THE TRENCH: INSPIRED BY VETERANS

Did you know that one of our favorite coats, the trench, was originally a military jacket? In honor of Veterans' Day My Scoop salutes veterans and the veteran-inspired trench.
The trench coat is a descendant of the heavy serge coats worn by British and French soldiers in World War I. The trench coat was created by Thomas Burberry, the inventor of gabardine fabric, who submitted a design for an army officer's raincoat to the United Kingdom War Office in 1901. Burberry's raincoat subsequently became part of the service uniform of British officers and was dubbed "trench coat" by the soldiers in the trenches. Many veterans returning to civilian life kept their coats that became fashionable for both men and women. Towards World War II, the trench coat became part of all enlisted men's and officers' kits in many countries' armed forces.
During World War II, the military forces continued to use the trench coat on the battlefield in cold weather. A typical trench coat is a ten-buttoned, double-breasted long coat made with tan, khaki, beige, or black fabric. Trench coats often have cuff straps on the raglan sleeves, shoulder straps (originally used to hold gloves and folding service caps, such as the Glengarry bonnet), and a belt that may also have two small brass D-rings as a salute to its military heritage. The rings were used to secure grenades, or sidearms (or swords in World War I).


Burberry, the inventor of the trench coat, Short Trench $895 Saks Fifth Avenue at The Summit.






Mint by Jodi Arnold Trench $682. Mint can be found at Laura Kathryn in Crestline Village and Susan G. Mattews in Mountain Brook Village.














Kenneth Cool Tweed Trench $338 nordstrom.com.















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Samantha Mini Trench $89.95 Anthropologie at The Summit.







The Burton Trench $58 Francesca's Collection at The Summit.






Juicy Couture double breasted trench $548 at Saks Fifth Avenue at The Summit.










Alice and Olivia Trench $465 nordstrom.com