The duster coat for men goes back many years and is most often seen in early westerns where both the good guys and the bad guys wore them. Character actors playing the part of a preacher wore them. If you remember the movie “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” you will recall that the Dalton brothers all wore them.
The duster coat was long, tight at the top with long sleeves and flared at the bottom. The wider flared bottom was for the ease of mounting a horse and for quick movements. Included in that flared skirt of the coat was a slit in the back so the wearer could move the coat to each side when riding a horse. The color was always black and no other colors were available at that time.
The original duster coat was really a cape made from a sail and soaked in linseed oil to make it water repellent. Sailors in the 1800’s wore water resistant capes while working on ships. Eventually, when they gave up sailing they began driving cattle and the coats became known as drove coats.
In the early days many people used an overcoat whilst working, and this especially applied to men. Trench coats were commonly worn and the Texas Rangers wore the duster as a uniform.
For a long time the garment lost its popularity and had its resurgence with the appearance of the automobile.
The first automobiles were open and the driver had to have a combination of clothing that was very much like a uniform. The driver needed to wear this type of clothing to keep him clean and for protection against flying debris and inclement weather.
A driver’s uniform consisted of the a long trench coat, a scarf, a flat cap, goggles, gloves and boots. If the driver had a passenger the uniform for that person was almost the same.
The updated version of that time had not changed much except some of them had three slits, one on each side of the garment and one in the center back. They had to be made convenient for sitting in the vehicle hence the slits to be able to move parts of the coat aside when entering or leaving and sitting in the automobile
Like the trench coats for men, the duster coat for men is still available and is now made of fabrics other than the sails and canvas they were made from originally. Not only are the fabrics modernized but there are now more colors available.
The style of the duster coat for men is one that can be worn in the casual world as well as the business world.
A man that considers himself a fashionable person usually has an overcoat in his wardrobe and wears it proudly to any occasion.
All styles of coat can easily be purchased online, and what may sometimes be described as a Gothic coat or full length leather trench coat is actually in fact a duster coat.
Popular Trench Coats For Men
Trench coats are not new to the fashion world for men but the newest addition to the traditional trench coat is the hooded trench coat.
The hooded trench coat is double breasted and modern in style, but with many features of the original trench coat.
The trench coat has come a long way from the days of the Boar wars to the modern man’s fashion wardrobe. During the First World War the soldiers of the British Armed Forces complained that the wool topcoats they wore were too big and awkward making it difficult for them to get around.
Thomas Burberry, a noted designer of men’s apparel designed a coat more fitting for the soldiers and the full length trench coat was born. In the beginning only the officers were allowed to wear the creation., which got its name because it was worn in the trenches.
It was not until the Second World War that the enlisted men of the British army were given the option of wearing the mens double breasted trench coat. It was at that time that the London Fog trench coat was debuted for the U.S. Armed Forces. Women of the British Armed Forces also began to wear the trench coat.
Both the Burberry trench coat and the London Fog trench coat were designed for the military and had on it all of the necessary loops and belts to be an aid to the soldier. There were looped epaulets on the shoulder convenient for carrying gloves, caps and other flat things. The belt had a D ring convenient for carrying maps. The coat had style being double breasted with brass military buttons.
In both Britain and the United States celebrities wore the long trench coat in the movies they made and in their personal lives. They wore them in comedies, dramas (Westerns and thrillers). The popularity of the trench coat remains.
In today’s modern world the traditional trench coat has changed very little. From the basic tan fabric to shearling, faux fur, and leather trench coat.
The colors have also changed from the original tan and black to almost any color imaginable, i.e. red, purple, yellow, and more.
The trench coat has gone from the traditional type of coat to a reversible model, or one with a detachable lining.
The newest addition to the trench coat is the hood. There is now available a men’s hooded trench coat, which is proving to be tremendously popular.
The trench coat has gone from being a traditional military style coat to a modern warm hooded trench coat. It has not changed its basic style nor has it lost its popularity.
In spite of the fact that the length has gone from a short trench coat to long and back again, it has always kept the principal features that made it so popular.
Every retail shop knows what you want if you ask for a Burberry or a London Fog, but now you have much more choice in both design and colors.
The hooded trench coat offers you all the great attributes of the original full length coats with the added benefit of a hood to keep you both drier and warmer.
Popular Trench Coats For Men
Military Trench Coats.
The military trench coat has a very long history and it first made its mark during wartime.
The 1st World War presented many problems for the French and British soldiers.
One such problem was the thick and heavy serge greatcoats that they were forced to wear. The mud and the grime weighed the coat down even more, which only added to the pressure on the already exhausted soldiers.
The introduction of the garment (namely the military trench coat) by the Burberry clothing company changed the life of soldiers from then on in.
The London Fog company also produced the London Fog trench coat which was very similar in design.
During the 2nd World War enlisted men of the American and British Forces and many others besides quickly adopted military trench coat as an essential part of their uniform.
The double breasted version in its navy or beige material suited both men and women, and soon women began favoring this style of trench coat.
Although the coat did look very smart, it was purely for practical reasons that it was a firm favorite.
The coat was easy to clean, contrary to the older woolen trench coat. D rings and shoulder straps allowed small pieces of kit or equipment to be easily attached and therefore readily available.
The full length trench coat soon became available as a mid length trench coat, to be worn when the later was the more practical option.
The style of the military trench coats soon became popular with the public at large, and soon everyone wanted to wear this elegant style of coat.
The movies were quick to feature the hero wearing his long double breasted trench coat, and women swooned at the sight. This resulted in most of the single men saving their money to buy this latest form of outerwear.
The military trench coat of today comes in a wide range of materials including; gabardine, wool, cotton, and leather.
It can be worn every day, and it just as suited to wear at the office as it is to wear for an evening out.
It is a fact that today the heavyweight traditional woolen topcoat has been joined, if not replaced, by the military trench coat in many wardrobes and closets.
Popular Trench Coats For Men
Mens Trench Coats.
The mens trench coat has long been a staple in any mans clothing collection, but its purpose has changed over the centuries.
Originally this style of topcoat was worn to keep out the cold during bad weather and harsh winters. It was worn to protect the wearer from the dirt and dust that were common in those primitive times.
Today the mens trench coat is a fashion item and can be found in the high street, shopping mall, gentleman’s outfitters, and most convenient of all on the internet.
The traditional black and brown trench coat, the military trench coat style, the full length leather trench coat, the mid length trench coat and the jacket style, can all be easily found on general sale, and top designers always have them in their clothing collections.
Emporio Armani, Burberry, and London Fog, are just a few of the world famous brand names that are renowned for their production of top quality fashionable mens trench coats.
The long trench coats were worn in order to protect the wearer, but although they may be worn for the same purpose today the full length coat has a hint of mystery about it, and women find this look attractive.
The beauty of mens trench coats is in their versatility. They can be worn by men of all ages whether they seek the traditional formal look, or the more trendy casual look.
The coat can look just as good worn over a 3 piece suit as it does worn over jeans and a sweater.
The leather gothic coat is more suited to the younger generation, yet it still creates a tidy if somewhat mysterious look. Indeed, many ‘young at heart’ rock stars can’t bear to part with their favorite leather trench coat.
The mens trench coat can be found in heavyweight wool and lightweight cotton, making it suitable for all seasons.
Many cotton models are designed with a quilted detachable lining held in place with either a zipper or small buttons. This makes it suitable for use all year round, whether there’s a snowstorm brewing or a light sun shower.
The double breasted version is on a parallel with the single breasted version, in the popularity stakes. Favorite colors include the traditional khaki, black, beige, and midnight blue.
For an individual look you can have your coat designed to your own specifications, from everything to the material that is used to the color of the lining.
It’s no wonder that the mens trench coat is becoming an even more essential part of mens outerwear.
Popular Trench Coats For Men
Full Length Leather Trench Coats.
The trench coat dates back as far as the 1800’s and was usually made of cotton, gabardine, poplin or denim fabrics. The full length leather trench coat also dates back centuries. Officers of the British army wore trench coats on the front lines during World War 1.
In the 19th and 20th centuries trench coats for men became the apparel of choice for practicality. Being light weight it allowed the man to go about his business in a more comfortable manner than did the old cloth coat. It was practical not only because it was lighter in weight than the old style trench coat it was also easier to keep it clean as it repelled dust, kept the wearer dry in the rain, and with a zip out lining kept the wearer warm in the cold weather. The leather trench coat was the ideal coat for practicality. Style was not important at that time.
In the 1920’s when automobiles came in to the lives of men these full length coats had their place. The automobiles were open and that brought dust and debris in to the automobile playing havoc with a man’s clothing. The full length leather trench coat, also called a duster, was worn by the driver together with goggles, a cap, scarf, and gloves. This was standard wearing apparel for the driver of the automobile in the 20’s.
Soon the full length leather trench coat for men became a piece of fashion apparel. Hollywood can be thanked for that change. The good guys and the bad guys on film all wore them while they were either chasing the criminal or being one.
Perhaps the most cherished memory of the detective in a trench coat was Peter Sellers. He wore a trench coat in all of his detective movies.
The leather trench coat fell into a slump until the 1970’s when it became a fashion statement for a man to be seen wearing leather coats. There was a variety of colors for the man to choose from, bright purple if the man wanted to be noticed, or black to look handsome and elegant.
Full length leather trench coats for men come in a variety of leathers and as a result prices vary. The more supple and soft, the pricier the coat. A popular leather for this style coat is lambskin.
The style of the leather trench coat is the same in the lower price range as in the higher price range but, if a man wants to feel handsome and impress than the higher price range coat is definitely the way to go.
If the man is looking for a vintage coat, he would then be looking for something actually made from the 1970’s era. He would probably be looking for something in a patchwork style or a color that was popular in the 70’s..
Keep your coat clean and weather treated and the full length leather trench coat can serve you well for many years.