Covert coat

Grey wool covert coat with notched lapels and black velvet collar, made by Aquascutum.

A covert coat or Crombie coat is a gentleman's overcoat typically with notched lapels which originated in the late 19th century as a "short topcoat" to be worn for hunting and horse riding.

Since the 20th century, after the introduction of the suit for everyday use in town as opposed to the frock coat and the morning dress, the covert coat is used as a shorter, more informal topcoat option to the longer knee-length chesterfield coat traditionally associated with formal wear.

Design

Covert cloth, from which the coat is made, is a heavy tweed named after a covered area rich in game wildlife that would serve as a starting point on a hunt. A covert coat is always single-breasted with notch lapels, a centre vent, flap pockets, and a signature four (sometimes five) lines of stitching at the cuffs and hem; a ticket pocket is optional. The collar may be constructed of covert cloth or velvet. The traditional colour varies from a light greenish-tan brown to a fawnish mix to a rather deep tannish-green, but variants in grey and navy are also common.

Notable wearers

Variants were worn by George VI and Edward VIII, as well as by Jason Statham and Stephen Graham in the 2000 crime comedy film Snatch. The covert coat caused media attention during the 2015 General Election in UK when worn by UKIP and later Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.