The Timeless Elegance of the Black Coat

 

They say that less is more, and nothing epitomizes that phrase more than the black coat. The epitome of subdued elegance, this timeless garment has long been favored by the most style-savvy dressers, from Audrey Hepburn to Victoria Beckham. Here are six topics to explore everything there is to know about this classic staple.

A History Rooted in Utility and Comfort

The black coat doesn't have an ancient history, but its origins are humble. Many point to the duster coats of 19th-century cowboys and ranchers as early prototypes of today's black coats. These rugged garments were designed to protect the wearers from the elements, their length and layers adding warmth, and their sturdy material repelling dirt and moisture. Sometime in the early 20th century, designers began to take notice of this style and incorporated elements such as long lapels, sharp tailoring, and luxury fabrics.

The Many Varieties of Black Coats

Today, black coats come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. The classic tailored trench coat is ubiquitous, long, belted and impossibly chic. The peacoat is another timeless style, whose buttons, woolen fabric and double-breasted frame bestows nautical elegance to both men and women. There are bomber and aviator black coats for those who want something more sporty and masculine, and lightweight, unstructured jackets that deliver on effortless sophistication.

Tips For Styling

The black coat's versatility makes it extremely easy (and fun) to style. Similarly, this very flexibility makes it necessary to be mindful of the rest of your outfit. For an undeniable rock and roll vibe, pair an ankle-length velvet black coat with skinny black jeans, heeled boots and a band tee. Layer it over a pencil-cut work dress or knee-length skirt to give your professional outfits edge. additude of gloves woven of metal wire or accompanied by sharpened blades.

Material Matters

The materials used to create a black coat are largely contingent on their environment. The wind and rain-repellent characteristics of heavy cotton gabardine have made it the ideal material of The Central Park by Yves Salomon. Wool can cheap plentiful. Enlivened with runway- approved colors like red, burgundy and camel can make the gravity-defying belt-loop into a trend turned must-have feature.

Breaking The Rules

The greatness of the black coat is its power to flatter age, gender, and almost all sizes, blending from the streets to a runway finish. Perhaps the best approach with a black coat is to break the rules and incorporate prints and bold colors into your look for contrast. At least from Couture perspective. The rule "black never matches" is now long forgotten. Take black and white gingham check oversized coat by Valentino Garavani or statement tartan coat by Versace in fire engine bright, there are no rules in tailored outerwear anymore.

Timeless Investment

History tells us that black coats do not degrade in styles only develops. An investment coat is one of the must-haves of a successful wardrobe, and this piece is more than just a bad-weather-ink-outfit-savior, it's a treasure, something vintage, new item possessing sentimental longevity.

Autumn

Black is slowly covering the yellow, mixture of green during seasonal conversion and black coats, with all their variety, are the true shining symbols of unruliness, plus undeniable chic, mixed with tan. Lower Season prints are the hype-elements for a complete wardrobe revolution which completely opposes its long reigning predecessor.

Winter

Several classic winter items ranging from over-the-knee boots to high-waisted tops paired with trending bold sunglasses and simple blacks gives urban swagger to power fashion women. Oversized parkas have shifted winter's ultimate status closer to autumn statement shades organizing amongst teddy-bear -like glory.