# What do you think of this J Peterman Men's Inverness Overcoat? Spend or Forfend? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957 "2010-11-08T20:55:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/1 "2010-11-08T20:55:12Z")
[http://www.jpeterman.com/c/images/jpeterman/2808-HERR.jpg](http://www.jpeterman.com/c/images/jpeterman/2808-HERR.jpg) Tweed coat that J Peterman saw in Ireland. Now for sale at a steep price. “Herringbone Caped Coat”. What do the style experts here think of it? Could men wear this in public or too old-fashioned? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/2 "2010-11-08T20:57:30Z")
Only works if you are accompanied by Dr. Watson. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/3 "2010-11-08T21:08:02Z")
I got one of these (very similar) big Sherlock Holmes style coats once. Mine was an oiled cloth overcoat. Was kind of fun to wear it, but honestly it was not the most practical garment for slipping on to go out. If you really spent a lot of time outdoors it would be great, but getting into and out of vehicles with it was is a PITA as it was so long you had to grab the hem like a dress to get it clear of the door jamb and you can’t just hang it on the back of a chair at the coffee shop unless you fold it over a few times. Plus the bottom hem has so little ground clearance it gets dirty pretty fast. Buy it if you want to play grownup Sherlock Holmes, but there are more practical coats to wear for 99% of everyday urban/suburban life. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/4 "2010-11-08T21:12:22Z")
I think you’d either have to be a college student with a sense of fun, or attending a costume party as Sherlock Holmes. Better find a deerstalker to go with it. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/5 "2010-11-08T21:22:20Z")
It’s a women’s jacket. For men. Who want to wear a skirt. On their shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/6 "2010-11-08T21:22:33Z")
Do not like. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/7 "2010-11-08T21:23:29Z")
Oh so terribly unattractive. ick ick ick ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/8 "2010-11-08T21:27:52Z")
Wait a minute…the Peterman catalogue is real?!? Seinfeld was a documentary? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/9 "2010-11-08T21:28:10Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > [http://www.jpeterman.com/c/images/jpeterman/2808-HERR.jpg](http://www.jpeterman.com/c/images/jpeterman/2808-HERR.jpg) > > Tweed coat that J Peterman saw in Ireland. Now for sale at a steep price. “Herringbone Caped Coat”. > > What do the style experts here think of it? Could men wear this in public or too old-fashioned? This is too funny. I have this coat, and I purchased it from J. Peterman about 14 years ago. Mine’s charcoal grey, however, and doesn’t have a pronounced herringbone pattern. I don’t wear it anymore, and am willing to sell it if you’re interested and it’s your size. About the coat - It is very heavy. The cape is detachable and is also heavy and, because of how it attaches to the coat, causes a bit of a bulge at the back of the collar. Also, the coat is not really all that appealing without the cape and makes the wearer look bigger in the midriff than they actually are. Having said this, the coat will keep you very warm. The coat was not in style when I purchased it, but I wore it anyway, and did receive a lot of positive comments as it is so different than anything else out there for men. I outgrew the coat around the same time I lost interest in wearing it; I was a beanpole with a 26 inch waist when I bought it. It’s been in storage ever since. I had no idea J. Peterman was still in business. This thread made me smile. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/10 "2010-11-08T21:32:49Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > It’s a women’s jacket. For men. Who want to wear a skirt. On their shoulders. That’s it, folks. We’re done with the Internet. Can’t top this post. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/11 "2010-11-08T21:38:37Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > That’s it, folks. We’re done with the Internet. Can’t top this post. Concur. **Munch** , you’ve hit this thread out of the park. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/12 "2010-11-08T21:42:42Z")
Yeah, I have to admit, **Munch** ’s post was funny. However, don’t knock the coat until you’ve tried it. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/13 "2010-11-08T21:44:58Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/14 "2010-11-08T21:45:43Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Wait a minute…the Peterman catalogue is real?!? > > Seinfeld was a documentary? J Peterman is very real and predates Seinfeld. The catalogs are so eccentric and written in such an over the top style that Seinfeld decided to work it into its story-line which led many people to believe that J Peterman is fictional (he is a real person) or that the company was a spin off of the show. J Peterman had severe financial problems in the late 1990’s but it is back now. I get the catalogs and read them from cover to cover. I order a bunch of my clothes from them and I am usually happy with them but sometimes they throw out something bizarre like the overcoat in question. I can’t see myself wearing that. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/15 "2010-11-08T21:57:44Z")
Well it’s an interesting design. There is no way you could wear a coat like that without looking affected. You might be able to pull it off in my counter-culturally affected city, though, where I often see men wearing kilts, top hats, velvet capes, and other wacko garb. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/16 "2010-11-08T23:31:20Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > It’s a women’s jacket. For men. Who want to wear a skirt. On their shoulders. Maybe if the girl is still inside it. > [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Wait a minute…the Peterman catalogue is real?!? Yup. They are sort of like what LL Bean, J Crew and Abercrombie & Fitch used to be about 15 years ago before they appeared in every shopping mall in the country. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/17 "2010-11-08T23:44:58Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > It’s a women’s jacket. For men. Who want to wear a skirt. On their shoulders. Sigh. I’m the one that everyone says “shhhh!!” across their cubicles to, but they never blame the real culprits for my annoying cackle. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/18 "2010-11-09T00:04:06Z")
It would look great with the urban sombrero. Come back with pics. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/19 "2010-11-09T00:08:59Z")
They want $750 for that overcoat! Way too much for something that makes you look like a time traveler from Victorian London. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957/20 "2010-11-09T00:13:18Z")
Still looking at their website. They also have a deerstalker cap, cane and pipe if you want the whole look. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-j-peterman-mens-inverness-overcoat-spend-or-forfend/559957.md?page=2)