What’s the Difference Between A Coat and Jacket?
Is it a coat or is it a jacket? For many, these words are interchangeable but technically that’s just not correct. There are a few key differences that we’ll help you sort out.
Of course, the Fashion Police isn’t going to come after you if you mix up these words. It’s just another way of becoming a more conscious consumer. Just like learning how to best choose a fabric that has excellent durability so your clothes don’t quickly end up in a landfill, or how to become a pro second-hand shopper so that your clothes don’t have such a big carbon footprint. (Hint: the answer is shopping through Vestiaire Collective’s easy app!) We aim to educate our Fashion Activists so that they not only look good and feel good, but do good for the planet also.
So whether you’re in the market for men’s parkas or a stunning going-out piece, let us clear up the confusion between coats and jackets.
What is a Coat?
The key difference between a coat and a jacket comes down to length. A coat is hip-length or longer. Coats are also heavier than jackets, so they are more for winter wear than any other season. Some of the warmest coat options include fur, down, wool and leather. With the size and material needs of coats, this is a wardrobe item that requires a lot of raw resources to make. Fortunately, buying a coat second-hand from Vestiaire Collective allows you to bundle up in warmth while minimising your carbon footprint.
A high-quality coat in a classic style is an investment piece that you can wear year after year. For example, the excellent craftsmanship in the double-breasted cashmere Dior peacoat means you won’t need to bin it after a season, or even after a decade. It is built to last. The Burberry trench coat is a signature look made of durable cotton gabardine that can transition into other seasons, as well.
Coats are fun pieces to select as your statement item. Labels like Dries Van Noten and Miu Miu feature bright colours, bold prints and oversized silhouettes to make you stand out even if the winter sky is grey. You can find styles on the Vestiaire app from these amazing brands and others such as Moncler, Stone Island and Loewe.
The coat protects you from the worst the weather throws at you. We can protect our planet by choosing a coat with care, and by purchasing it preloved through Vestiaire.
What is a Jacket?
There is no rigid standard but jackets are generally considered to stop at the hip, and are lighter-weight than the bulkier coat. As a result, jackets are trans-seasonal clothing items and somewhat more versatile than a heavy coat.
That’s not to say jackets aren’t warm, though. You can find jackets that are ready for any weather like the Grade VIII down parka by Patagonia. You may know Patagonia as a sustainable line and we totally support their efforts to incorporate recycled materials. But even sustainable production as it exists now requires the consumption of precious resources. While we applaud sustainable companies, we still know that the best way to ensure your closet doesn’t harm the planet is by shopping for pre-loved items on Vestiaire Collective.
People generally have more jacket styles in their wardrobes than coats. With so many different styles to choose from, it’s easy to understand why. A jacket can be anything from a cotton zipped hoodie by Supreme to the Kent jacket by Canada Goose to a classic leather bomber. Just like coats, jackets can be turned into a statement item, sometimes quite literally if you bedazzle your leather or denim jacket with personal flair.
As one of the most versatile closet items, jackets can be dressed up or down. Just check out the iconic tweed jacket — a favourite among our global community of Fashion Activists. This timeless style is just as appropriate for daytime or nighttime wear, at the office or at dinner, and you can find a large selection of them on the Vestiaire app.
What to look for when choosing a Coat?
Coats are meant to be worn in the coldest months of the year. But not everyone has the same reaction to the cold. Think about what you want out of your coat and that will help determine which style is best for you.
The coat’s most important function is to protect you from the winter chill. But if you live in a warmer climate, a shearling-trimmed down coat by Prada might be too much. If you are lucky enough to enjoy the sun year-round, a lightweight reversible puffer might be a better choice for you.
Besides the style of the coat, which will depend on your unique lifestyle and personal preferences, what else do you need to look for? We always recommend looking for coats that are durable. This can be determined based on the fabric: Is it made of high-quality materials? And also on craftsmanship: Does the brand have a reputation for excellence? You can use the search filters on Vestiaire to help you find your ideal coat based on the fabric or designer that you desire.
In terms of sustainable shopping, coats are great pieces to buy pre-loved. Second-hand fashion comes at a lower price tag than shopping new, so your budget can go further when you want to invest in a high-quality coat. Higher-quality means it will last longer and not end up as waste. Participating in circular fashion by buying a winter coat on Vestiaire Collective means you’re being kind to your wallet and the planet at the same time.
What to look for when choosing a Jacket?
While you can think of the coat as the protective big brother, the jacket is the stylish little sister. Of course jackets also have functionality and will give some amount of protection in cold and rain. Think: the waterproof Dryzzle Futurelight jacket by The North Face.
It’s a great idea to have a variety of jackets in your arsenal because they can easily dress up or down an outfit, and be a statement all on its own. Depending on the season, you can wear the jacket as a stand-alone piece or layer it under a bigger coat for those really frosty days.
The jacket is a super versatile piece and has a lot of different functions, including vintage jacket styles. The best way to buy your jacket is pre-loved through Vestiaire. Many pieces get better with age, such as denim and leather jackets. Our pre-owned jacket selection allows you to grab iconic pieces from collections past, whether it’s from your favourite designer or a fashion collaboration that you didn’t know about when it launched. So why not be a smart Fashion Activist and select an awesome jacket in the most sustainable way. Buying pre-loved through Vestiaire gives you access to tons of the hottest looks in modern and vintage jackets while helping you reduce your carbon footprint.
So which is better: a Coat or a Jacket?
Though the terminology gets used interchangeably, there are some unique differences between a coat and jacket and ideally you’d have both, even several styles of each. Outerwear serves an important purpose in protecting you from wind, cold and rain so you don’t want to get caught without a high-quality pick. It’s also really important to choose a style that is adapted to the weather conditions where you live. As the Germans say, there is no wrong weather, only wrong clothing. So having both a coat and a jacket ensures that you are ready for any weather eventuality, all times of year.
The fashion industry is one of the most toxic polluters, so it can be hard to justify buying multiple articles of clothing that seem similarly purposed. But now you know that having just one coat or jacket just won’t cut it if you want to be prepared for winter. So what do we do when we need a new winter wardrobe but also care deeply about the environment? You shop second-hand at Vestiaire Collective. The best thing we can do as Fashion Activists to participate in a circular fashion economy is stop buying new and instead buy pre-loved. Buying pre-owned fashion eliminates the raw resources and excessive water consumption that are required to produce a new garment, so besides being a good deal for you, it’s a way better alternative for the planet.
Vestiaire has you covered with all your winter wear needs from vintage coats to bomber jackets, parkas to pea coats.
If your winter wardrobe is feeling a bit drab, it is probably lacking in some variation. Luckily, jackets and coats are some of the most versatile articles of clothing around. Buying a pre-loved coat or jacket is sure to infuse some heat into your closet, without heating up the planet.
Both coats and jackets can help express your personality and individual style. Having more than one of each lets you play around with different looks so you will always be appropriately dressed for any season or occasion. A cool leather biker jacket, a sleek maxi-length fur coat and a technical Gore-Tex® puffer may seem like they should be in totally different categories but it’s for exactly that reason that a complete wardrobe will have all of them.
The designers you love create a variety of coats and jackets every season. You can shop them pre-loved on Vestiaire Collective and make a sustainable purchase that will let you face the winter in comfort and style. It’s fashion with a purpose: that of closing the loop on waste and putting a stop to harmful extractive practices performed by the fashion industry. And that is what makes you a Fashion Activist.