Jacket Buying Guide (Classic Coats That Actually Matter!)
[0:00:00] When it comes to winter coats, men have tons
of options. For instance, the cloak. Not as popular as it was a hundred years ago. Nowadays,
we only see certain military units like my Marine Corps still pulling off the cloak.
And, you can wear it in formal occasions. Seriously, gents, cloaks are incredibly functional.
Not only are they going to protect you from the elements they're going to keep you warm,
but if you're wearing dress clothing underneath or uniform with metals, you're not going to
crush it underneath like an overcoat would. And, hey, if you need to arm yourself if you're
being attacked, pull it right off. Pull out your weapon you're good to go.
In today's video, gents, I'm talking winter jacket options that are going to make you
look amazing. Now, gents, I'm going through this video pretty
quick, but if you've got more questions, don't forget about the links down in the description.
I'm linking over to an infographic, an amazing infographic that breaks out all these jackets.
In addition, I'm going to link over to an article which goes into a lot more detail.
And, if you want to buy any of these jackets, I'm going to put the links not only down in
the description, but also in these detailed articles, so you can read and learn more about
these particular jackets. So, starting off for those of you that live
in climates that you don't get much of a winter, we're talking South Texas maybe over at Mumbai.
Yeah, you really just - it gets cool, but it doesn't get cold. In that case is you can
bring in very lightweight jackets. Go for pockets, go for colors that are classic. But,
maybe have a little bit of fun with it. Right here, as you can see I went with an
olive green. You could go for a dark brown. You don't always have to go for a charcoal
gray. Now, the jacket I've got on right here is
a modern military fatigue. Notice it goes about six inches below the waistline. But,
here on the shoulders, it could have epaulets. This one doesn't, it's a more modern sleeker
look. But notice, it has the double chest pockets and it has the ammunition pockets
below. Next up, we've got a rain jacket also known
as a Mackintosh. This is a modern Mac, it goes about twelve inches below the waistline,
well above the knee line. Older Macs you’re going to see them to go about six inches below
the knee line, a full length coat there. Older Macss also used to use a rubbery material
that wasn't breathable. Right here, I've got a material that it's
not only breathable, but it's going to have what all Macs should have, and that is water
resistance. If the water is going to hit it, it's going to roll right off. This is great
whether it's sleet, snow going in and out. And, what's great about a shell like this
is that you can layer it. So, I can wear a heavy wool sweater underneath, then throw
this on top and this is great. Again, you're out in Seattle and you really don't get really
tough winters, this would be a great piece to bring in.
Now, when looking for a good Mac, pay attention to the small details. For me, I like things
like actually a hood that zips open in the back, so I can actually pull this out as you
can see and be able to cover myself. It still looks professional so when I keep it down,
but if I need the hood, it's there for me. I also want to make sure that the zippers
run smooth and that the jacket fully seals. You want a jacket, again, that's going to
be functional. Now, what about the trench jacket? Now, the
traditional trench jacket, you're going to see them in a lighter tan color because they
were initially made from gabardine in the Boer War. Then during World War I, the trench
coat really made a name for itself and it was simply durable. It got the job done.
Now, does this work for the modern day man? I think in the right environment, yes. So,
if you're in an area in which you're going to be dealing with rain inclement weather
and you commute a lot, I think a full length trench is fine.
So, we've talked about full length going with shorter jackets, what should you choose? It
really depends on how you move about. If you drive in a vehicle, I think you need to go
for a shorter jacket. If you commute a lot, then I would go for longer jackets. Long jackets
like this one right here, they're going to do a good job of actually protecting your
entire body from the elements. Now, what about a down jacket like this? It's
casual. Look at the color look at the style. Overall, this is going to be something that
you don't want to wear with your formal clothing, but on the weekends would be perfectly fine.
What's great about these type of jackets, incredibly lightweight.
The problem with jackets made from down is that whenever you get them wet, they're going
to lose their insulating properties. Because it's not the feathers that actually keep you
warm, it's the air that is trapped in these pockets right here. So, if you're going to
be, you know, dealing with inclement weather, make sure that you've got a shell that you
can put on top of it. All right, gents, now, let’s add some style
to your winter wardrobe. Let's say you're in southern Arizona, suede is where it's at.
Couple things about suede. First up, we've got texture. Now, human beings,
we want to touch textured things. The ladies come up, oh, they just started touching your
suede jacket. Where did you get this? It starts conversations. It's going to separate you
from all the other guys out there. Now, I know what a lot of you guys are thinking,
I don't wear suede because I don't want to get it damaged, I don't want to get caught
in a rainstorm. I don't want to get snow on my jacket and all of a sudden I get spots
and the thing falls apart. Now, being a suede jacket owner myself, I've
never had an issue. But, if you're worried use a suede protector. Once a season, just
simply treat your jacket, put this all over your jacket. Now, before you do that, you
want to test a small portion and make sure it doesn't discolor your jacket. But, these
protectors are made specifically for suede, they go right on it and they will help basically
the rain or the water to roll right off. Next up, gents, we've got the classic blouson.
This has been a staple in menswear for well over 60 years. It was actually made popular
after World War 2. The cotton material, the elastic on the wrist, the elastic in and around
the waist, the higher cut, all this comes from the tank jacket which was made to fit
a soldier's body close, so he can get in and out of the tank and protect him, not only
from the cold, but also the heat inside the vehicle.
[0:05:03] Classic blousons, when you open them up and
you look on the inside, you're going to see bright fabric in there. Right here, you see
a tartan. This is a key characteristic in the classic blouson.
Now, as with any classic jacket that's been around for years, what you're going to find
with all these styles is that different manufacturers are going to take different interpretations
on the classic and they're going to change it up.
So, right here, we've got another blouson, but this one right here does not have a bright
fabric on the inside. And when it comes to the elastic around the wrist – actually,
we don't have elastic, we have buttons, but it does the same job.
And you can know when you find a jacket and you really like it, just look for the remnants
of the style and say, you know what? Does this serve the purpose? This one is a bit
heavier than that last jacket I was wearing, so if you needed something warmer, this jacket
would be perfect. And maybe you like the color, maybe you like the style, maybe you like the
material, but always be looking for what works for you.
Now, we're getting in a medium weight jackets, and what you see here is a modern field design
using a quilt material. So, a quilt material, this is going to actually be where the material
is divided up into sections. This jacket in its history is going to be
very casual from the design to the fabric actually used. Even though when you look at
this jacket, people can say, oh, that looks actually pretty dressy. But, it's going to
be the pockets that give it away. Now, I said a modern field design. A classic
field design would have two breast pockets two ammunition pockets. This does have the
two ammunition pockets, but it also has only one breast pocket and it's got hidden pockets
all over the side. But, why does this still have a dressier feel?
One is going to be a darker color. And all the jackets I'm talking about here usually
the darker colors whether it be navy whether it be charcoal whether it be black, those
are going to be the most formal of all the jackets in general appearance. But, when you
go up and you look at the style the style can make it more casual and other details
like additional pockets. So, these guys brought in a zipper. If they had only gotten with
toggles or buttons, it would actually be more formal.
Now, this jacket very similar to that last jacket in design, but very different in its
level of formality. So, first up, it's a lighter colored jacket. This olive green right here
a lighter green is going to be more casual. Next up, the material. So, this is made from
a synthetic material. Anything made from the synthetic material is going to be more casual
than cottons or wools which are going to be your luxury materials. Wools often times and
cashmere being the most formal of all the materials used.
But, when we open this up, we also see brighter colors. So, any jacket that uses a bright
color like this is more for a hunting design especially with everything else we see here
or it's going to be more casual. So, bright colors, more casual.
Now, what about a drab color like this? We've got gray. Is this going to be formal? The
answer is no because look at the design of the jacket. This is a field jacket. We've
got the double breast pockets right here, we've got the double pockets right here.
But, it's not going to be as casual as that last jacket even though we open up we have
a little bit of a brighter lining here overall this is actually made to be a tougher jacket
that actually is going to keep a gentleman warm and going to be able to use it in a wide
variety. You're not going to want to wear this with a suit, but it would be something
you can definitely wear with business casual. Now, I know some of you guys are thinking
that last jacket incredibly boring, so how about let's go for something like this. Notice
right here we've got a very unique modern style. We've got a mixture of different things.
Actually, when you open up this jacket, you'll see that it's got a built-in vest that uses
a zipper. Zippers in general though are going to be
more casual, but the overall design of this jacket is something a lot more modern. It's
an Italian company that designed this and they wanted to go for a modern interpretation
of taking a sports jacket mixing it with different materials. So, we've got wool, we've got cotton.
This is going to be more of a fashion piece. It's something that has not yet earned its
stripes as a classic. A classic is something that stands up to the test of time. But, if
you like the look, have fun with your winter jackets. I'm saying first have your base jackets
down, but don't be afraid to grab a jacket maybe that's on sale that you just think it's
great and is going to help you stand out from the crowd.
Quick question to make sure you're paying attention. With a jacket like this, should
you wear a pocket square? Yes or no? Let me know down in the comments.
Next up we've got a variation of a trucker jacket known as the Sherpa also known as the
cowboy jacket. I personally love this jacket. Growing up in West Texas I had one as a kid.
And I can tell you, when I had to work out with the horses it was just something that
you grabbed your jacket because it was durable. You could get it dirty you could throw it
in the wash. It was just a great jacket that you could work in.
Because of the style of the jacket because of the material use because of its history,
this is going to be a casual jacket. And when you pair it with jeans, make sure that the
denim is not the same color. Go for something darker, go for something a lot lighter, or
better yet go for a pair of trousers made from an entirely different material. So, maybe
you want to go for twill, maybe a brushed twill, maybe you want to go for a gray flannel
or a pair of chinos. Now, we're getting into the heavier weight
jackets. Let's start this off with the classic leather jacket. A wide variety of different
styles and options out there when it comes to the weight of the leather when it comes
to being insulated or not, but in general leather is going to be one of the most durable
and tough materials out there. It's going to in general be casual, but going
with a black leather that has a very smooth grain can actually be a jacket that you can
wear even with business casual. Leather is durable, leather is tough, and leather has
been worn by men for thousands of years to be able to protect them from the elements.
[0:10:08] So, depending on the style you go with, it
really comes down to how much of your body is going to be covered with the jacket. You're
going to see leather dusters, you're going to see full-length leather jackets, but you're
also going to see shorter length leather jackets. And I think that this is the classic style,
we're going to see the bomber, we're going to see the Moto, we're going to see the classic
motorcycle. Note, some of those are going to be more casual
when they've got all those options. Other ones are going to be a little bit dressier.
But the point here is that this is a go-to jacket when you need something that's tough
and can deal with the elements. Next up, we've got waxed cotton jackets. As
the name implies, they're made from cotton and then they've had actually a wax material
applied to make them water-resistant. Now, you're going to need to get it rewaxed over
time. But, these have been used by hunters and outdoorsmen over in England for centuries.
These can last a lifetime when taken care of.
What you want to look for for a waxed cotton jacket is to understand this is always going
to be a more casual jacket. It was developed for outdoorsmen, so the styles in general
are going to be a bit more relaxed. This was actually made to actually throw over a sport
jacket, so they're going to have oftentimes a lot of excess material in them. That's perfectly
fine for this casual jacket, although if you want something closer fitting, then maybe
go look at a more modern cut style. And now, we get to talk about one of my favorite
coats, the pea coat. Now, this one was made popular by sailors initially Dutch, then the
British then American sailors and still actually issued by the US Navy today. The pea coat
is really a great durable jacket made from tightly woven wool, and that's going to be
the key here. Now, wool, why would you use wool when you're
out sailing? Because wool can absorb about 40 to 50% of its weight in water and still
feel dry still actually keep the wearer warmth. Other key characteristics are going to be
the length. It goes 12 inches below the waistline just covering the buttocks. We've also got
these larger lapels here and the double breasted front.
Now, what about bright colored sports jackets like the ski jacket, snowmobiling jackets?
They're always going to be casual, but they do serve a purpose. This brighter color, going
to be much easier to spot you on a mountain when you're lost whenever you're injured and
ski patrol is looking for you. So, guys, there is a purpose for this, but understand that
it's probably not to wear this over a suit. And you want to look at getting an additional
jacket. So, what to wear with a suit? Gentlemen, a
classic overcoat. They come in a wide variety of different styles. But, what you're going
to notice with the classic overcoat, they're going to be made from a hundred percent wool
and in general they're going to be darker colors.
You'll also see some camel coats out there. I recommend going with a darker color in general.
It always feels more formal. Charcoal gray is my favorite because you can get a little
bit dirty and it's not going to show as much as black, but I know a lot of guys are going
to gravitate towards black, navy as well. Really, it comes down to what you're already
wearing, so there's no problem in matching that exactly with your suit.
Now, when it comes to the fit of the overcoat, you want to make sure that you tried on that
you get it fitted to you when you're wearing a suit underneath or you're wearing at least
a big heavyweight sweater. The point is, give yourself room. You don't want to buy an overcoat
that fits you just perfectly when you're only wearing a shirt because the point of the overcoat
is to go over your other coat, your sports jacket your suit.
And, for those of you that live in extreme cold areas, you dapper dogs up in Canada.
You know what I'm talking about. Guys, when it gets well below zero, you want to pull
out the parka. So, the parka was actually designed for explorers
that had gone up to Arctic and they took a cue from the natives who were living up there.
They saw how they were using actually parts of the animals especially the fur especially
in and around the head area to layer up and to create something that really didn't care
about looks. It was all about providing insulation layers to protect you from the elements.
A good parka, gentlemen, is going to start with a great design. First up, it's going
to have a hood. You've got to be able to protect the head and you want one solid piece.
Next up, the outer material is going to be wind-resistant and also water-resistant. Next,
the length of the parka. This is not going to be a short jacket, this is going to easily
cover your buttocks probably just be above the knee.
And then, we look at the inside the insulation. You're going to find a wide variety of different
materials used, but you want to have an insulation and you want to have enough in there that
it's going to give you about a solid inch of material. It should also seal up. I like
a parka that's going to have a double seal. Not only is it going to have an inner zipper,
it's going to have that outer zipper. Now, what about everything else that a guy
needs with his jackets? We're talking about winter accessories. Guys, I've got you covered
in this video right here, the winter accessories that every man needs to know about. I talk
about scarves, hats, the different types of hats. I talk about gloves and a lot more.
Go check out the video, guys, right here. I will also link to it down in the description.
[0:14:36] End of audio