Covert coat

A covert coat was originally "a short topcoat worn for hunting",[1] but is now sold as a gentleman's overcoat. It originated in the late 19th century to be worn when riding a horse.[2]

Design

Covert cloth, from which the coat is made, is a heavy tweed named after a covered area rich in game wildlife that would serve as a starting point on a hunt.[2] A covert coat is always single-breasted with notch lapels, a centre vent, flap pockets and a signature four (sometimes five) lines of stitching at the cuffs and hem; a ticket pocket is optional.[3] The traditional colour varies from a light greenish-tan brown, to a fawnish mix to a rather deep tannish-green, but variants in grey and navy are also common.[2]

Notable wearers

The covert coat caused media attention during the 2015 General Election in UK when worn by UKIP party leader, Nigel Farage. Variants were also worn by Arthur Daley in the TV series Minder and by film star, Russell Crowe.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "covert coat". thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Schneider, Sven Raphael (January 24, 2012). "The Covert Coat". gentlemansgazette.com. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  3. ↑ "A Man’s Guide to Overcoats". artofmanliness.com. December 11, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  4. ↑ The story of Nigel Farage's coat at www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 09 Apr 2015