Women’s Overalls Vs Coveralls – What’s The Difference And Which Is Best?

There’s a common misunderstanding that overalls are much the same as coveralls. After all, what’s in a name? Well, when it comes to women’s workwear, that ‘c’ at the start of ‘coveralls’ can make all the difference. But with both women’s overalls and coveralls offering protection from dirty, dusty, or muddy work indoors and out, what’s the real difference between them and which one is best?

Women’s overalls or coveralls?

Practical workwear for women has always been a problem and, over the years, finding the right kind of clothing protection has been hard, to say the least. While there’s been plenty of choice between different types of overalls and all-in-one coveralls – otherwise known as a boiler suit or jumpsuit – to give complete clothing protection, they usually lack the functionality that women need.

Interestingly, the Cambridge Online Dictionary gives both ‘coveralls’ and ‘overalls’ exactly the same definition. And as they largely do exactly the same thing, despite the naming differences, is it even possible to have the ‘wrong’ type of overall? That depends on what you need and what type of work you’re doing. So what really is the difference between women’s overalls and coveralls?

What are overalls?

Typically, women’s overalls are a ‘bib and brace’ style of protective workwear with straps over the shoulders. While they can be made from all types of different materials depending on the environment they’re being used in, they’re commonly made from cotton or polyester.

This type of protective wear is usually used by electricians, painters and decorators, or plumbers for indoor work. While giving full lower half protection, there’s not a lot of protection up top with overalls, leaving arms and chest pretty much exposed, with one or two pockets in the ‘bib’ for frequently used tools and everyday carry gear.

What are coveralls?

Whether you call them women’s coveralls, boiler suits, or jumpsuits, they provide all-in-one, full-body clothing protection. Usually made from similar materials as overalls, this type of protective gear has a zipped front from the neck to the waist, and is favoured by engineers, mechanics, factory workers, or any work where conditions can have hazardous or dirty conditions.

Protecting your clothes from the neck down to your ankles, coveralls completely cover your top and bottom half and may also come with an adjustable waistband. They definitely provide greater protection from dust and dirt, and, like them or not, they’re largely designed for men (probably by men). But for women, the functionality and practicality aren’t there.

A women’s overall revolution

This is where 3 Donkeys Clothing like to do things differently and make the lives of thousands of women much easier in any working environment. By creating practical, adaptable, and versatile all-in-one protection, we’ve given the women’s overall a complete revamp for dry indoor and outdoor work or full, all-weather protection outside.

Our coveralls are made up of separate top and bottom pieces so they can be zipped together to give complete, full-body protection, or worn independently. So more of a 2-into-1 than an all-in-one, but designed with a more feminine shape for comfort and style. And as the only 2-into-1 women’s overalls on the market, they give you the best in durable female workwear with plenty of spacious pockets.

So, other than the name, the key difference between women’s overalls and coveralls is a choice of either full or half body clothing protection. But for real choice, durability, and protection, find out whether it’s our 3 Donkeys Classic or Dartmoor Equestrian coverall that works best for you.

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