Nov 25, 20202 min read

The Teddy Coat

The teddy coat is a faux fur jacket that resembles the cozy cute look of a teddy bear, hence its name. This coat style combines all the softness and warmth of a faux fur coat without the unflattering fit of a puffer jacket (independent.co.uk). It has been said that the teddy coat “trend” initially s tarted back in 2016 when Who What Wear first reported on it, and it’s still a good piece to have in your wardrobe in 2020. The origin of the teddy coat however, actually goes back to the 1920s.

In the early 1900s, motoring in open-topped cars was considered a privileged activity and an outdoor sport. However, in the winter, drivers and passengers were e xposed as they sped along tracks designed for horse-pulled carriages, making it a necessity to wear protective clothing. Originally, a long double-breasted dust coat, known as a duster, was worn for this “sporting activity” and was made with Alpaca fur fabric or raccoon.

In November 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt, commonly known as Teddy, went on a bear hunt along the Mississippi River. After an exhaustive and lengthy chase, a group of Roosevelt’s attendants captured an American back bear and tied it up to a willow tree. They wanted President Roosevelt to shoot the bear and put it out of its misery, but he refused to do so, deeming it to be unsportsmanlike. It is rumored that he said the following:

“I’ve hunted game all over America and I’m proud to be a hunter. But I couldn’t be proud of myself if I shot an old, tired, worn-put bear that was tied to a tree.”

The story spread across the nation and it became the topic of a political cartoon by Clifford Berryman in The Washington Post on November 16, 1902.

Inspired by the cartoon, Brooklyn shopkeeper, Morris Michtom, and his wife Rose made a stuffed fabric bear, and they were granted use of the President’s name to promote the toy, which was unveiled on February 15, 1903. The bears were placed in the Michtom’s shop window along with a sign that read, “Teddy’s Bear.” The Michtoms went on to start a successful company that manufactured teddy bears and other toys.

Meanwhile, back in England, motorists were till wearing coats made out of woven alpaca fur well into the 1920s. At some point however, the fluffy double-breasted car-coats became made from the same material as teddy bears and they then became known as Teddy Bear Coats.

Celebrities and influencers alike adore the teddy coat, and there’s one to suit anyone’s taste. Teddy coats come in different colors, structures and lengths. For instance, for those going for a classy classic look, there are some teddy coats that come in an almost trench coat-like style. Then there are the oversized ones that can be worn when styling a casual look. Colors range from the classic white, black, chocolate brown, and tan to soft pinks and bright reds.

Here are a few examples of how black women can style a teddy coat, in a classy look or a more casual one.

Examples of Black Women Styling the Teddy Coat Classily