A great overcoat is the finishing touch on a sharp suit or any polished outfit—but finding the right one takes a certain eye. The best men’s winter dress coats feature impeccable tailoring, warm, luxurious fabrics and functional yet stylish design elements. After much research, we named Brooks Brothers 1818 Storm System Wool Topcoat as the best men’s winter dress coat overall for its classic silhouette and versatility for work or everyday. Our pick for the best stylish men’s winter dress coat is Todd Snyder’s Italian Wool Double Breasted Officer Topcoat due to its quality finishes and statement-making details.
The best men’s overcoats are true power coats: They’re warm, functional and stylish.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS
You may see today’s dress coats go by a variety of names—terms such as topcoat, overcoat, mac, driving coat, balmacaan coat or peacoat are sometimes used interchangeably. Some have an updated grandad coat feel, while others read more titan of Wall Street. They can be buttoned up (literally) or relaxed, but they are always polished. Below, the best winter dress coats you’ll want to invest in this season.
Sizes: 38 to 48 | Colors: 2 total, including Black and Navy | Materials: 100% wool | Length: Mid-thigh
What’s notable: This coat comes in regular, short and long lengths to fit a variety of builds.
What could be better: The arms look like they may run short on some guys.
Brooks Brothers outerwear is understated, classic and sophisticated. This overcoat is made with Storm System fabric—woven by Loro Piana—which is a membrane that is breathable, wind-resistant and rain-repellant, and it doesn’t affect the hand feel of the fabric so it’s still soft. Translation: This coat is functional and practical in addition to looking good.
Sizes: XS to XXL | Colors: Camel | Materials: 100% Italian wool | Length: Knee-length
What’s notable: This overcoat features high quality finishes, including horn buttons, and an olive herringbone and Bemberg sleeve lining.
What could be better: The price point makes this dress coat an investment.
Todd Snyder menswear is guaranteed to be both high-quality and on-trend without being out of guy’s comfort zone, style-wise. This style has broad lapels and hand warming patch pockets, plus special details include a belted back and adjustable cuff tabs, making this a statement coat that still feels accessible. Reviewers love that it can elevate a casual outfit or complement a suit well.
Sizes: 38 to 48 | Colors: Black | Materials: 90% wool, 10% cashmere with a Primaloft insulated bib | Length: Mid-thigh
What’s notable: Few dress coats come with a hood option, and this one nicely complements the elevated feel of the jacket.
What could be better: If you prefer the look of flap pockets, you may not love the side pockets on this style.
Men’s overcoats offer a polished look, but you typically have to add a scarf and hat to keep out icy wind gusts. This coat—which marries classic and modern—has you covered with a removable nylon bib and hood that keeps your neck and head warm. Notched lapels and broad welt side pockets give it a dressy urban vibe, making it fitting for both work, weekends and events.
Sizes: S to XXL | Colors: 6 total, including Dark Camel and Heather Charcoal | Materials: 80% Italian wool, 20% nylon| Length: Mid-thigh
What’s notable: This quality coat comes in lots of colors at an amazing price.
What could be better: Some say that the fit is extra roomy so you may have to size down depending on what you plan to wear underneath.
An office-ready overcoat has to serve several purposes: It needs to look pulled together, be practical and durable for week-long wear, and it has to be warm and breathable while commuting. This non-basic basic checks all the boxes: It has a single-breasted button front closure and back vent, it’s mid-weight with a soft hand feel, and it has a chest pocket and two patch flap hand pockets.
Saks
Cole Haan Regular Fit Stretch Wool Coat
Sizes: S to XXL | Colors: 4 total, including Charcoal and Light Grey | Materials: 63% polyester, 30% wool, 4% acrylic, 2% cotton, 1% nylon | Length: Mid-thigh
What’s notable: The flex in this coat means it can skim the body without being uncomfortably restrictive.
What could be better: Many reviewers say that this style runs large so it’s worth considering a smaller size.
Cole Haan clothing and footwear is synonymous with comfort, practicality and style. Rather than being a stuffy, confining construction, this coat is cut from two-way stretch wool so that you can be comfortable when driving or rushing to catch a train. Classic details include notched lapels, four-button cuffs and a back vent, and the mid-thing length offers coverage without being cumbersome.
Sizes: XS (34) to 4XL (50) | Colors: 2 total, including Black and Sand | Materials: 93% wool, 7% cashmere | Length: Knee length
What’s notable: This coat comes in extended sizing for a variety of body types.
What could be better: It’s a small gripe, but we wish this coat also came in navy and camel.
Reminiscent of an officer coat, this overcoat is double breasted with a martingale belt and dropped shoulder, giving it a nonchalant, effortlessly stylish vibe. The heavy weight wool cashmere fabric is luxurious with a soft texture and elegant feel, and the longer length also makes it ideal for wearing over everything from suits and blazers to fuzzy sweaters.
Theory
Theory Double-Breasted Coat in Double Face Wool-Cashmere
Sizes: XS to XXL | Colors: 2 total, including New Camel and Dark Charcoal Melange | Materials: 90% wool, 10% cashmere | Length: Mid-thigh
What’s notable: This is a weighty jacket that’ll keep you warm—plus, it’s breathable and thermoregulating.
What could be better: This jacket doesn’t have a liner due to its double face construction, so if that’s important to you, you may want to reconsider.
While this is vaguely similar to a peacoat with its slip pockets, this topcoat is decidedly more formal. It functions as a just-roomy-enough overcoat that’s a twist on the traditional, with its double-breasted style and versatile, mid-thigh length. This coat is also constructed with double faced fabric, which means two layers are joined together and the most luxurious sides of the fabric face outward—so you get a warm coat with a soft, expensive feel.
Sizes: XS to XXL | Colors: 2 total, including Black and Navy | Materials: 80% wool, 20% polyamide | Length: Below the waist
What’s notable: The sturdy construction means that this is a coat that will last for years.
What could be better: This fabric blend can easily attract lint.
This is the type of jacket that you can wear everywhere from work to weekends, and it looks great with everything from denim to five-pocket pants. The abbreviated length, point collar, chunky anchor motif buttons and welt pockets with flaps all give this topcoat a masculine, vintage appeal.
Mackage
Mackage Virgin Wool Coat with Removable Down Bib
Sizes: 36 to 48 | Colors: 4 total, including Black and Carbon Mix | Materials: 100% virgin wool with a recycled nylon bib | Length: Mid-thigh
What’s notable: The stand collar bib can act in place of a scarf to keep your neck and chest warm.
What could be better: If you’re looking for something more formal, you may want a longer length.
Canadian luxury outerwear brand Mackage is an expert at creating cold-weather styles that perform well in inclement weather. This classic style is cut from thermoregulating wool, and impeccable constructed design details include a quilted and down-insulated removable bib and liner, front flap pockets to store winter essentials, a chest pocket, four-button cuffs and a back vent.
Bergdorf Goodman
Herno Cashmere Topcoat With Removable Puffer Jacket
What’s notable: Cashmere is warmer and lighter than wool, and this fabric has a luxe feel.
What could be better: The only real downside is that this coat is a significant financial investment.
Quilting is a Herno signature—this practical bib detail is a casual complement to the buttoned-up style. The coat’s streamlined silhouette is distinguished without being stuffy. Practical details include a three-button closure, a chest pocket and flap front pockets, plus subtle stitching details that elevate the look.
Sizes: XS to XXL, regular and tall lengths | Colors: Black multi | Materials: 60% recycled wool, 22% recycled nylon, 18% cotton | Length: Knee length
What’s notable: This coat comes at a much more affordable price than many of its counterparts.
What could be better: It has a slouchy, voluminous fit, so depending on the look you’re going for you may want to consider sizing down.
The balmacaan coat derives its name from a Scottish estate, and it was originally designed for cold, wet weather. The subtle visual interest of this herringbone makes it less conservative and stuffy, more sartorial standout. Because it’s roomy, this style allows for lots of layering. It also has a point collar with a hidden button front, raglan sleeves for easy movement and it has oversized flap pockets that are both a unique style detail and practical for warming hands or storing your phone.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Men’s fashion is a particular area of focus for the Forbes Vetted team. We extensively research, report and test men’s clothing, accessories and footwear, and we have covered topics including the best sweaters for men, the best blazers for men and the best hoodies for men.
How We Chose The Best Men’s Winter Dress Coats
Our fashion team began by investigating top menswear brands that historically are known for high quality, stylish outerwear. We also looked at established brands who have more recently expanded into men’s coats.
We consulted colleagues, friends and spouses to determine their favorite brands, fabrics and styles.
We extensively pored through product reviews and recommendations, including coats that received top marks.
When evaluating coats for consideration, we ultimately considered fabric quality, warmth, fit, color and size options and overall style.
What to Consider When Choosing A Men’s Winter Dress Coat
Fabric
Men’s overcoats are typically made of wool or cashmere, or a combination of the two. Both fabrics are thermoregulating, although cashmere is warmer and lighter. When determining which coat is best for you, pay attention to the weight and thickness of the fabric, as well as whether there is a lining that could impact the warmth. Wool coats will tend to be more durable than cashmere over time. Both wool and cashmere coats should be dry cleaned when necessary, but be sure to always read the care label before cleaning your coat.
Fit And Length
When thinking about the best overcoat fit, consider what you’ll be wearing underneath. If you typically wear suits or a sport coat and need an overcoat to accommodate that, make sure you’re looking at coats that are not too close fitting so you’ll have room to move. While most overcoats and topcoats tend to have a silhouette that’s slightly more forgiving or boxier, it’s unlikely that you’ll want to size down in an overcoat.
Overcoats come in a variety of lengths, so that’s a key consideration. Peacoats—like the J.Crew’s Dock Peacoat—tend to be the shortest dress coat, hitting at the bottom of the hips. Car or driving coats tend to be slightly longer, reaching to mid-thigh. Overcoats and topcoats may extend anywhere from mid-thigh (like Theory’s Double-Breasted Coat in Double Face Wool-Cashmere) to the knee (like the Suit Supply Overcoat). Understandably, the longer the coat the warmer it will typically be. Remember that you’ll also want to be sure the coat is long enough to extend past the length of any suit jacket or blazer you’ll be wearing underneath.
Cost
Men’s dress coats and overcoats are an investment, period. They run anywhere from about $200 to $8000. Bear in mind, you can get a very nice coat for a few hundred dollars, but cashmere is always going to be significantly more expensive than wool.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I Need To Size Up In Men’s Overcoat?
No, not usually. Most men’s dress coats are generally cut to allow room for suit jackets and things like sweaters underneath. When assessing if a coat is a good fit, try it on with what you’re planning to wear underneath most often. If the garments bunch up, your movement is restricted, or the coat doesn’t full extend past your clothes, you’ll likely need a different size.
How Long Should A Men’s Overcoat Be?
This depends on personal preference and what you’ll be wearing underneath. Your overcoat coat should extend past the bottom of any sweater, suit coat or blazer. While there are many long—meaning, approximately knee length—men’s dress coats, the most versatile length is one that hits mid-thigh. This length is long enough to extend below a suit jacket, it offers warmth around the upper body and below the waist, and it’s less bulky than longer, heavier styles.
Which Men’s Overcoat Is Warmest?
Our pick for the warmest men’s winter dress coat is Cardinal Of Canada’s Trenton Topcoat for its Primaloft-insulated bib and hood. When looking for a topcoat that stands out for warmth, in general the longer the coat is, the warmer it is because it keeps frigid wind gusts from creeping in around the waist. Many men’s topcoats have removable bibs—in down or synthetic insulation—which help offer an additional layer of warmth around the chest and neck, which can be helpful when commuting or waiting for a cab ride. A shorter peacoat style is great for keeping your upper body warm while commuting or being out and about on weekends, but it won’t be as warm as a mid-thigh or long overcoat style.
