Coat

A coat is an outer garment designed for the upper body. People wear them for warmth or for fashion. Most coats feature long sleeves and an opening down the front. They can be closed using several different methods. These include buttons, zippers, or hook-and-loop fasteners, which many people call velcro. Other styles use toggles, belts, or a combination of these tools. Many coats also include specific features like collars, hoods, or shoulder straps.

In the past, the way people used the word coat was quite different. In the early nineteenth century, Western-style coats were divided into two main categories. These were called under-coats and overcoats. An overcoat is a large garment worn over ordinary clothing for outdoor use. An under-coat was a garment worn beneath that outer layer. Today, the term "under-coat" is considered archaic. Most people now use the word coat to refer specifically to the overcoat. However, some older expressions still use the old meaning. For example, the phrase "to wear a coat and tie" does not mean the person is wearing an overcoat.

There are many distinct types of coats and jackets. A jacket is traditionally a short under-coat. Most modern jackets only extend to the upper thigh in length. In contrast, older coats like tailcoats are usually knee length. There are also special names for specific styles. In British English, a suit jacket is called a lounge coat. In American English, it is often called a sack coat. Tailors also use specific names for formal wear. They call the dinner jacket, or tuxedo, a coat. An overcoat is designed to be the outermost layer for the outdoors. A topcoat is a slightly shorter version of an overcoat. Overcoats are often cut long enough to cover knee-length under-coats like frock coats.

The history of the coat stretches back thousands of years. The origins of Western-style coats may come from Scythian nomads. These people lived on the Eurasian steppes. We find evidence of even older sleeved, close-fitted garments. Some Tarim mummies are four thousand years old. Another mummy, known as Otzi, is five thousand years old. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, coats were often spelled cote or cotte. These were mid-length garments fitted to the waist. They featured a full skirt and buttons down the front. By the eighteenth century, overcoats began to replace capes and cloaks in Western fashion.

Economic changes greatly impacted how coats were made and worn. Before the Industrial Revolution, cloth was extremely expensive. Because of this high cost, certain clothing styles showed a person's wealth and rank. As the Industrial Revolution progressed in the late eighteenth century, things changed. Cloth became more affordable for more people. This allowed people in lower social classes to wear fashionable outdoor wear. In the nineteenth century, the invention of the sewing machine helped even more. This machine, paired with textile machinery, made mass-produced clothing cheaper. This helped the popularity of coats and jackets grow quickly.

Modern fashion includes a wide variety of specialized coat styles. Some examples include the British Warm or the Chesterfield coat. Other types are the Covert coat, the Duffel coat, or the Pea coat. People also wear the Parka for warmth or the Mackintosh for rain. Lengths have changed through the decades as well. Most overcoats are mid-calf length by default. However, in the early 1970s, some styles reached the ankles. These long styles were known as the "maxi."

Coats are also used in professional settings and specific cultures. For instance, in 1958, Swedish police women wore coats as part of their uniform.

The craft of making these garments is also a specialized field. A tailor who specializes in making all types of coats is called a coat maker. The study of these garments connects to the broader history of Western fashion. From ancient nomads to modern mass production, the coat remains a vital part of how humans interact with their environment and express their identity.