We’ve officially hit that nasty stretch of winter when only the hardiest of coats will do. Puffers and parkas. Beefy peacoats and hardy duffels. And, of course, the all-powerful topcoat—that swaddle-y, sophisticated staple that syncs up flawlessly with suits and tailoring while leveling up all manner of jeans and hoodies and beyond. We are devoted, full-throated fans of great topcoats here at GQ. The only problem? We don’t see enough actually great topcoats out in the world.
Mostly, the topcoats we do see suffer from a maddening, outfit-ruining deficiency: they’re cut way too short, with the hemline hitting the mid-thigh (or sometimes even higher). That’s a sure sign your coat is a relic of the skinny-suit era, and it’s a fatal flaw from just about every possible angle.
First of all, practically speaking, you’re leaving yourself far too exposed to the elements. The whole point of an overcoat is for it to fit comfortably over the rest of your clothes, providing a barrier of heavy cloth between you and the cold. The longer your coat, the warmer your lower extremities will be, and the less likely your trousers are to be splattered with snow, sleet, or slush. You want your topcoat, then, to extend below your knees—perhaps even to mid-shin. (This rule also very much applies to trench coats, FYI.) A mid-thigh length is a paltry, rinky-dink, half-assed thing, exposing most of your legs to the cold. Why bother?
Click here for a full rundown on proper topcoat length.
