Buff coat

== Basic Information ==
The buff coat was a piece of early modern armour consisting of a long coat, typically made up from ~3mm suede cattle hide. The "buff" part of the name being derived from the yellow-brown colour of undyed suede (although more expensive versions could be dyed in appropriate colours and embellished in other ways).
This item was more or less ubiquitous (in Europe at least) during the 17th century, having evolved from the earlier leather jerkin. It was worn by all arms to some degree or another, sometimes on its own and sometimes overlaid with pieces of munition plate. The coat could be full or three quarter length and was also made in a sleeveless version for musketeers - although these may just have been a standard issue model with the arms cut off. Arguably this made it the sucessor of the gambeson.
As a tough, hard wearing and significantly weather resistant piece of clothing the buff coat became popular amongst civilians as well, being worn in one form or another by men from all orders of society. Indeed, by the mid 17th Century it had become positively fashionable.
The nearest modern equivalent is probably the duster.