The Ten commandments of men's coats and jackets

[Guest]

The Ten commandments of Men's Coats and Jackets

1.Thou shall own a Pea coat.
There come from military heritage, and are a truly classic item. Traditionally made of wool, they can also be found in leather. It's hard to go wrong with one of these. Black, charcoal, and navy are all acceptable colors.

2.Thou shall own a navy or tan blazer.
A wool blazer is a timeless article, that can be dressed up with khakis and slacks, or worn with jeans and loafers. Skip the brass buttons though. Leave those to the yachting yahoos. Have a local shop switch them out for something darker that compliments the jacket. Dark grey buttons work well. This item will be dry clean only, so don't try to clean it yourself. It's a professional jacket, treat it as such. Think of Will Smith in Hitch when you think of this jacket. Sharp.

3.Thou shall own a leather bomber jacket.
Is there a more classic men's item, other than a white tee shirt or jeans? In fact these look great WITH those items. Stick to quality leather, and take care of it, and one of these will last you decades. Black and brown are acceptable colors. Avoid one with elastic at the waist and arms. Pair it with a pair of Aviators, and star in your own version of Top Gun.

4.Thou shall own a leather or suede blazer.
These have come under fire a bit lately, as some people associate them with the boy band of the late 1990's. Pay those people no mind. A suede or leather blazer are the more urbane, and trendy alternative to the more traditional navy wool blazer. If dressing up is called for, but not to a suit level, consider one of these. These pair great with a brown belt, mocs, and a dark pair of jeans for a first date. Go get 'em!

5.Thy jacket shall fit properly.
The sleeve length needs to correct length. The ideal length is the edge of the sleeve hitting the base of the thumb. Any shorter or longer send a signal you don't want to send. Avoid the recent trend of skinny leather jackets too. You don't want to look like an overstuffed sausage.

6.Thou shall own a sheepskin or shearling coat.
These are another classic men's item. These can be worn by ranchers, Hollywood stars, and you. Search and you can find pictures of Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Steve McQueen in one of these. That's pretty good company, don't you think? Stick with tan or dark brown leather, corduroy, and denim. These are very warm, and are great for when the weather turns south.

7.Thou shall own leather care products, and use them.
Well cared for leather can last decades. A great leather jacket is a great investment, and a quality one can cost several hundred dollars. So, be wise and protect your investment. Leather is made from a living thing, and can dry out, and crack over time, if not cared for. Make sure you awesome jacket gets care at least a few times a year, and it will be around for a very, very long time.

8.Thou shall not own a motorcycle jacket unless you also own a motorcycle.
A men's leather motorcycle jacket will be made from top quality, tough, durable leather, and be built to last. A moto jacket is best owned, if you actually own a motorcycle. If your wearing one, and no bike is in sight, it may come off at try hard or worse. It also gives the wearer a tough, cool, and carefree impression. If you were born to be wild, grab one of these.

9.Unless thou are English or a professor, avoid the Tweed sportcoat.
This one may ruffle some feathers. Tweed sportcoats were traditionally used as hunting jackets in England, and somehow were adopted by college professors. Unless you fall into those categories, or ARE an Oxford don, leave this one to the resale shops, and your weird uncle.

10.Thou shall own a men's overcoat is the climate warrants it.
These are cut and to be worn over a suit, and a very heavy and thick. The best ones are made of wool, cashmere, or a blend of the two. If you can, make sure it's waterproof. The nicer ones are very formal, and have velvet lining on the collar. This coat has it's roots in England. While the Brits haven't always gotten things right. Tryanny, and taxation without representation anyone? This is one thing they nailed. If you live in the great white north, where the weather is below freezing for many months of the year, this is a great and elegant option. Or you could just move to Florida and play golf ;)

[Guest]

[QUOTE=El Fenix;34481]3.Thou shall own a leather bomber jacket.
Is there a more classic men's item, other than a white tee shirt or jeans? In fact these look great WITH those items. Stick to quality leather, and take care of it, and one of these will last you decades. Black and brown are acceptable colors. Avoid one with elastic at the waist and arms. Pair it with a pair of Aviators, and star in your own version of Top Gun.[/QUOTE]


Most leather bombers are awful. Instead, go with a rock star leather jacket...something closer to what Brad Pitt wore in Fight Club.

[Guest]

[QUOTE=Bull Run;34482]Most leather bombers are awful. Instead, go with a rock star leather jacket...something closer to what Brad Pitt wore in Fight Club.[/QUOTE]

It's more of a leather motorcycle jacket...with the mock collar. Pitt's Fight Club jacket is more like a Thriller jacket than anything.