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It’s trench coat time – some facts and shopping inspiration

23.9.2023

Translation: Eva Francis

If you ask me, 23 September isn’t only the first day of autumn, it also officially kicks off the trench coat season. Looking for (a new) one? You’ve come to the right place!

Let’s talk about in-between season jackets. For some, it’s nothing more than a lame excuse to buy yet another jacket; for others, it’s their absolute favourite piece of clothing. Which team do I belong to? I’ll keep that to myself (cough – team 1). Nevertheless, I have a clear opinion which between-season jackets – if any – are worth investing in. Either an oversized leather jacket or, no doubt, an oversized trench coat.
The latter is probably the wardrobe classic par excellence and an item of clothing that will serve you faithfully every autumn. Let’s take a closer look at trench coats.

The history of the trench coat

It all began long before the trench we know today. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Scotsman Charles Macintosh produced long coats for the British military. These coats were named after him – Mackintoshs, or Macks for short. Thanks to his revolutionary idea of rubberising the cotton fabric, they were waterproof, but not breathable at all. On top of this, they melted if exposed to too much sunlight. That’s not ideal. The number one competitor, John Emary, saw the room for improvement and, in 1853, patented the waterproof, much more breathable fabric Aquascutum. Competitor number two, Thomas Burberry, experimented a few years longer and, in 1879, came up with the idea of coating only the individual fibres instead of the cotton fabric as a whole. He named the result, which wasn’t only waterproof but also breathable and functional, gabardine. It became the standard for the coats of officers and soldiers in the British military. With the new material, the silhouette and details were also adapted to the needs of their wearers.

The features of trench coats

double breasted buttoning
storm flaps – a second layer of fabric over the shoulders
waist belt
epaulets
buckled sleeve straps
wedge vent

Although both Aquascutum and Burberry like to claim they invented the trench coat, both companies basically only contributed to improving the classic Mack.

In fact, they improved it so much that even Hollywood discovered its potential and gave it an image makeover in the 1940s. From then on, it wasn’t officers who wore trench coats. It was reporters, detectives, gangsters and heroines such as Audrey Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich who wore trench coats on the big screen. The rest, as always, is (movie) history.

4 facts about trench coats you didn’t know

It’s called trench coat because it was also worn by soldiers in the trenches.
The term WWI trench coat first appeared in a textile trade journal in 1916.
The original military models weren’t beige as we know trench coats today, but khaki for a better camouflage effect.
Humphrey Bogart’s world famous trench coats were made by the Aquascutum brand.

Shopping inspiration for you:

Coats

JJXX JXChoice trench coat

Coats

Weekday Trench coat ZENNI

Coats

Selected Double breasted trench coat

Coats

Tommy Hilfiger Trench coat beige

Coats

A.p.c. Trench coat GRETA

Header image: Raspopova Marina via Unsplash

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Laura Scholz

Senior Editor

Laura.Scholz@digitecgalaxus.ch

Always in the mood for good hits, great trips and clinking drinks.

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It’s trench coat time – some facts and shopping inspiration

The history of the trench coat

The features of trench coats

4 facts about trench coats you didn’t know

These articles might also interest you

A good trench coat saves every outfit - here are 9

Mammut’s new jackets contain scraps of rope to keep you warm

One to remember – designer Cecilie Bahnsen creates textile dreams

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