Trench Coat - the 'Ultimate' Thread!

[Gamma68]

Good article on “the trench coats forgotten WWI roots”.

Nice reminder that, even when Bogey was wearing his coat in 1940s films, his contemporaries might have already been thinking the coat a classic and perhaps already assuming its wearer had a possible military backstory.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-29033055

I suspect that most people today see a trench coat and just think “Humphrey Bogart” or “1940s detective” without considering that the roots are older and, in fact, military. As noted several times above, the classic trench coat was a military staple through both world wars and beyond.

Good, informative article. Thanks for posting.

 

[Edward]

The trench coat tends to evoke a certain sense of nostalgia for a time and place they remember or think they remember.
When it was easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys, and Right was Right, and always won.
But we know it was never that simple. The images of Bogart in a trench coat taking guns away from hoods, and collecting them, and using them to dispatch a form of justice usually only found in movies, partially of the era.
As we know the real world was much less black and white.
There is a certain cool style that goes with the trench coat, particularly the early ones. But even my more modern edition of it carries it, although I suspect its lost on 99% of the people who see it. In fact, a large number of young people who see one today probably won't know what it is, and definitely will have no idea of its history, and connections to wars they've only barely read about, or seen movies about.

For me, there's something about the shape of a long coat, especially worn open... almost like a superhero cape, but from the darkside: anti-heroes and villains.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Hence this classic trope throughout film/TV/other media!

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BadassLongcoat

 

[Kenneth Lawson]

For me, there's something about the shape of a long coat, especially worn open... almost like a superhero cape, but from the darkside: anti-heroes and villains.

 

[Kenneth Lawson]

I have often said wearing a Dustrr it trench coat is a cross between wearing a cape and a dress..

 

[Edward]

Of the two, I find I get stared at less when I wear a trenchcoat on public transport.

 

[Kenneth Lawson]

I definitely get it.
I getlooks with the Duster.
I expect looks with the trench coat too.
I figure it takes some "gumpshion" (insert favorite word, ) to wear a Duster or trench coat. One must Own It. Lol

 

[Edward]

I definitely get it.
I getlooks with the Duster.
I expect looks with the trench coat too.
I figure it takes some "gumpshion" (insert favorite word, ) to wear a Duster or trench coat. One must Own It. Lol

I meant the trenchcoat and the dress. I've never owned a duster.

Those Australian wax-cotton dusters with the big shoulder capes were fashionable with the city boys for awhile over here, though for my aesthetic tastes they never looked 'right' with a suit. I like a trench with collar and tie; for something mored casual, I rather wish somebody like WPG would do a version of the British dispatch rider's coat that was issued to the motorcycle dispatch riders from ww1 until the early 60s. So far, I've only seen Real McCoy's do it, and while theirs is undeniably beautiful......

 

[Doctor Damage]

So far, I've only seen Real McCoy's do it, and while theirs is undeniably beautiful......

You mean, you don't have $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to spend?

 

[Doctor Damage]

Of the two, I find I get stared at less when I wear a trenchcoat on public transport.

I definitely get it.
I getlooks with the Duster.

I just realized haven't seen anyone wearing a duster in years. I certainly agree that when they were more common they always looked more edgy or 'outlaw' than a trench coat!

 

[Kenneth Lawson]

I got the duster for.practical reasons.
To keep the wind and rain of me.
I've been out in massive amount of rain and came back in dry under the coat.
My lower legs and feet were soaked , as was my noggin under my cap. But under the duster i was dry.
Oh, and I do like the style and erginedg of it. I got a new one, I do get.looks when I wear it out, as I'm sure the trench coat will.
That's . okay.

 

[Edward]

You mean, you don't have $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to spend?

Ha, if only the Lotto would play ball, then it'll be "Six of everything, please, my good man!"

I just realized haven't seen anyone wearing a duster in years. I certainly agree that when they were more common they always looked more edgy or 'outlaw' than a trench coat!

They certainly don't seem as common as once they were. Fashion is fickle...

 

[Seb Lucas]

I definitely get it.
I getlooks with the Duster.
I expect looks with the trench coat too.
I figure it takes some "gumpshion" (insert favorite word, ) to wear a Duster or trench coat. One must Own It. Lol

I'm not sure where you live but here no one would look twice at a trench coat unless, maybe you decided to wear a fedora with it. Then there might be Inspector Gadget jokes. I wear a long gray overcoat in winter with no comments. Maybe it helps if you are middle aged like me. A 25 year-old in a tench may look inauthentic somehow. I think I did then when I wore trenches from the 1940's, sometimes with a hat.

Drizabone waxed cotton riding jackets look pretty awful in my view - the shoulder cape makes the jacket look over engineered and preposterous in any city context. They were briefly fashionable here in the 1980's in cities but these days I think most are sold to cattle farmers and Asian tourists and given to visiting politicians.

 

[Kenneth Lawson]

Here in Virginia I rarely see anything approaching either a Duster or a trench coat. I know of a couple of customers that have a duster, and they are country guys with farms and cattle horses and the like, so its natural for them to have one.
But regular folks, not so much. I have the duster both for practicality and style, I just like it.
The same for the Trench coats, I've been wearing the brown one with a jacket under it and I've have been warm, so far, so it's working as far as keeping dry and warm so far this winter, We've had a foot and half of snow this week, It's starting to turn to slush, and probably freeze overnight, so lots of "Fun" here in Virginia.
Also as a Baby Boomer,Ie older gentleman. I think I can pull it off. And Frankly I don't care, I'm reaching the point, where I'm finding what I like, and if possible getting it and wearing.
If folks don't like it, they look the other way, I don't much care anymore.

 

[-Ariel-]

Trench from "House of Fraser". Female or not female? Or maybe it is male trench for lefty. Was bought in menswear department.

 

[Doctor Damage]

^ Most likely female given that it buttons to the left and the rain flap is on the left chest. However, it's a great fit, has great proportions, and nobody is going to know either way, so enjoy!

 

[-Ariel-]

What can you say about that mystery tlittle button?

 

[Doctor Damage]

^ Burberry used to put that on its vintage coats (sometimes) and has partially revived it in recent years. There is a corresponding strap on the inside of the left skirt of the coat (circled in photo below) which in conjunction with the button is used to close the coat's skirts. It's called a "kick tab" or "knee tab". I have a coat with it and to be honest it's more a gimmick than useful.

 

[Gamma68]

^ Burberry used to put that on its vintage coats (sometimes) and has partially revived it in recent years. There is a corresponding strap on the inside of the left skirt of the coat (circled in photo below) which in conjunction with the button is used to close the coat's skirts. It's called a "kick tab" or "knee tab". I have a coat with it and to be honest it's more a gimmick than useful.

It serves a purpose on a windy day. You don't want your trousers soaked by rain when the wind blows that lower flap open while traversing the asphalt jungle.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Here's a nice coat worn by Prince Edward. I really like the 1990s proportions.