Sunday 3 June 2012

DAY3: OUTWEAR - THE OVERCOAT

THE OVERCOAT
A coat created by a Scottish family business that dates back to 1772 may be an unlikely
style totem for Teddy boys, mods and skinheads. But in its various guises the Crombie,
as it was affectionately called, became as much part of their considered and particular 
uniforms as certain polo shirts or shoes.

Overcoat  usually extend below the knee (made from heavier cloth or fur, because overcoats 
are more commonly used in winter when warmth is more important)
Topcoat  short coats that end at or above the knees ( topcoats are usually made from lighter 
weight cloth such as gabardine or covert)

 Topcoats and overcoats together are known as outercoats.

(Then you also have the greatcoat, redingote, frock overcoat, ulster coat, inverness coat
paletot coat,paddock coat, chesterfield coat..but there is no time to go into details of each one..
for more easy info click here)

Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí arriving in London in 1955, wearing a double-breasted Chesterfield-style and
waxed moustache (we love the moustache!)

CLICK CLICK CLICK TO READ MORE AND +10 PICTURES!!!


The coat as we know it today was 'created' by John Crombie in 1805, who had the original 
idea of selling quality cloths not only to merchants but direct to tailors.

The Crombie's reputation for fending off the big freeze also won it military contracts - a 
sure stamp of approval. Coats were supplied to the French and British during the WWI.

By the 1930 however, heated interiors and travel by car meant very heavy fabrics were no
 longer needed, and lighter-weight versions of the Crombie were developed.The coat became
 an undisputed part of the male wardrobe, to some extent because it was favoured by the liked 
of Edward, Prince of Wales, as well as Winston Churchill,Frank Sinatra and the US
 presidents Dwight D. Eisenhover and John F. Kennedy.The fact that it was considered the 
stuff for officers, gentry and power brokers only reinforced the perception that a Crombie was 
a coat for the upper class.

This was a perception that style movements from the 1950s onwards subvertedby making 
the coat their own - the Crombie has been the coat of statesmanu and gangsters alike!

Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra arrives at London airport in 1956, prepared for the cold


Gary Cooper with a dapper, peak-lapel overcoat and the up-and-coming Mexican
 actress Lupe Velez in 1929, fuelling rumours that the couple were engaged.

ohn F. Kennedy and US President General Dwight D.Eisenhower 
The US President-elect John F. Kennedy and US President General Dwight D.
Eisenhower leave the White House in Washington for Capitol Hill for Kennedy's
inauguration ceremony in 1961

I guess you are kinda tired now..I'll leave you with some present day street stye
overcots:













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