Abrigos and chaquetas are both garments worn by men, women, and children for warmth or fashion. They are both items of clothing used for the upper body.

Abrigos have tended to be longer than chaquetas. The most common understanding is that a chaqueta goes to approximately the waist. An abrigo typically goes around down to your thighs or longer.

As with most things in the world of fashion, there is not one "exact" answer to this question. Unfortunately, the market of chaqueta & abrigo does not have standard sizes for items because every country has different size chart. Therefore, we can't say that a chaqueta is "x" number of inches long and a abrigo is "y" number of inches long.

Regarding the weight, consumers often think of chaquetas as being thinner and more appropriate for fall weather, and a abrigo would be thicker and more suitable for the colder winter months. However, a chaqueta & abrigo can come in various weights. As far as we know, there is not a specific weight to the garment that separates a abrigo from a chaqueta.

Abrigos & chaquetas  typically have long sleeves and are open down the front (sometimes toward the side), closing using buttons, snaps, toggles, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro), a belt, or a combination of some of these closure methods.

Other possible features of a abrigo or chaqueta include collars, shoulder straps, and possibly a hood.

Some chaquetas or Abrigos can serve as protective clothing.

Both chaquetas & Abrigos can be outerwear. Outerwear is the clothing worn outdoors.

What is your opinion on this subject? Let us know your thoughts. Please help us answer the question, "what is the difference between a abrigo & chaqueta?" (This link will take you to the Fashion Industry community question on Google+).

Without trying to make this issue more confusing, it is essential to at least point out that a "sports coat" or "sports chaqueta” is another type of garment to consider. Those are more similar to a blazer or suit chaqueta.

If you would like to read more on this subject, the following may also help you.

Abrigos, chaquetas , and over Abrigos

In the early nineteenth century, Abrigos were divided into under-Abrigos and over Abrigos. The term under-abrigo is now archaic but denoted the fact that the word abrigo could be both the outermost layer for outdoor wear (overcoat) or the abrigo worn under that (under-coat). However, the term abrigo has begun to denote just the over abrigo rather than the under-coat. The older usage of the word abrigo can still be found in the expression "to wear a abrigo and tie," which does not mean that wearer has an overcoat. Nor do the terms tailcoat, morning coat, or house abrigo denote types of overcoat. Indeed, an over abrigo may be worn over the top of a tailcoat. In tailoring circles, the tailor who makes all types of Abrigos is called a abrigo maker. Similarly, in American English, the term sports abrigo denotes a type of chaqueta not worn as outerwear (overcoat) (sports chaqueta in British English).

The term chaqueta is a traditional term usually used to refer to a specific type of short under-coat. Typical modern chaquetas extend only to the upper thigh in length, whereas older Abrigos such as tail Abrigos are usually knee-length. The stylish chaqueta worn with a suit is traditionally called a lounge abrigo (or a lounge chaqueta) in British English and a sack abrigo in American English. The American English term is rarely used. Traditionally, most men dressed in a abrigo and tie, although this has become gradually less widespread since the 1960s. Because the basic pattern for the stroller (a black chaqueta worn with striped trousers in British English) and dinner chaqueta (tuxedo in American English) is the same as lounge Abrigos, tailors traditionally call both of these particular types of chaquetas & Abrigos.

An over abrigo is designed to be worn as the outermost garment worn as outdoor wear. At the same time, this use is still maintained in some places, particularly in Britain. Elsewhere the word abrigo is commonly used mainly to denote only the over abrigo, and not the under abrigo. A top abrigo is generally a slightly shorter overcoat, if any distinction is to be made. Over Abrigos worn over the top of knee-length Abrigos (under-Abrigos) such as frock Abrigos, dress’s Abrigos, and morning Abrigos are cut to be slightly longer than the under-abrigo to completely cover it, as well as being large enough to accommodate the abrigo underneath. The length of an over abrigo varies: mid-calf being the most frequently found and the default when current fashion isn't concerned with hemlines. Designs range from knee-length to ankle-length, briefly fashionable in the early 1970s and known (to contrast with the usurped mini) as the "maxi." Speakers of American English sometimes informally use the words chaqueta and abrigo interchangeably.