How Many Coats Should a Man Own?

When it comes to coats, outerwear designed to protect against cold, wind, and rain, especially in climates like Ireland’s. Also known as jackets, it’s not about owning ten—you need three that actually do the job. In Ireland, a coat isn’t a fashion statement. It’s your first line of defense against wind that cuts through wool, rain that never seems to stop, and winters that feel like they last nine months. You don’t need a closet full of coats. You need the right ones.

Start with a waterproof trench coat, a mid-length, structured coat with a hood or collar that sheds rain and holds up in city streets and country roads. This is your all-season workhorse. Think Dublin commutes, Galway pub runs, Cork markets. It’s not for snow—it’s for the daily drip. Then you need a heavy wool or tweed coat, a thicker, insulated layer made for deep cold, often lined with wool or flannel, and built to last a decade with basic care. This is the coat you pull on when the wind howls and the temperature drops below five degrees. It’s the coat your dad wore, and it still works better than most synthetic ones. Finally, you need a leather coat, a durable, slightly cropped style that blocks wind and adds structure to casual outfits. Irish leather isn’t flashy—it’s tough. Made from local hides, treated for damp, and meant to age well. You wear it to a funeral, a job interview, or just grabbing milk. It doesn’t scream. It just says, ‘I’m ready.’

That’s it. Three coats. Not five. Not seven. Three that cover the full range of Irish weather. A trench for wet days, a wool coat for deep chill, and a leather coat for everything else. You don’t need a parka for every occasion. You don’t need a puffer for the bus stop. What you need is simplicity, durability, and fit. And if one of those coats is from an Irish tannery or made with Irish wool? Even better. The posts below show you exactly which styles work in Dublin, Cork, and beyond—what to look for in stitching, lining, and length. You’ll find out why some coats last 20 years and others fall apart after one winter. You’ll see what Irish men actually wear, not what magazines say you should. No fluff. Just what fits, what lasts, and what keeps you dry.