What is the connection between Dick Tracy, Inspector Clouseau, and Rick Blaine?
With the exception of having dark hair, they all popularized the trench coat and looked great while doing so.
For more than a century, trench coats have been in fashion. This timeless item of menswear won’t go out of style anytime soon.
A trench coat is both fashionable and useful. Choosing a style that suits you might be difficult due to the abundance of styles, fabrics, and colors available.
The purpose of this essay is to educate you about trench coats so that you can choose the right style for you in the end.
Trench Coats: Historic & Classic Menswear
Thomas Burberry, the creator of gabardine fabric, delivered a waterproof coat design to the British army at the start of the 20th century. British clothier Aquascutum created a waterproof coat for officers of the Crimean War (1855–1866).
Both designers assert that they are the ones who invented the trench coat. It’s always up for contention who came up with the waterproof trench coat first, but the important thing to remember is that their innovations have kept troops dry even in the wettest of weather.
Soldiers who had served in World War I carried their trench coats with them when they returned to civilian life, and the look immediately gained popularity.
The trench coat is a mainstay of weather protection, from the muddy trenches of France to the streets of the expanding city. A guy can practically sense the significance and history of a trench coat when he dons one.
Practicality of Trench Coats
Rain is not enjoyable to be in. It might appear much worse to have damp hair, skin, and clothing on a gloomy, rainy day. You will definitely have to go through the rain if you live somewhere with a lot of yearly precipitation, like Seattle.
When there is no wind and the rain is falling perpendicular to the earth, a man’s umbrella comes in handy. However, the majority of storms feature strong wind gusts and occasionally horizontal rain, making umbrellas unusable. A man and his clothes will stay dry with a trench coat on.
A Man Has a Lot of Options with Trench Coat Fabrics
The many materials that are used to manufacture trench coats are listed below with brief descriptions:
1) Gabardine: Developed by Thomas Burberry, gabardine is a tightly woven fabric characterised by a smooth backing and diagonal ribs on the face. Gabardine was formerly manufactured from worsted wool, but it is now also created from mixes, cotton, and polyester.
2) Leather: Serious trench coats may be made from the skins of several animals, the most popular being cow. Leather is renowned for being supple, resilient, and protective. To last a long period, all leathers must be regularly cleaned, condition, and allowed to air out.
3) Cotton drill: Cotton drill is a tightly woven fabric with a noticeable twill weave, much like gabardine. Cotton drill is breathable, robust, and long-lasting. Among other things, the cloth has been used to create chef aprons and labor gloves.
4) Serge: Serge cloth was used to make military uniforms and greatcoats. Occasionally, trench coats composed of this twill material are found. Serge has a similar appearance to gabardine, but it can be separated from it by the diagonal ribs on both sides of the fabric (gabardine has a smooth back).
Colors of Trench Coats for Every Season
Traditionalists wear khaki-colored trench coats.
Most people associate trench coats with the color khaki, which is what Rick Blaine and Inspector Clouseau wore. Nonetheless, a wide range of hues and tones might go well with your clothing.
Recognize which color complements your skin tone and wardrobe the most.
Neutral black goes well with a wide range of colors. If you have a slender physique, blue looks great on you. Greens and olives go back to the trench coat’s military origins. If you prefer a trench coat made of leather, brown is a terrific alternative. Of course, khaki is also the king.
Personalized Overcoat Fabrics: Things to Consider
Regarding materials, keep in mind that you’re discussing clothing for chilly climates. For warmth in the winter, you want substantial wool, usually more than eleven ounces per yard. Dressier overcoats go well with camel, chocolate brown, charcoal, and navy solids. For those who like an opulent grip, luxury materials like alpaca or cashmere zibeline are ideal. The most exquisite, heirloom-quality overcoats that money can purchase may be obtained from Vicuña overcoats.
Because car coats and balmacaan overcoats are more informal, there is a bit more creative freedom when it comes to design. Large herringbone patterns and exploding houndstooth designs are eye-catching accent pieces, while plaids let you experiment with color and proportion to create different looks with each ensemble. Though sumptuous automobile jackets made of woolen flannels and heavy lambs-wool are lovely, a little cashmere never hurt anybody.
Dressy overcoats may be worn with more casual ensembles and vice versa if you know how to dress well or follow the advice of an image expert.
A Brief Remark About Height & Length of Coat
Among other things, dressing elegantly entails properly balancing the natural proportions of your body. When having a conversation about overcoats, keep in mind that tall men should lean towards longer coat lengths and short men towards shorter ones. Men’s big and tall trench coats are also available in the market. Of course, there are practical and personal preferences involved here (too-short coats don’t keep you as warm as longer ones), but a short guy wearing a big coat would appear like a youngster borrowing his dad’s wardrobe. On the other hand, a tall man wearing a short coat will just draw attention to his height, which may not be attractive.
How Do You Choose the Right Outerwear for Your Situation?
Ask yourself these questions to ensure that the coat you’re buying is the proper fit for you. How should I dress? Should I become more formal or more informal? What’s in my closet right now? Does what I have in my closet fit and do I enjoy it? What kind of life do I lead?
You’ll get all the answers and that will be what exactly suit you – get that right outerwear for you.
