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"Planning on flexing your sartorial muscles in the blog arena? You'll need to come packing. And no, we're not referring to your pocket square game. Every week on The Eye, we'll cover a basic term you need to know right now... before you get laughed off the internet.\n\nFacebookPinterest\n\nA good overcoat isn't just something that you buy, it's a milestone. It means that, as a man, you've reached the point in your life where that North Face you've had since high school just isn't going to cut it anymore. Upgrading to a winter coat that you can proudly wear to the office or on the weekend for years to come is not something that should be taken lightly and that's why it's best to skip all the bells and whistles on modern jackets and head straight toward the most traditional and enduring of all overcoats: the Chesterfield.\n\nThe Chesterfield is not so much a rigidly defined garment as it is a blanket term that encompasses the more formal overcoat styles. The first man to wear a Chesterfield was Englishman George Stanhope, the 6th Earl of Chesterfield, during the 1800's. During this time Stanhope and several of his peers were carrying the torch for contemporary menswear, moving things forward from an impractical and ornamental past into a more wearable and sleek future. The Chesterfield was one of the most important products of this era, a simply designed overcoat that was meant for daily wear and appropriate over just about any outfit. The basic design itself is fairly straightforward - two pockets at the waist, one chest pocket up top, and a button front closure leading up to a fairly high collar. Stanhope's original Chesterfield is believed to have been single-breasted, although today single or double-breasted are equally prevalent, with a velvet collar that's not as favored by modern guys who usually opt for a more understated fabric instead.\n\nRoger Moore as James Bond rocking a Chesterfield in Live and Let Die\n\nFacebookPinterestBondNavyChesterfield.png\n\nWhile the basic silhouette has always remained the same, the modern Chesterfield has gone through a few tweaks. First, and most importantly, it's been slimmed down leaving behind that loose \"potato sack\" drape for a closer, cleaner fit. Many designers have also used the Chesterfield as a place to inject some subtle character into their collections by adding in hacking pockets, using dynamic tweed fabrics, or even throwing on a contrast collar. Just because it's a classic piece it doesn't mean it has to be bland, plus overdressed will trump underdressed every time. Just as your grandfather's Chesterfield suited him back in the day, an updated one is just the thing you need to elevate your own wardrobe this winter.\n\nJake Gallagher writes the blog Wax-Wane. He lives in Manhattan.\n\nRead more Dropping Knowledge:\n\n The Snorkel Coat\n\nCufflinks\n\nThe Varsity Jacket"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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