I often get asked about the most essential winter pieces. I've already posted an article on winter wardrobe essentials and even followed it up with another on how to elevate your winter wardrobe. Today, I'll focus on the most essential coats for casual dressing. Let me start by saying that it's important to choose the right style and fit of the coat so it will work well with casual outfits. If you choose a coat that is too fitted and formal, it won’t pair well with casual clothes and might look out of place. A perfect casual coat should have a roomy fit, have enough space to drape naturally and move comfortably, so you will look cosy and relaxed while wearing it. That’s the first step. The next step is the fabric - pattern and color. This part is more specific, as it really depends on the color palette of your wardrobe. That’s why I decided to write this article about what I think are the 3 most essential overcoats when it comes to casual dressing.

Navy 

A navy overcoat is probably the most casual of all. It pairs perfectly with washed or indigo jeans, as well as white, grey, olive and even khaki or beige pants - basically with all the most common colors in a casual wardrobe. Navy also works well with bright colors - everything from baby blue and green to yellow, orange, or red. It’s almost impossible to pair it the wrong way.

I would suggest herringbone pattern even on a navy coat - it makes it so much more interesting and vibrant. It’s a perfect way to add some character and in my opinion it works much better with casual outfits. I have nothing against plain wool overcoats, they definitely have their place and work great with tailoring, but for casual outfits they can feel a bit plain and boring.

My favorite picks are from Berg & Berg, Document and Private White V.C. x Permanent Style

Grey

When we talk about a 'grey overcoat', it usually means grey herringbone wool. In this case I prefer light grey over darker shades - darker greys can often look charcoal or almost black from a distance. It should be a very light grey so there's a clear contrast with the black wool in the herringbone pattern, making it look like a light grey coat from a distance. If you prefer, you can get a plain grey wool version, but in my opinion, grey wool without any pattern can look too plain as well. That's why I prefer herringbone pattern. A grey coat works well with most colors, but it may not pair as well if you have a wardrobe with too many grey pieces. A grey coat with grey clothes can look great in tailoring and more sartorial looks, but in my opinion too many shades of grey don’t mix as well in casual outfits. But a grey coat should pair effortlessly with almost any other color.

My favorite picks are from Valstar and Berg & Berg.

Alternatives: 

Beige herringbone

If your wardrobe is full of warm and neutral tones, a beige herringbone coat might be a better option. Grey often has cool undertones and might not match well with your clothes.

My two favorite picks are from Document and New and Lingwood.

Prince of Wales check

If you're not a big fan of the herringbone pattern or you want something that will stand out more and grab more attention, the Prince of Wales check overcoat is a great alternative. If you get it in grey fabric, it will give off a very similar look to grey herringbone.

My two favorite picks are from Drake’s and Trunk Clothiers.

Beige

A beige coat is great for many of the same reasons as a navy one. It will work with basically all colors in a casual wardrobe. The only time you have to be more careful is if you want to pair it with different shades of beige. In that case, make sure there is enough contrast between the two. If one is very light, the other should be much darker. If they are too close in color, I suggest avoiding this combination. It should work fine with all other colors.

My two favorite pick is from Valstar.

You probably don’t need 3 coats at all, or maybe you prefer to wear a parka all winter – I totally understand that. Style is very subjective and it all depends on the color palette of your wardrobe, as well as your personal style and the type of clothes you prefer to wear. But I believe these 3 coat styles together form the perfect essential collection to cover all your needs for casual dressing.

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