The Camel Coat Is Still the Swankiest Outerwear Style

A gigolo, an American gigolo to be exact, wore the best camel coat in cinema. He was played by Richard Gere and outfitted by none other than Giorgio Armani. It was the late ’70s, and every man, regardless of their profession, was suiting up. Some did it with flares and bright colors to stand out at Studio 54. Others opted for plaid patterns to (surprisingly) fit in with their colleagues in a shared cubicle. But those with a corner office—those who traveled first class on TWA, dined at Delmonico’s, and read the Wall Street Journal every morning—preferred a sharp gray or navy two-piece suit, made bespoke by an Italian tailor. And their coat, of course, was camel.

This was the MO of Gere’s character, Julian Kay, a man who played the part of a business executive for rich married women who felt neglected by the real deal at home. His wardrobe had to match this persona, and no other coat telegraphs that more clearly than one made out of camel hair. Now, several decades later, the topper’s reputation hasn’t changed. Enter any steak house in the Financial District, and you’ll see a whole caravan of them. Patrick Bateman (an American of another kind) also had one. Hell, any high roller worth his salt—from Yeezy to David Beckham to Jerry Lorenzo—has several hanging in his closet.

The one difference, though, is that the style is no longer delineated by the fabric. Nay, a camel coat can be made of wool, cashmere, or blends that have both. The silhouette, too, can be a chesterfield, polo, wrap, duffle, car, or a trench—just nothing too lumpy. All that is required is that color stick to the animal it is named after: a brownish, tan-ish, beige-ish hue; it’s definitely not finite, and every brand has interpreted it differently, but anything that looks like it’ll camouflage you in the dessert is basically it. And we have 15 of the best just ready and waiting to give you the aura of distinction you’re looking for. Note: Like any man paid for his time, it costs more for top quality.