FASHION FOREVER: The Trench Coat … Always Classic, Always New

FASHION TREND REPORT EXCLUSIVELY FOR RANDOLPH STREET MARKET BY NENA IVON, REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION.

Burberry used gaberdine, a waterproof fabric, to make the military trench coats first worn in World War l. This iconic coat has seen many incarnations through the years going from being a military uniform to today’s Influencer’s uniforms. From it’s beginnings with Burberry and Aquascutum to John Galliano for Margiela. From film stars, often playing a character itself, to the Royals. From traditional fabrics to vinyl to exotic skins. The trench coat most certainly defines our monthly fashion theme of ALWAYS CLASSIC ALWAYS NEW!

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

Women, pictured in their trench coats, became extremely important to the war efforts serving in many necessary jobs and contributing to the advancement of the women’s suffragette movement, first in the UK then the States.

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

Popularized in print via photographs and illustrations, the trench coat became THE coat to own by men and women a trend that continues to this day a hundred years later.

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

“Both Aquascutum and Burberry take credit for having “invented” the WWI trench coat, but the truth is that the two firms helped popularize a type of coat already in existence, adapting it for military use. The image of the dashing upper-class officer, valiantly aiding in the war effort, while wearing his trench coat helped cement the panache of the style. Burberry and Aquascutum trench coats were expensive, affordable only for the well-to-do, but cheaper versions were marketed by scores of other retailers – much like today. Foreign soldiers and civilians began wearing the coat during the war, buying into its patriotic associations.” From British Vogue

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

I always like to suggest a book or two for you to learn more… here is one from Assouline THE TRENCH BOOK.

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

1940’s gentlemen in their trench coats and fedoras, most likely inspired by Humphrey Bogart in one of his many roles wearing trench coats, most notably, at least to me, Casablanca!!

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

More vintage inspiring now, worn then, Bogart, Dietrich and Hepburn

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

More icons… Cara and Kate… more Audrey and Meryl…

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

One more Audrey with Hubert de Givenchy walking on the Seine.

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

Peter Sellers as Jacques Clouseau in The Pink Panther always in his white trench.

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

Peter Falk as the lovable Colombo, the trench coat, for both these detectives, were as much characters as the actors that wore them!

Christopher Bailey, in his reign as Burberry’s Creative Director… made Burberry, in my opinion, the fashion iconic brand it is today. Maintaining its tradition by adding modernity to make it fresh and newly desirable.

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

Looking at some “Street Fashion”

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

Rita Ora…

John Galliano for Margiela… deconstructed trench collection… fascinating interpretations of a tradition, made futuristic…

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

Or perhaps back to the traditional with the Royals and a First Lady…

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market
The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

Perhaps the longest lasting item of clothing starting at the beginning of the 20th Century as military garments becoming the iconic fashion we know today a hundred years later… the trench coat… always classic and definitely always new!!!

The Trench Coat Randolph Street Market

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by Nena Ivon
www.nenasnotes.com
www.facebook.com/Nena Ivon
www.instagram.com/nenasnotes

All photos from Pinterest photo credits unknown.

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