Old Knock Wardrobe: The Coat

How does the Old Knock stay warm on those blustery days as he scrambles from his warm domestic dwelling to the local chapel or library?  Why, through the use of his outer coat, of course.  In our modern age of well-heated everything, the importance of the outer coat—except for outdoor activities—has gone the way of the Dodo.  But, as with many relics of years past, the outer coat is still in wide use among the Old Knock set. 

As can be imagined, this outer covering is, above all else, practical.  Practical in the sense that it keeps the wind and rain off of one—not practical in the sense that it doesn’t get in the way at times.  As with the trousers and jacket, the outer coat provides the Old Knock with yet another cache for a variety of useful items—pencils, string, books, apples, pipe and tobacco, coffee mugs, etc. 

For the shape and color of this article, it too falls in line with the rest of the wardrobe—it is essentially shapeless and it’s color is impossible to define.  Both of these qualities come from the hand-me-down origins of the item, along with the abuse it has taken.  For it is not merely to be used as a coat, but as a cushion for sitting on tombstones while making rubbings, or placing under one’s head while napping under a tree.

 

Many an Old Knock’s coat is military in origin—as many of this crew, being romantics at heart, have, indeed, served their respective countries.  However, the military starch is gone (often times, along with the belt, which is why so many are gathered about the waist with string or an old tie).