Coat length – what’s important when it comes to coats (2024)

FAQs

What should be the length of a coat? ›

The coat length should be based on the size of the body. A good guide is the rule that the hem should preferably end a hand's breath above the knee. This length has a visually elongating effect. Especially shorter men should choose a short coat to achieve a good proportion ratio.

We break jacket length into three standard lengths: Waist Length, Hip Length, and Thigh Length.

In colder weather, people usually wear coats when going outside. Coats keep us warm because of the material of the coat. Our body supplies the heat, and the material helps to trap body heat and keeps the heat from escaping into the air. This is what keeps us warm.

Topcoats are available in two lengths: full length, which falls below the knee, and three-quarter length, which falls above the knee. Full-length coats look good on most men while three-quarter length may be best for taller men; three-quarter length coats can make shorter men look even shorter.

JACKET LENGTH

Longer coats and parkas provide extra protection for your legs and hips, while shorter-length coats give you more room to move. To check the length of your winter jacket, put it on and zip it up the front.

An overcoat is a type of long coat intended to be worn as the outermost garment, which usually extends below the knee. Overcoats are most commonly used in winter when warmth is more important. Overcoat (left) and topcoat (right) from The Gazette of Fashion, 1872.

To be precise: a very long coat is looking excellent all of a sudden. Look around you on the street and you will see people looking chic in near-floor-length coats. Knee-length had been the default coat length for donkey's years.

Having the jacket a little bigger than your normal size will also help to ensure that you can easily layer it over other items. For example, if you normally wear a size medium shirt or sweater, look for size large jackets.

A good coat should be three things: warm, stylish, and flattering. Different styles of coats come and go every winter, but just because they're trendy it doesn't mean it's right for you. Coats are one of those items where you really need to pay attention to the fit.

Typically double-breasted with peak lapels, waisted, extra long and formal, greatcoats create a striking silhouette while keeping you toasty. The coats have ample shoulder room and often finish below the knee, making them ideal to wear over suits and other winter layers.

Why are coats called coats? ›

The word coat stems from Old French and then Latin cottus. It originates from the Proto-Indo-European word for woolen clothes. An early use of coat in English is coat of mail (chainmail), a tunic-like garment of metal rings, usually knee- or mid-calf length.

Generally, a knee-length coat is a classic choice that is flattering for most body types and is suitable for formal occasions. If the wearer is taller, a mid-thigh or even full-length coat may be a better option. Alternatively, a cropped or waist-length coat can be a stylish choice for petite individuals.

If you do decide to go for it, make sure the hem hits mid-calf or a bit longer, and that the fit through the shoulder and body of the coat is slim. And stand up straight! (Your mom nagged you about that for a reason—it makes you look taller.)

Longer coats also tend to provide more warmth to their wearers that shorter coats. If you're searching for something to stand up to an especially cold climate, a longer coat is a much better option than a shorter one.

Generally speaking, I recommend an overcoat hitting a couple inches above the knee, like we see in the images above. This offers the most versatility, since it can feel more casual when worn with jeans or odd trousers. For shorter guys, however, I would consider letting it drop below the knee a couple inches.

If you're wearing a long dress, a shorter coat is a better option so you're not drowning in fabric. Choose one that hits you at the hip bones or above. If you're wearing a shorter dress, choose a coat that's longer. The length of the coat can be the same length as the dress, slightly longer, or slightly shorter.

For first-year residents, white coats are short, typically hip length. Once they've completed that first year, they wear a longer coat, reaching toward their knees. Patients might not pick up on the difference, but insiders do. And that tradition, too, is under fire.