Our Great British overcoats
Overcoats have long been a point of pride at New & Lingwood. We’ve been making outerwear for both formal and smart-casual use for as long as we’ve been cutting business suits, and our overcoat patterns have been refined gently over the years in response to feedback from you, our customers, while maintaining a classic British look.
Perhaps the most dramatic coat we’ve created this season is the Althorp greatcoat, which is our own subtle way of nodding to the current trend towards statement outerwear, albeit in a classic way. Cut from heavy Italian wool melton with a classic double-breasted silhouette, the Althorp is a civilian-appropriate version of a military greatcoat, finished with a stand-and-fall collar, inverted back pleat and deep turn-back cuffs. It’s striking, yet elegant, and easy to dress up or down. We wear ours over a tweed jacket and open collar button-down to the office, and shrug it on over a cashmere rollneck and moleskins on the weekends.
Then, we have the mainstay model of our collection: the polo coat. An elegant double-breasted overcoat with mid-century origins, the polo coat takes its name from its aristocratic bearing; in the 1930s and ‘40s generous flowing coats like these were the go to post-match throw on coats of polo players. Our own take on the polo coat is cut in a classic style with a full-drape in the chest, six buttons to fasten plus two ‘show buttons’, broad lapels and a half-belt across the back. This season we’ve cut the Walmoor coat in a sober navy wool herringbone, perfectly suited to business dress.
Next to this sits the Flete coat, which is a little more colourful, but no less sophisticated. The cloth for this design caught our eye last year, and we knew as soon as we saw it that it was destined for the collection. A fine wool and silk mix from the Italian mill E.Thomas, it’s woven as an oversized ‘gun check’, with burgundy, navy and camel checks mixed through to give it a rich, autumnal look. It’s neither too heavy, nor too light, and wonderfully smooth to the touch. Also cut on our polo coat block, this piece is there for confident dressers; wear with everything from an unstructured corduroy suit to a simple flannel shirt and jeans.
Sticking with the checked theme, the Petworth covert coat is an altogether different kind of statement, instead mixing an unconventional cloth with a classic cut. The covert coat is a smart-casual classic, a smart three-button single-breasted overcoat with a fly front, and we’ve perked it up a bit with bold petrol and ochre coloured tartan check. Of course, if you’re looking for a covert coat in traditional wool whipcord, we offer the classics too, in fawn or navy with tonal velvet top collars.
Thought should also go into the coats we turn to when it’s not just cold, but raining too. At this time of year, a coat that can do more than one thing is a wise investment, which is why we make the Runcorn raincoat in a short length (above the knee) and long length (below the knee) to suit all shapes and sizes. The design is completely reversible, with tan cotton gabardine on one side and soft green tweed on the other. Wear the tweed in the cold, and the shower-resistant cotton gabardine when it’s wet. Finished with side slip pockets and raglan sleeves, the Runcorn couldn’t be more timeless if it tried.
One final word on our coats. We really do build them to last. Like our tailoring, all our overcoats feature superior half-canvas construction, using a traditional canvas chest piece. Not only does this help our coats to wear well over time, it lends them a rich, form-fitting silhouette, the likes of which (we think), you’ll struggle to find elsewhere. Of course, the proof is in the pudding, so you’ll just have to try one for yourself…