Today, black, blue, and even pattern trench coats fill department stores and make up a hefty portion of the market. Darker trench coats emerged in scale during the Second World War from a practicality standpoint it makes sense as they require less cleaning and are somewhat more camouflaged. Trench Coat Color – The traditional and most common trench coat color is khaki, although you’ll see jackets labeled as such varying from ivory to tan. Trench coats come in more than one color. Unfortunately, the black leather trench coat’s portrayal as the uniform of organized crime’s henchmen has saddled the wearing of the coat with negative connotations. Leather’s ability to repel dirt and water and ease of cleaning have won this trench coat a following among hard working city men. Heavier and warmer than its cotton or wool fabric brethren, it is more closely related to the overcoat in terms of functionality. Leather Trench Coats – The leather trench coat is a modern variation, and as such has not earned the status of being a classic piece of menswear. Today cotton is the fabric of choice for most trench coats, although manufacturers often mix in man-made fibers for better weather resistance properties and cost savings. Cotton is also less expensive than wool and available in larger quantities from various sources. Although cotton does not have the heat retaining properties of wool, it is more durable and if treated can be water resistant. Today trench coats use cotton densely woven with poplin and twill weaves (of which gabardine is one). Today wool gabardine is only used on high-end or custom trench coats upon request – its high cost makes it impractical for mass sale, although vintage wool gabardines can be found at reasonable prices.Ĭotton Fabric – Early versions of the trench coat were made with a heavy duty khaki drill. The first jackets were sold only to British officers – a customer who had considerable spending power and was willing to invest in a garment that served him better than anything issued. Wool Gabardine – Wool gabardine was used on early trench coats as the dense weave repelled water and was surprisingly strong complete with a silk lining, this garment was lightweight, functional, and handsome.

Today the trench coat still serves in the world’s militaries as light weather protection for dress uniforms. However, it was largely eclipsed by more specialized (typically shorter) jackets tailored to the needs of different units and the nature of the war’s battles. The trench coat again saw action in World War II, with Russia and the United States following Britain’s lead in issuing the coat to its men in uniform. Characters such as Dick Tracy captured the public’s attention with adventure and mystery wrapped up in a trench coat. Humphrey Bogart’s most memorable scenes in both Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon feature him wearing what would soon become an iconic garment. Nothing like sleeping in the mud and smoking a pipe in the comfort of your trench coat!Īfter the Great War, dozens of Hollywood’s leading men brought the trench coat to the silver screen. The coat earned its name from the protection and mobility it provided to the men fighting in the war’s infamous trenches. The coat quickly became a coveted item among soldiers it held its own in cold weather by utilizing a wool blanket insert and also served as an emergency sleeping system.

Only officers were allowed to wear the coats they were not a required part of the uniform and could only be purchased privately.įor WWI, Burberry redesigned the coat to include D-rings and shoulders straps, and the British War Board ordered over half a million of them for the military’s officers. The coats were referred to by their creator’s name and made of gabardine, an innovative and durable wool fabric designed by Burberry to repel water and keep the wearer warm but ventilated. The origins of this garment can be traced to the Tielocken coat Thomas Burberry designed for British officers in the Boer War. I hope this article changes that, as the trench coat is a classic garment that can add a punch of handsome to any outfit a man wears. Surprisingly, very few men sport a trench coat nowadays despite its enduring heritage. Look closely at the pictures in this article and you’ll notice the trench coat of a century ago is almost identical to those sold in shops today. Perhaps no garment is as romanticized as the trench coat from South Africa to France to Casablanca to London, it has remained functional and almost unchanged for over 100 years.

Clo 3d trench coat