Mens Duster Coat
Mens Duster Coats.
The mens duster coat originated in the 1800’s in the Australian outback when an early entrepreneur decided to use old boat sails to make a cape that would be strong enough to withstand the hardest winds and was totally waterproof. He soaked the sails in linseed oil made them into capes and sold them to the sailors. Eventually, the sailors gave up the water and went on to become drovers. Those early duster coats were then called drover coats.
Later the mens duster coat was worn by the Texas Rangers. The coat was specifically made to accommodate a rider on horseback. The horseback riders duster was long and had a slit up the back, and the slit was held together with the help of buttons. The slit made it easier for the horseback rider to ride the trail. The coat was long and made of either of canvas or linen, and treated as oil cloth to make it water repellent.
The mens duster coats again made an appearance in the 1920’s when motor cars came onto the scene. They were a sort of uniform that was worn by the driver of this new open vehicle. The driver wore a duster, a scarf, flat cap, boots, goggles and gloves. The vehicle, would today be considered a sort of convertible, gathered dust, as it sped at 25 miles per hour, and the duster coat and all other accessories kept the driver from getting the dust onto himself and into his eyes.
As it is with most apparel, they find their way into films and books. In films the bad guys wore them to look villainous and the good guys wore them to look strong, attractive, and adventurous. In books they were worn by villains, vampires, spies and other worldly visitors. In fact in the series Dark Tower, Stephen King’s villains were known as the men in the long yellow coats. These coats were described as dusters.
The modern man wears a duster to make a fashion statement and sometimes to change his image.
The long full length trench coat with its small cape across the shoulders and turned up collar, is definitely an image maker. Although it no longer serves the same purpose as did the duster coats of past eras, it still serves a purpose. The long coat is still a good protection against the inclement weather of some areas since many are still water and dust repellent. However, it is not an appropriate piece of apparel for bicycling since the coat gets in the way of the bicycle’s mechanism.
The man wearing the long trench coats or mens duster coats still cuts an elegant looking figure, even in today’s fashion world. Unlike most retro costuming today, the mens duster coat does not look out of place when being worn, because it does blend in with other men’s apparel. The mens duster coat could have been the predecessor of the men’s topcoat of today and could easily be worn like one.
Trench Coats For Men Related Posts:
- Duster CoatThe duster coat for men goes back many years and is most often seen in early westerns where both the...
- Mens Trench CoatMens Trench Coats. The mens trench coat has long been a staple in any mans clothing collection, but its purpose...
- Mens Leather CoatsMens Leather Coat. Mens leather coats have remained popular ever since they were first manufactured back in the early part...
