A dress designed to be worn over clothing, resembling a coat in structure but functioning as a dress.
Compound of 'coat' (from Old French cote, from Old Norse kostr) and 'dress' (from Old French drecier). This fashion term emerged in the early 20th century as women's clothing became more practical.
Coatdresses were revolutionary women's fashion in the 1920s-1940s—they let women move freely and layer without looking bulky, perfect for the new era of women working in offices and factories!
Gendered garment terminology; 'dress' typically signals feminine apparel in English, though coat-dresses have been worn across genders historically.
Use 'coat-style dress' or 'coat dress' (neutral form); note that garment styles are not inherently gendered.
["coat-style dress","structured dress"]
Women's fashion innovation (e.g., Coco Chanel's designs) transformed functional garments into professional wear; crediting this history reclaims women's contribution to workplace dress codes.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.