# Is there a name for this style of 19th century overcoat?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 6, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641 "2011-03-06T00:37:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641/1 "2011-03-06T00:37:19Z")
It’s the one with a shoulder cape worn by[Jean Valjean at 3:35](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYWSQcAqbX0&feature=related) in this clip from Les Mis. Most have either fur lapels like that one or else a different color fabric than the rest of the coat.
It’s used a lot in movies set in the early-mid 19th century but I’ve tried googling all manner of keywords on 19th century fashion to find it. I don’t think “shoulder cape” is specific enough.
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### Author:  [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641/2 "2011-03-06T00:43:13Z")
I think the shoulder cape renders it into a greatcoat, but I’m not quite sure. Googling the term, it says that a greatcoat has a short cape, but then the photos don’t seem to all have capes.
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### Author:  [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641/3 "2011-03-06T00:52:16Z")
It looks like an Inverness coat.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641/4 "2011-03-06T00:58:00Z")
Thanks for the answers. It’s a tad earlier than the Inverness coat, about a generation or two before. I had the same luck Dangermom in that ‘greatcoat’ seemed right but other than the military greatcoats most of the pics don’t look like that.
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### Author:  [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641/5 "2011-03-06T05:11:21Z")
OTOH all the greatcoat patterns for sewing involved capes–sometimes more than one. Maybe the capes were detachable?
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641/6 "2011-03-06T18:08:56Z")
It’s a Garrick or Coachman’s coat. Also called a Box coat.
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### Author:  [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2011, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641/7 "2011-03-06T18:26:41Z")
Might it be an [Ulster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_coat)?
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### Author:  [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641/8 "2011-03-07T02:28:45Z")
> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> It’s a Garrick or Coachman’s coat. Also called a Box coat.
It seems you’re correct. Here’s a picture of a [Garrick coat](http://www.osfcostumerentals.org/stock/Outwear%20Jackets,%20Coats,%20Furs,%20Leather/Great%20Coats/slides/09014915%20garrick%20coat%20mens%2019th%20century%20olive%20green%20wool%20velvet%20capes%20and%20collar%20C46.html)
ETA : by the way, thanks to the OP for the link to the musical. Is spent (way too much) time watching part of it on youtube tonight.
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### Author:  [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-style-of-19th-century-overcoat/573641/9 "2011-03-07T02:40:44Z")
> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> It’s a Garrick or Coachman’s coat. Also called a Box coat.
Ah, thanks! Now I know what to put on my wish list.😉