Burberry Prorsum Spring Summer 2014 campaign. Photo courtesy of www.justjared.com
The trench coat; tres parisian and so much more. Parisian style loves the trench coat. The trench coat is just about the most copied, most personalised, most chic and timeless as any coat you’ll find. And despite its name suggesting it war-faring origins, two acclaimed British design houses claim invention of the trench coat. Aquascutum have laid claim dating back to the 1850’s and Thomas Burberry, having invented gabardine fabric, has a claim dated 1901 after submitting a design for an army officers raincoat.
Originally developed as an alternative to the heavy serge greatcoats worn by British and French soldiers in WW1, the trench coat has survived several wars and a few design changes. Early design changes were minimal but served to assist soldiers in their warring activities. For example, large pockets were able to house maps and cleverly placed flaps and vents helped with air flow, to deal with odour associated with earlier rubber coats. Shoulder straps for epaulettes & rank insignia and D-rings were also added, and not for attaching grenades as is often assumed.
So comfortable and useful were those long ‘trench coats’ that many WW1 veterans continued wearing them upon their return home. Thus establishing a ‘fashion’ seized upon by both men and women. WW2 saw British officers use the trench coat on the battlefields. As the war progressed, their European and USA counterparts shortened the trench coat to become a ‘field jacket’ thus increasing mobility.
Trench coats typically came in shades of beige, khaki or black. Now you’ll find them in new seasons colours and fabrics, including leather, silk, lace and cotton. However, after WW2 trench coats were 10-button, double-breasted, long coats with cuff straps on raglan sleeves, shoulder straps and a belt.
Famous trench coats include those worn by Humphry Bogart (probably borrowed from Lauren Bacall, let’s face it) when he played Rick Blaine in Casablanca; Peter Falk’s famously crumpled trench when he played the famously crumpled detective, Colombo; and most famous of all Peter Sellers’ Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther movie series.
Modern trench coats now range from my fave label, Burberry Prorsum, to heavy metal and Goth oilcloth ‘dusters’. Fashionistas the world over are making trench coats their own. They are classic, endlessly chic and effortlessly breeze between seasons. Did I mention my fave trench coat label Burberry Prorsum?
Their Spring Summer 2014 collection features trench coats in delicate gelati colours, with contrasting belts, in fabrics including silk and lace. Everyone from Emma Watson and Sienna Miller to Paloma Faith and Harry Styles know a good trench when they see one. As do the women of Paris.
From catwalk to street-style, the trench is universally favoured. What’s your trench Street Style? We’d love to showcase YOUR trench fashion sense on Makeup Files. If you want to be included, please Contact Us with your e-mail address and we’ll send you information about being one of our ‘Street Style’ fashionistas right here on Makeup Files.
What’s your trench Street Style? We’d love to showcase YOUR trench fashion sense on Makeup Files. If you want to be included, please Contact Us with your e-mail address and we’ll send you information about being one of our ‘Street Style’ fashionistas right here on Makeup Files.