[215339]

Your favourite overcoat battered and chucked in the dryer for 2 hours? Or a striking, highly textured alternative to tweed?

All a matter of perspective!

I was looking into having another overcoat made in the future. I was drawn to the quintessential camel hair polo coat.

A dropped button stance polo coat may not be as practical, but it looks very striking.

Unfortunately, I didn't know camel hair is a luxury cloth, most places sell it at 250 euros per meter.

I was fascinated by casentino in a similiar colour. Cashmere and cashmere/wool blends would look too flat to my eye as a replacement to camel hair.

I also didn't know pure camelhair is also not very durable, but casentino is.

Turns out, TACS will sell direct for 25 euros per metre! I had no idea casentino cloth was this cheap.

What is everyone's thoughts on the cloth? How about camelhair?

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

Cam

Your favourite overcoat battered and chucked in the dryer for 2 hours? Or a striking, highly textured alternative to tweed?

All a matter of perspective!

I was looking into having another overcoat made in the future. I was drawn to the quintessential camel hair polo coat.

A dropped button stance polo coat may not be as practical, but it looks very striking.

Unfortunately, I didn't know camel hair is a luxury cloth, most places sell it at 250 euros per meter.

I was fascinated by casentino in a similiar colour. Cashmere and cashmere/wool blends would look too flat to my eye as a replacement to camel hair.

I also didn't know pure camelhair is also not very durable, but casentino is.

Turns out, TACS will sell direct for 25 euros per metre! I had no idea casentino cloth was this cheap.

What is everyone's thoughts on the cloth? How about camelhair?

Camel may not wear very well by some standards, but I have found it adequately durable and extremely warm. When I shopped for an overcoat I almost pulled the trigger on a camel polo from O'Connell's but ended up with single breasted camel. The Casntino is certainly striking, but I wonder how much I would like it after a good while. I have never grown weary of camel. Great options!

 

[215339]

Cam

Camel may not wear very well by some standards, but I have found it adequately durable and extremely warm. When I shopped for an overcoat I almost pulled the trigger on a camel polo from O'Connell's but ended up with single breasted camel. The Casntino is certainly striking, but I wonder how much I would like it after a good while. I have never grown weary of camel. Great options!

I think lots of these options are on the flashy side of things, so both options are giving me some pause.

A SB camel coat is a lot more subdued compared to the DB variety IMO, so that was a good choice if that was the goal.

I do like this shade of casentino I found.

 

[StephenRG]

You might consider a wool/cashmere blend, of course.

 

[215339]

You might consider a wool/cashmere blend, of course.

Yep, I mentioned that as an alternative as well.

I'm not sure on that one, the colour looks rather flat and even too formal to my eye, which is not what I need. Camelhair seems to have a lot more colour depth and seems less formal.

I found an OTR coat made in wool/cashmere and that's why it gave me pause.

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

I think lots of these options are on the flashy side of things, so both options are giving me some pause.

A SB camel coat is a lot more subdued compared to the DB variety IMO, so that was a good choice if that was the goal.

I do like this shade of casentino I found.

I am not bothered by a little flash in the right places, but for me it's more likely to be Madras in the summer. I got the SB because it works better with my build, at least in my mind.

 

[Oldsarge]

Camelhair is the poor man's cashmere. I love it. I am also very attracted to casentino. It's historic, being first woven in the Renaissance, comes in a wide variety of neat colors (including bright orange, the original) and according to reports, wears like iron. Unfortunately, I have no use for any kind of overcoat, but if I did . . .

 

[215339]

I am not bothered by a little flash in the right places, but for me it's more likely to be Madras in the summer. I got the SB because it works better with my build, at least in my mind.

It depends on the aesthetic we want to portray I think.

A loose DB coat can definitely add some width.

Camelhair is the poor man's cashmere. I love it. I am also very attracted to casentino. It's historic, being first woven in the Renaissance, comes in a wide variety of neat colors (including bright orange, the original) and according to reports, wears like iron. Unfortunately, I have no use for any kind of overcoat, but if I did . . .

Seems awfully expensive for poor man's cashmere!

Unless I truly have no idea of the costs of 100% quality cashmere. I found a large cashmere Begg scarf that was 500USD or something.

I've only seen casentino in the eye-searing shades, so I was pleasantly surprised to find more subdued colours.

The more I think on it, casentino and it's texture seem very appealing for my casual needs.

I had to google your city for weather. That is a lot of rain throughout the week! Trench coat weather IMO.

 

[Oldsarge]

It depends on the aesthetic we want to portray I think.

A loose DB coat can definitely add some width.

Seems awfully expensive for poor man's cashmere!

Unless I truly have no idea of the costs of 100% quality cashmere. I found a large cashmere Begg scarf that was 500USD or something.

I've only seen casentino in the eye-searing shades, so I was pleasantly surprised to find more subdued colours.

The more I think on it, casentino and it's texture seem very appealing for my casual needs.

I had to google your city for weather. That is a lot of rain throughout the week! Trench coat weather IMO.

If one goes to the office or the symphony or some formal affair, a trench coat over one's suit or tuxedo is exactly appropriate. However, that is so rare that most Portlanders 'shop local' and wear Columbia. I'm considered a bit eccentric and wear Barbour and wellingtons. It's said that California has five seasons: wed, dry, fire, flood and quake. We have two: wet and less wet.

100% Cashmere is in that "If you have to ask what it costs, you can't afford it" class.

 

[215339]

If one goes to the office or the symphony or some formal affair, a trench coat over one's suit or tuxedo is exactly appropriate. However, that is so rare that most Portlanders 'shop local' and wear Columbia. I'm considered a bit eccentric and wear Barbour and wellingtons. It's said that California has five seasons: wed, dry, fire, flood and quake. We have two: wet and less wet.

100% Cashmere is in that "If you have to ask what it costs, you can't afford it" class.

Hmm, not a fan of wearing trenches more casually?

Barbour coats always seemed like they'd be uncomfortable. Waxed cotton is not breathable from what I heard.

Hahahaha, noted on the cashmere.

 

[Flanderian]

Casentino coat? Only if you get it in safety orange.

Camel hair is nice! Cashmere is nicer and priceyer.

I've also seen (And owned!) some lovely, thick lambs wool velour over the years. It comes in various weights, and find cloth merchants have it available in heavier weights that are thick and lovely (And warm!) if you're looking for a more durable and lower cost alternative.

 

[215339]

Casentino coat? Only if you get it in safety orange.

Camel hair is nice! Cashmere is nicer and priceyer.

I've also seen (And owned!) some lovely, thick lambs wool velour over the years. It comes in various weights, and find cloth merchants have it available in heavier weights that are thick and lovely (And warm!) if you're looking for a more durable and lower cost alternative.

Interesting, have any links?

If I do go down this route, I'd have to source my own fabric. My tailor doesn't carry very many fabrics.

 

[Flanderian]

https://www.themerchantfox.co.uk/collections/exmoor-overcoating

https://www.themerchantfox.co.uk/collections/coating

There are also others, but I can't remember them now. But fine cloth merchants will often have coatings available that you select by weight. More weight typically = thicker and warmer.

 

[215339]

https://www.themerchantfox.co.uk/collections/exmoor-overcoating

https://www.themerchantfox.co.uk/collections/coating

There are also others, but I can't remember them now. But fine cloth merchants will often have coatings available that you select by weight. More weight typically = thicker and warmer.

Thanks Flanderian.

Unfortunately the cost is pretty much the same as the camelhair options I found.

 

[Dhaller]

Casentino is on my radar; yes, I would wear it... probably in the flashy orange.

That said, I have little use for it where I live.

I have this idea that my daughter will take a gap year between high school and college to study ballet at Vaganova in St. Petersburg (Russia) or the Bolshoi in Moscow, and I'll visit her in sweeping greatcoats with dramatic fur collars. Perhaps then.

(Another good camelhair/cashmere alternative for overcoats, albeit with a more Alpine twist, is Loden. Some makers in Bavaria/Austria/Northern Italy provision authentic Loden cloth and/or make the coats.)

DH

 

[Peak and Pine]

I think it may be possible to make your own casentino coat by purchasing a regular wool coat and twelve cats. Lay the coat by the food dish and watch what happens.

Private message to @delicious_scent: just say no.

 

[215339]

I think it may be possible to make your own casentino coat by purchasing a regular wool coat and twelve cats. Lay the coat by the food dish and watch what happens.

Private message to @delicious_scent: just say no.

I smiled, classic Peak post.

The fuzz is so tempting though!

 

[some_dude]

If one goes to the office or the symphony or some formal affair, a trench coat over one's suit or tuxedo is exactly appropriate. However, that is so rare that most Portlanders 'shop local' and wear Columbia. I'm considered a bit eccentric and wear Barbour and wellingtons. It's said that California has five seasons: wed, dry, fire, flood and quake. We have two: wet and less wet.

100% Cashmere is in that "If you have to ask what it costs, you can't afford it" class.

I wear my trench coat most of the winter!

I would like a polo coat, but I really don't have much justification for it. I already have a long, double-breasted wool overcoat that I don't wear that much, because it's usually too wet for that-- and a polo coat would have the same issue.

 

[Oldsarge]

Hmm, not a fan of wearing trenches more casually?

Barbour coats always seemed like they'd be uncomfortable. Waxed cotton is not breathable from what I heard.

Hahahaha, noted on the cashmere.

Waxed cotton is far more breathable than synthetics. It's just heavier. I've worn mine from SoCal to the Arctic Circle.

 

[215339]

Casentino is on my radar; yes, I would wear it... probably in the flashy orange.

That said, I have little use for it where I live.

I have this idea that my daughter will take a gap year between high school and college to study ballet at Vaganova in St. Petersburg (Russia) or the Bolshoi in Moscow, and I'll visit her in sweeping greatcoats with dramatic fur collars. Perhaps then.

(Another good camelhair/cashmere alternative for overcoats, albeit with a more Alpine twist, is Loden. Some makers in Bavaria/Austria/Northern Italy provision authentic Loden cloth and/or make the coats.)

DH

I missed this.

Any linked sources for loden cloth that you have found?

Waxed cotton is far more breathable than synthetics. It's just heavier. I've worn mine from SoCal to the Arctic Circle.

I've never owned either, so I've no idea.

This is great to know though, it doesn't sound so bad. I don't need rainwear yet, but I've filed this away in my brain.