Some clarification sought re: Car Coat definition and a question re: Collar

[laurenm]

Good Sunday to you all!
I get confused with the term "Car Coat" and am wondering what your thoughts are on that.
My 'general sense def'n' is:
Roomy
Square-ish
Informal
Large hip pockets
3/4 length
I want to call this one a car coat and am wondering if that works?

Also, this collar....I can't remember the term (if I ever did know it!)....sailor?? Tailored? Puritan? I had a really nice red leather trench that had a similar collar and it really made the coat.

Thanks for any help
Lauren

 

[Vinclothes]

The Vogue Sewing Book calls this a wing collar. It is a bit wider than some. I would call this a 3/4 coat that could be worn casually or dressed up. To me, and I can be corrected, a car coat is a slightly shorter casual coat that does not get caught under you as you sit down to drive. I have seen "car coats" called stadium coats. Same idea for them being easier to handle while seated. This could be a regional term. I hope others join in.
Marian

 

[furwise]

Technically because of the points this could be called wing collar but I because of the width I'd call it a shawl collar.

The definition of car coats have changed a bit over time. Earlier on when cars and carriages were open on top car coats were called that because they provided overall warmth and were longer then they are today.
Car coats have become shorter as time has gone on are now fall somewhere along the thigh and they are still called that because the length makes it easier to get in and out of the car and they usually do look boxy. Not sure about the rest of what you said. May have been at sometime but it's really primarily the shape and length now.

There is also a stroller coat which is similar. A stroller coat is around the same length, can vary a little but it's longer than a jacket. The stroller coat has more flexibility and does not have to maintain a boxy shape. A stroller length coat can be a swing coat or one that does have as wide of a sweep but both coats are quite similar. This stroller name comes from it being easier to take strolls in as opposed to longer coats.

How long is your coat? It's very difficult to tell on your model because if it's big on her it will fall on the shoulders and make it look longer and of course if she is shorter than average it will look longer as well.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

My impression of a car coat is pretty much what your coat looks like. Back in the 60s when I was little, the term "car coat" was very popular. It seemed that it was a mom and dad kind of coat. My mom bought a Sears car coat that was even tagged as such and it was wool and looked like your coat in shape and cut as well. The length of yours looks right for a car coat. Your collar is a bit more dramatic than a car coat, and adds a nice touch.

I recall car coats being knee length or close to that, but never much longer. Not 3/4 length. They were usually made of a plain wool, vinyl or leather. I do not think of car coats being made of a more formal fabric, such as faux fur, as yours is. So while it fits the bill for many of the defining points for a car coat, it seems a bit more dressy than most.

What surprised me was that anyone even uses the term "car coat" anymore! Apparently it is still being used or has made a come back due to vintage. Maybe I am getting old......

I personally would not call that a shawl collar, as a shawl collar is longer and comes down over the chest, usually but not always crossing over itself at the very base.

 

[furwise]

I don't know why I did not think of this before but in the fur garment world when collars have characteristics of more than one collar style we describe the combination of collars as they appear. For example; this fur coat that I am actually offering right now has a notch style shawl collar. Thinking along the same terms I would call your collar a wing style shawl collar.

 

[laurenm]

Thanks everyone for your guidance. I don't know why I said 3/4 ....i meant mid calf.

@Furwise the coat is 34 inches long.

Also, I meant to ask....the pockets are not 'patched' onto the front, they have the turned over 'hemmed' top of a patch pocket but the pocket is made from a 'pocket' of fabric like a little pouch that is sewn inside....God that could have been said more simply....can't remember what that style is called.

 

[furwise]

Ok, thank you. That's definitely the right length to be a car coat. I asked how long the coat was because it looked a little long your model. She must be somewhere around 5'5" or so unless the coat is big in the shoulder area which would make the coat appear longer on her too.

I am not sure if you saying the little pockets are behind the pocket flaps or under the pocket flaps but either way I don't know what name might be technically correct for that. Maybe someone else knows.
If not, maybe little coin pockets behind or underneath the pocket flaps might be good.

 

[laurenm]

Thanks Caryn. My model is actually 5'9" but I think it is the wide shoulders and the drape and her posture!

 

[furwise]

She is tall! When a coat is too big across the shoulders it definitely appears longer because the wearer's shoulder span is not wide enough hold the coat up so it rests at a lower portion of the leg.