Full Length Leather Trench Coat

From LoveToKnow Men's Fashion

A staple of either the stylish rebel or the take-no-prisoners lawmaker in movies and TV shows (think The Matrix, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and countless old Westerns), a full-length leather trench coat makes a powerful fashion statement. While you may have to do some work to get any sort of a bargain on such an item, you can rest assured that it is a worthy investment for your wardrobe.

A stylish version from Luxury Lane for sale at Amazon.com

Full-Length Leather Trench Coat History

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the full-length leather trench coat was worn for practicality. It’s not just a cool 1800s costume – the Old West was very dusty and a man needed a coat that could repel dust as he went about the business of establishing, and then defending, the law. The leather tended to be lightweight, so that the heat was not overwhelming. How great a man looked was not noticed, because the coats were common and their comfort was more important than their style.

When cars came into vogue in the 1920s, the full-length leather trench coat still had a place in a man’s wardrobe. It was the perfect item to wear while driving, because the early cars were open and the roads were unpaved. The men who had dealt with dust in the west had it easy compared to early motorists. And since anyone who owned a car was rich, they wanted to protect their expensive suits and ties. A whole driving uniform was necessary, including goggles, a flat cap and gloves. The leather coat was called a duster and could in fact be made of a number of materials, but leather was popular because the dust simply brushed right off.

A leather trench coat gives you a sharp fashion edge.

When the coats stopped being any kind of necessity, they became less popular. But they enjoyed a resurgence in the 1970s, when men and women alike were incorporating leather outerwear into their wardrobes. Whether a punk or a street look, there was no question that a leather trench coat denoted a man with a sharp edge, both in his personality and his look.

Shopping for Trench Coats

A leather trench coat of mediocre quality can be fairly inexpensive, but if you want to wear a full-length coat, which garners a lot of attention, then you should spring for something better. The quality of leather can vary widely and much of it is assessed by the feel, so this is an item that should be shopped for in person, rather than online. The one exception might be if you are specifically looking for a vintage piece, especially something very 1970s like a patchwork coat, or one in a wild color, such as purple. In this instance, you can trawl through eBay and online stores specializing in vintage wear. Look for the best descriptions of the coat’s quality. If the leather is faded or cracked, it may be past repair, or the repair required may be more expensive than the coat is worth. If you have any doubts, ask the seller to send you more pictures.

For a new coat, you should go to a high-end menswear shop or leather purveyor. This way, you can feel the leather, get a sense of the coat’s heft and, most importantly, gauge the fit and look. Leather must be cut well in order to be flattering. A leather trench coat tends to look best when it is slim fitting through the torso with gentle flaring through the hem. It can be single or double breasted – whichever gives your figure a more sleek look. Avoid belts! What works well on a cotton trench coat destroys the line on a leather coat. It can even make your midsection look more substantial. Your leather coat must button all the way down.

Finally, be sure to get it weather treated at the shop. An item like this should be taken care of so that it lasts forever and always looks magnificent..

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