Trench coat

A trench coat is a long coat.

It keeps you dry in the rain. It was made for army officers. They used it in long ditches. This is why it has that name.

The coats are often a tan color. They have many buttons on the front. They also have a belt for the waist.

This helps keep the coat in place.

Some coats have straps on the wrists. These stop rain from running down your arms. They also have big pockets for maps. People still wear these coats today. They can be many colors.

A trench coat is a long coat made of tough fabric.

It is meant to keep the rain out. British Army officers first used them in the First World War. They wore them in long, muddy ditches called trenches. This is how the coat got its name.

These coats have many special parts. They often have ten buttons on the front. A belt goes around the waist.

There are also straps on the wrists. These straps stop rain from running down the arms. The coat may have D-rings on the belt. Soldiers used these rings to hold maps or swords. Some coats also have epaulettes. These are small straps on the shoulders.

Many people loved these coats after the war. They became a popular fashion for men and women. Famous stars like Humphrey Bogart wore them in movies.

Today, many brands still make them. You can find them in many different colors.

A trench coat is a special kind of long coat. It is made from heavy-duty fabric that keeps water out.

These coats were first made for British Army officers. They became very popular during the First World War. Soldiers wore them while working in muddy ditches called trenches. This is how the coat earned its famous name. People used them as windbreakers or rain jackets. They were not meant to be heavy winter coats.

Many parts of the coat help it work well. Most trench coats are double-breasted with ten buttons on the front. They have wide lapels and a storm flap to stop rain. A belt goes around the waist to keep it snug. The sleeves have special straps at the wrists. These straps buckle tight to stop water from running down the arms.

Some coats also have epaulettes on the shoulders. There are D-rings on the belt too. Soldiers used these rings to hold maps or swords.

Two British companies claim they helped invent this coat. Aquascutum says their work goes back to the 1850s. Thomas Burberry invented a special fabric called gabardine in 1879. He showed a design for an officer's raincoat to the War Office in 1901.

During the war, the coat became an optional item for officers. They had to buy their own coats. Other ranks in the army were not allowed to wear them. The design combined a military cape with a regular officer's coat.

Many different countries used these coats in big wars. British and French soldiers used them in the First World War. During the Second World War, officers in the United Kingdom still used them. Other nations like the United States and the Soviet Union made their own styles.

Even countries like Belgium, France, and Germany used them. As time went on, some soldiers preferred shorter field jackets. These shorter coats helped them move around more easily.

Today, the trench coat is a famous part of fashion. Many people wear them for a smart or businesslike look.

Movie stars like Humphrey Bogart and Peter Sellers made them very popular. You can see them in many stories, too. Characters in Doctor Who and Sherlock wear them. Even superheroes like Hellboy or the Joker have worn them. Brands like Burberry still make them in many colors today.

A trench coat is a specific type of long coat made from heavy-duty, waterproof fabric.

It was originally designed for British Army officers to use during the First World War. The garment earned its name because it was used by soldiers in the muddy trenches. While it provides protection from rain and wind, it is not intended to be a heavy winter overcoat. Some versions include a removable wool liner for extra warmth, but they remain lighter than traditional winter coats.

The design of a traditional trench coat includes several functional parts. Most are double-breasted and feature ten buttons on the front. They include wide lapels and a storm flap to block the weather. A self-belt is used to secure the coat at the waist. The sleeves often feature raglan construction and end in cuff straps. These straps buckle around the wrists to prevent water from running down the forearm.

Many coats also include epaulettes, which are button-close shoulder straps. These were used in a military context to attach rank insignia.

Specific details on the belt and pockets helped soldiers in the field. The belt often includes D-rings, which are metal loops shaped like the letter D. While some people believe these were for grenades, they were actually used to attach equipment like swords or map cases. The coats also feature large pockets for carrying maps. Early designs included clever flaps and vents to help manage the odors caused by older rubber-based waterproof coats. These features allowed the coat to combine the utility of a military cape with the structure of a regulation greatcoat.

The history of the trench coat involves two major British luxury clothing manufacturers. Aquascutum claims its history with waterproof clothing dates back to the 1850s. However, Thomas Burberry invented a specific fabric called gabardine in 1879. This is a worsted wool fabric that is waterproofed using lanolin before it is even woven. In 1901, Burberry submitted a design for an officer's raincoat to the War Office. During the First World War, the trench coat became an optional item of dress. It could be purchased privately by officers and Warrant Officers Class I, but no other ranks were permitted to wear them.

During the First World War, the sizing of these coats was quite generous. This is because they were designed to be worn over the British Warm, which was a shorter wool coat. As military needs changed during the Second World War, some soldiers moved toward shorter garments. For example, British commandos and paratroopers often used the Denison smock. The US Army also utilized field jackets like the M1941 and M1943 to allow for more mobility.

Despite these changes, officers in the United Kingdom continued to use trench coats in bad weather.

In the modern era, the trench coat has transitioned from military gear to a fashion staple. It is often associated with a sense of businesslike respectability. Famous film stars helped popularize the look for the public. Humphrey Bogart's character, Rick Blaine, wore the coat in the film *Casablanca*.

Peter Sellers also famously wore them in the *Pink Panther* films. Today, brands like Burberry continue to produce them in many different colors. While some people prefer to buckle the belt, others tie it for a more casual appearance.

The trench coat also holds a significant place in popular culture and media. Many iconic characters have worn them, such as Sherlock Holmes and various incarnations of *Doctor Who*. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Colonel Nick Fury wears a black leather version. Even comic book characters like Hellboy and John Constantine use the coat as part of their look. However, the garment has also faced challenges in schools. In some US public schools, trench coats were forbidden due to concerns about their ability to conceal weapons or their associations with certain groups.