by Peggy Tee

Created on: November 16, 2009

The key piece for any man's wardrobe for winter is the coat. Outerwear like coats and jackets can make or break an outfit, whether worn over a formal suit for work, over casual jeans and a polo shirt on the weekend or as a purely utilitarian garment to weather the winter cold. The main purpose of any coat is to keep the wearer dry, warm and comfortable. This functionality has been reinterpreted for winter 2010 into a few main styles.

Dapper gentleman

Equally at home in both cities and in the country, the gentleman's coat is all about gallantry. Double breasted coats in in soft, tailored wools dominated the catwalks at Calvin Klein, epitomising the clean cut look of the city gentleman. Tailored, high collared coats are the staple of the country gent, in colors and textures reminiscent of the outdoors. Think tweeds and herringbone patterns in rich, dark colours such as midnight black, dove grey or ocean blues with accents of olive green and mustard yellow, all colors from the Ralph Lauren palette this season. Urbane and perfectly suited to dinner parties and hunting forays alike, the gentleman's coat is a perennial classic trend for winter coats.

Military

Hard wearing, distressed and washed fabrics such as denim, linen or canvas are strictly utilitarian coats. Perfect for weekends away or a casual date, the coat of choice this winter for the hard core man is sports or military style. G Star Raw parkas have accents of ski jackets in the various pockets, zips and tie throughs. Alexander McQueen and Burberry are two examples of designers who have reinterpreted the military coat for street wear, drawing inspiration from 19th century French Naval officer coats with metalic epaulets on shoulders and frogging.

The dandy

Winter 2010 coat fashions throwback to 19th century touches such as the velvet cape and coats shown by Salvatore Ferragamo, lined in dark satin. A touch of the romantic gothic, influenced by the current love affair of fashion with playing dress up, the coat has gained feathers, metallic accents and carefully arranged buttonhole decorations such as silk flowers and monogrammed handkerchiefs. Worn with aplomb and a pared down outfit, these coats are showpieces, not just cover ups.

Biker boy

Leather jackets are a perennial staple for winter. This year, biker leather jackets come in patent, high shine looks, studded with metal for the ultimate bad boy image. This look goes well with the punk rock styles, or can be toned down for a weekend jaunt. On the other end of the spectrum, exquisitely cut, grown up leather coats dominated the gothic revival on Parisien catwalks. Worn with jeans and a crisp white shirt, these leather coats exude understated luxury.

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