Overcoats

Overcoats have been worn in many branches of society including the military and mostly the wealthy. Overcoats generally fell below the knees and must not be mistaken for topcoats which were lighter in fabric and that fell around the knees. Overcoats were worn during the winter and were often lined with a fur collar and also came in double breasted form to make the wearer extra snug. You have seen in various period films of men wearing overcoats and topcoats and now you know the difference. Overcoats were mostly for upper classes and the military, but the poor also wore overcoats of a much cheaper fabric. Overcoats were mostly made of plain material such as simple wool or leather and higher quality fabrics if a person happened to work for a wealthy employer who gave them old coats for the winter. For the poor, it was oversized clothing since larger sizes gave way to longevity especially for growing children. For the aristocratic man, a fur lined coat symbolized wealth and status in both Victorian and Edwardian society.

Fur lined overcoats became especially popular among the wealthy since any garment trimmed with fur was a sign of wealth and status. A fur lined overcoat with a bowler, top hat or fedora with a walking cane was one of the many accessories that came to define the Victorian man. Overcoats for women were not as in vogue since they mostly wore jackets and ordinary coats in the late Victorian and Edwardian era.