Figure 1.--This 5-year old American boy was photographed in the 1910s. He wears a peaked cap and double-breasted overcoat. Presumably he is also wearing a knickers suit. We can see his long stockings. Overcoats like this would have been mostly worn by boys from middle-class or other families in comfortable circumstances.

We note many different types and styles of coats and jackets. This is a little complicated because some coats are also called jackets. Generally the heavier longer items are jackets. Overcoats are generally longer falling to about knee-lengh. Jackets are lighter and shorter. A heavy short garment can often be called both jackets and coats. A heavy sporty garment is often called a jacket rather than a coat. For example ski garments orusually called jackets and not coats. There have also been specialized coats, particularly the water proofed rain coat which appeared after the turn of the century. Most American boys by the 1920s had a rain coat. It was a necesity in the age when most boys walked to school. English boys might be safely given an umbrella, but American mothers realized that this was a mistaker as boys would use them for swordf fights and other wonderfully boyish devilment. At first the raincoat was a black rubberized garment, but by the 1940s colored versions appeared--at first yellow ones. A popular early style included matching headwear that completely envelopd the head. I believe that it originated with New England fishermen. This style, howrver, went out of fashion in the 1960s. The English and Scottish approach of amoracks nevrer caught on in the States.

Coats

Coats are outer garments. The English definition is vey basic. One example is, "An outer garment with sleees covering at last the upper body." There are two primary meanings. One is the upper part of a suit. The other is an outdoor garment for cold weather. This is is wgat we are discussing here. Overcoats are generally longer falling to about knee-lengh. They are done in many different styles, borg single- and double-breasted. Navy pea coat is relatively short, but as it is heavu, usually called a pea coat. For similar reasonswe usually say duffle coats. There have also been specialized coats, particularly the water proofed rain coat which appeared after the turn of the century. Raincoats are usually called coats, primarily because of their length. Most American boys by the 1920s had a rain coat. It was a necesity in the age when most boys walked to school. English boys might be safely given an umbrella, but American mothers realized that this was a mistake as boys would use them for swordf fights and other wonderfully boyish devilment. At first the raincoat was a black rubberized garment, but by the 1940s colored versions appeared--at first yellow ones. A popular early style included matching headwear that completely envelopd the head. I believe that it originated with New England fishermen. This style, howrver, went out of fashion in the 1960s.

Jackets

Jackets are also outer garments. They are defined as, "A short coat in various styles, usually buttoning down the front". Jackets are thus lighter than coats, but also generally shorter. Usage varies. A suit coat, for example, is often called a jacket. Jackets were made in both different weights and varied from light to heavy winter weights. A good example is a heavy double-breasted jacket worn by ???? Green in 1919. A heavy short outer garment can be called both jackets and coats. A heavy sporty garment, however, is often called a jacket rather than a coat. For example ski garments or usually called jackets and not coats. The outer garments worn by children to school if they are short are generally called jackets. This varies somewgat, however, as many are heavy weight garments. The English and Scottish approach of amoracks nevrer caught on in the States.

Created: 1:51 AM 4/27/2008
Last updated: 1:51 AM 4/27/2008