In 2017 when Priyanka Chopra debuted MET gala, apart from her date Nick Jonas, all anyone could talk about was her Ralph Lauren trench coat with an unbelievably long and dramatic train. However, it was Thomas Burberry who has been credited for popularising the iconic trench coats. Now when thinking about trench coats, most people can only think about Burberry.

How It Started

Did you know trench coats actually evolved out of waterproof coats? Trench coats have always been popular among British culture, worn by the rich and upper class mostly as a raincoat rather than a style statement. But it was in 1879 when a young draper from London named Tomas Burberry developed a revolutionary new waterproof fabric called gabardine,using which the now famous Burberry trench coats were made.

They were originally designed for military officers in London during the WWI to protect them from heavy rain and wind. And no, not for the everyday soldiers but for officers of higher ranks. Believe it or not, the name trench coats actually came because they were worn by the soldiers stationed at the trenches.

BURBERRY TRENCH COATS WERE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH WW OFFICERS ANYMORE BUT BY A DASHING SPY, MYSTERIOUS HERO OR A SEDUCTIVE FEMME FATALE.

What Made It Special

Earlier, trench coats worn by officers were heavier and uncomfortable to carry as they were waxed or rubberised. Mr. Burberry changed the game when he invented gabardine. He waterproofed the yarns of cotton and wool before weaving rather than the finished fabric. This made Burberry trench coats lightweight and breathable unlike other coats at that time. And obviously it became an instant hit and popular among the military officers.

And who could have thought that every detail on the trench coat had a functional use? Beige colour was given for a perfect camouflage. The epaulettes on the coats were given to display the ranks of the military officers. Windshield on the upper back part of the coat near the neck was designed to let the rain water flow down keeping the wearer dry. Buttons near the neck were placed to protect the wearer from getting poisoned. Furthermore, a belt was added on the waist for tightening the coat during chilly weather. D-rings at the back of the belt were also added to attach other military weapons. And lastly, pleats at the back of the coat was designed to give the wearer flexibility to move while riding a horse, or running.

Hollywood Factor

World War ended but trench coats popularity remained intact, and this time becoming a staple favourite among civilians as well. They now entered into a more fashionable wardrobe. Who could have given trench coats a glamorous avatar other than Hollywood? Burberry trench coats were not associated with WW officers anymore but by a dashing spy, mysterious hero or a seductive femme fatale.

The trench coats feature of D-rings, epaulets and flaps at the back evolved from practical use to statement of style and fashion.

For starters, Humphrey Bogart in a scene from Casablanca with a tilted fedora and a Burberry trench coat still remains imbedded in our memories, although he wore it only in two scenes. The film made us fall in love with him and his dashing personality reflected through his style.

Another classic example is of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. This movie is already an epitome for major fashion goals and Audrey as Holly Golightly adorning her beige trench coat, standing under the rain, embracing her lover, is one of them.

Meryl Streep in Kramer Vs Kramer, and her beige Burberry trench coat blending perfectly with the films composition mix of tan and beige gives us some serious autumn feels. The Film’s complex story is depicted in the type of clothes that she wears, and her Burberry trench coat.

And from there on the popularity for trench coats kept accelerating. And not only among Hollywood, but many royalties made it their wardrobe essentials.

During 1970’s, Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, Lord Lichfield, who is internationally famous for his fashion sense and style, was photographed for Burberry’s Trench Coat Campaign.

In 2011, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton was spotted adorning Burberry’s trench coat, matching perfectly with her elegant and sophisticated style while giving us some fashion inspiration.

Burberry Redesigned

Former creative director of Burberry, Christopher Bailey in his 17-year long tenure (2001-18), reimagined and redesigned Burberry. With his innovative style and new vision, he transformed Burberry’s trench coat from simple beige and tan to more electric colours, gave it more redefined and refreshed look, more drastically cinched waist and more evolved fabrics beyond gabardine all while remaining true to brand’s heritage.

And it is a no brainer, for an iconic piece of clothing, it is natural for several designers to jump in and bring their own variants. Today, the trench coat is revisited and redesigned by many other famous designers such as Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo and French haute couturier Jean-Paul Gaultier. No more just limited to original design, they are now available in different combination of colours, styles and lengths, with and without its original iconic details.

Style it Up

The trench coats versatility, fine tailoring, and goes-with-everything beige colour makes it easier to be paired with nearly anything in any situation.  Here are some of our top picks for you to style the trench coat.

For Her

• Wear it as a dress like former first lady Melania Trump with your nude colour stockings (or without it), a pair of solid heels or with a pair of sneakers for a casual day out and neatly kept open hair with belt tightly clinging to your waist, walking with lots of confidence like you run this world.
• Team up your trench coat with your nicely fitted pair of F21 jeans, with a ribbed t-shirt paired with your Adidas white sneakers. If you are keeping the trench coat open, consider tying the belt in a knot at the back to give it more shape.
• You can also roll up your sleeves or tighten and push them up if you are wearing a more structured trench.

For Him

• Pair it with your jeans and your sneakers with a muffler wrapped around your neck and make a style statement next time when you visit your favourite coffee shop.
• Or Wear it as Tom Hardy over your neatly ironed formal or semiformal suit to protect them from getting dirty.

How to Take Care of Your Trench

Now the question arises- How to take care of your favourite trench coats? Having a habit of tossing everything into our washing machine, we might want to go easy on them. Burberry trench coats are made out of high quality, delicate yarns. They are woven together at Burberry mills in England by experts who combine modern and traditional techniques. It takes around three weeks to make each coat. Hence, taking care of your coat requires special attention. It is therefore advised to get your trench coats professionally dry-cleaned and not hand washed. Reproof them following a dry-cleaning to maintain their water-resistant quality. Some stores do provide their in-house dry cleaning facility which are paid for.

Stylish, classic and timeless, there’s no doubt in saying that Burberry’s iconic trench coats have played a vital role in contributing to the success of the luxury brand. They have proved that embracing the rich history and heritage of your brand can never go wrong. Now we know- owning a Burberry trench coat is like owning a part of history.