The Best Men’s Coats to Invest In This Winter

In all areas of design, there are classics that combine form and function so perfectly the world has never grown tired of them. Menswear, too, has its bastions – including the trench. Patented in 1912 by Thomas Burberry, the archetype still holds sway. This season, however, the pool expands through stand-out examples from Dries Van Noten, Homme Plissé Issey Miyake and more. Throw one over the simplest outfit, and you’re looking distinguished, assured and enviably put-together.

Leather is always a smart winter choice – warm and hard-wearing while imbuing its wearer with the rugged charm of Steve McQueen. Good leathers, like grained nappa, have an appealing tactile quality and will develop a beautiful patina over time. Returning to Harrods this season, Lemaire offers some of our favourite styles, while Dunhill unveils immaculately crafted pieces inspired by its archive of over a century. Elsewhere, on the subject of heritage, Yves Salomon and Loewe have the hold on all things leather. When it comes to styling, keep things simple. Opt for lightweight knits or rollnecks; if you’re wearing shearling, a T-shirt will likely be warm enough.

For the past few seasons in menswear, the presiding shape has been loose and oversized. By contrast, for Autumn/Winter 2024, collections were dominated by long, lean tailoring – giving rise to impeccable overcoats. The best of these appeared at Gucci, Jil Sander, and Fear of God, precisely cut and undeniably elevated. While Amiri offers versions with head-turning prints, you equally can’t go wrong with a classic option. Wear them with minimalist staples grounded with a chunky boot. If you’re not the tallest, look to something single-breasted and avoid an overly wide lapel.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a piece of menswear that doesn’t derive from work gear – and while the latest generation of utility jackets are rooted in practicality, they also boast expert craft and brilliant design. There are Barbour’s wax jackets, first designed in 1894 to keep sailors and fishermen dry at sea, and still manufactured in its factory in Simonside, England. There are the latest Racemaster and Trailmaster jackets from Belstaff, another British heritage brand – celebrating its centenary this year – based on its signature car coats for racing drivers from the 1920s. And no list is complete without Stone Island. The brand’s commitment to innovation, evident in its high-tech fabrics and dyeing techniques, has earned it a loyal and devoted following.

Originally the preserve of outdoor specialists, puffer jackets first became fashionable in the 1990s thanks to technical brands like Moncler and Canada Goose. Now, the names go on... Rick Owens is master of the avant-garde, while Juun.J offers style-forward options that are also reversible. But menswear’s shift to the formal and tailored is also in evidence. Corneliani, an Italian tailor, offers padded jackets cut like a blazer, as does Herno – many of which are exclusive to Harrods – which look set to rival the ubiquitous office gilet.