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10 Best Camel Coats That Prove the Classics Never Go Out of Style
We have a whole caravan of the very best ones.
A gigolo—an American gigolo to be exact—wore the best camel coat in cinema. He was played by Richard Gere and outfitted by none other than Giorgio Armani. It was the late ’70s, and every man, regardless of their profession, was suiting up. Some did it with flares and bright colors to stand out at Studio 54. Others opted for plaid patterns to (surprisingly) fit in with their colleagues in a shared cubicle. But those with a corner office—those who traveled first class on TWA, dined at Delmonico’s, and read the Wall Street Journal every morning—preferred a sharp gray or navy two-piece suit made bespoke by an Italian tailor. And their coat, of course, was camel.
This was the MO of Gere’s character, Julian Kay, a man who played the part of a business executive for rich married women who felt neglected by the real deal at home. His wardrobe had to match this persona, and no other coat telegraphs that more clearly than one made out of camel hair. Now, several decades later, the topper’s reputation hasn't changed. Enter any steak house in the Financial District, and you’ll see a whole caravan of them. Patrick Bateman (an American of another kind) also had one. Hell, any high roller worth his salt—from David Beckham to Jerry Lorenzo—has several hanging in his closet.
The one difference, though, is that the style is no longer delineated by the fabric. Nay, a camel coat can be made of wool, cashmere, or blends that have both. The silhouette, too, can be a chesterfield, polo, wrap, duffle, car, or a trench—just nothing too lumpy. All that is required is that color stick to the animal it is named after: a brownish, tan-ish, beige-ish hue; it’s definitely not finite, and every brand has interpreted it differently. Essentially, anything that looks like it’ll camouflage you in the desert is basically it. And we have 10 of the best just ready and waiting to give you the aura of distinction you’re looking for. Note: Like any man paid for his time, it costs more for top quality.
Todd Snyder Italian Wool Double Breasted Officer Topcoat
Yes, we said that bit about the French, but Todd Snyder proves that American gents are great at crafting camel, too. Inspired by military silhouettes, this option is slightly oversized, with relaxed shoulders that make layering in the dead of winter a piece of cake. Plus, with welt pockets, horn buttons, and herringbone lining, every detail is all about fashionable function, too.
One buyer writes: "After 2 months of owning this, the splurge was 100% worthwhile. I look for excuses to wear this coat as often as I can. Walking the dog? Yep. Walking to work in the snow? Yep. Date night out? Yep. Company holiday party? Yep. Grocery store in sweats on the weekend? Yep. This is a coat that's an investment, but feels like it will last a lifetime and is a good alternative to the 4 different winter puffs I tend to cycle through regularly."
Lightly lined and designed for layering, this camel coat strikes a solid balance between fashionable and functional. It has convenient flap pockets, a timeless, tailored silhouette, and—perhaps most importantly—a soft, cozy fabric that our editors can't get enough of.
Trust me when I tell you that you aren't going to find a camel coat this good at this price anywhere besides Quince. We love this brand for consistently providing high-quality, elevated basics that feel a lot more expensive than they actually are—this coat included. With a wool and nylon shell, notched lapels, and a back vent, this one really has it all.
One buyer writes: "This coat could absolutely go for twice the price, maybe even three times. Construction is flawless, wool looks and feels fantastic. I’ll be putting this to good use this fall and winter!"
If anyone knows how to do basic outerwear best, though, it's Uniqlo. With two buttons on the front and three on each cuff, plus two angled side pockets that are great for easily stowing your belongings or hands on a cold day, this is the perfect outerwear piece to easily elevate your look.
Burberry knows how to brave the cold in style, so it makes sense that their take on the camel coat is effortlessly elegant, warm, and timeless. This is a cool, classic, cozy camel coat that our editors swear by. Buck Mason's signature craftsmanship is ever-present in the sturdy construction of this coat; not only is it fully lined, but it's made from 13-ounce, double-faced wool for extra warmth. There are more pockets than you're likely to need, but it's always better to be overprepared.
Burberry knows how to brave the cold in style, so it makes sense that its take on the camel coat is effortlessly elegant, warm, and timeless. The brand's iconic check print is visible on the underside of the collar, and the fully-lined style even has another subtle logo on the side of the notched lapel.
Made from heavyweight Italian wool, this notch-lapel coat is cozy, cool, and fully lined—the ultimate package. It has a duo of flap pockets on the front, a locker loop for easy storage, and a silhouette that'll never not look good.
One buyer writes: "Great length, soft and warm. Well tailored. New favorite."
Soft, warm, and just over 100 bucks—the perfect recipe. If a long-line coat isn't your vibe, Cole Haan has one that hits just below the hips—and at this price, it won't break the bank, either.
One buyer writes: "It's incredibly warm without ever feeling too heavy or suffocating like some coats do. While I never feel any cold air leaking into the coat, I also never feel myself beginning to sweat or overheat, even while wearing it in a car or while walking to my office. The inner lining does not seem like it would be as insulating as it is, but it really is great quality."
A great, longline coat from a great French label that proves that Parisians do camel better than most. If you want a classically chic camel coat that'll never go out of style, you've found it here; our editors love how the tailored silhouette makes anything you wear underneath, even a hoodie and sweatpants, look stylish AF.
The Purple Label has a versatile, classy coat that looks as good as it feels. With a light feel, roped shoulders, and a tailored construction, this is every bit the quintessential, stylish coat of the season.
What To Look For
So, you've narrowed down the color to camel. There are still some other things to consider when finding the perfect coat.
Pay attention to the fabric of the coat, and whether or not it's lined, because this will be a big indicator of warmth. Wool and cashmere are the warmest, and any fully lined option will do you a lot better in the face of cold, windy days than partially lined or unlined options.
Personally, pockets are a must for me. Not only the existence of them, but the placement, too. I like to keep my hands in my pockets on cold days, so having angled pockets at the hips is ideal; a flap pocket on, say, the chest isn't going to do me much good.
Finally, look at the silhouette. If you like to layer and bulky up underneath your coat, an oversized or relaxed option will do you well, but if you like to keep things slim and trim, opt for a tailored-fit coat.
How To Style a Camel Coat
To me, the beauty of a camel coat is that there isn't really a wrong way to wear one.
One of my favorite ways to style a camel coat, though, is to dress it down. For that off-duty A-list celebrity look, keep things simple and effortless; gray sweatpants (or jeans), a gray hoodie, sneakers, and sunglasses (the sunnies are essential for achieving the "I'm being paparazzi'd" look). Throwing a camel coat atop any laid-back outfit instantly elevates it; a tailored silhouette has you looking sharp and clean, and an oversized one lends itself to a cool, contemporary vibe.
To dress up a camel coat isn't that hard, either. Loafers or boots will serve you well, as will almost any pants. For a chic effect, let your dress shirt and tie peek out from underneath it.
How We Picked
At times, it feels like a prerequisite for living in New York City is knowing your way around a camel coat. With that being said, I've tried many, many, many options over the years, and the ones on this list are the infallible picks that I keep coming back to, time and time again. Not only did we pick the options on this list by choosing our personal favorites that have been tested and tried, but we also cross-referenced hundreds of online reviews to make sure the masses love them, too.
Why You Can Trust Esquire
We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams.
When it comes to camel coats, you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting styles that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved, along with styles that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse. We’ve had to go through a lot of trial and error, and these camel coats are the ones that are simply the best.
Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don’t, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who and care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.
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