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A Proper Trench

Andy57

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Isn't Burberry the scale against which we measure what a "proper" trench coat look like? In that case, it would make sense to get as close as possible to the original right? Also, on a more personal note, I don't like what Burberry has become, the image it carries those days and would like to avoid spending my money there. Vintage could be the way to go, but I have yet to find a vintage Burberry trench that makes me look good in it.
I guess I don't know what Burberry has become. But if you can't find a vintage Burberry trench coat that works for you, then maybe a trench coat isn't your best style, period? I'm not trying to be funny, but a vintage Burberry is about classic as a trench coat can be. Maybe the dispatch rider coat from Grenfell? That is a pretty good looking coat.
 

FlyingHorker

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Got mine back from a minor seam repair at the tailor.

Looks like a rumply mess.

Can you iron a trench? I've heard the cotton has some kind of coating, I don't know if ironing it would ruin it.
 

Keith Taylor

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Got mine back from a minor seam repair at the tailor.

Looks like a rumply mess.

Can you iron a trench? I've heard the cotton has some kind of coating, I don't know if ironing it would ruin it.

Coating may vary brand to brand but I’ve ironed my London Fog trenches several times without problems. If you have a removable lining and can iron the reverse all the better, but the material doesn’t seem to suffer either way.
 

FlyingHorker

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Coating may vary brand to brand but I’ve ironed my London Fog trenches several times without problems. If you have a removable lining and can iron the reverse all the better, but the material doesn’t seem to suffer either way.
Gotcha, thank you!
 

Stuart Midgley

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I bought the Grenfell 'Windsor' trench coat two or so years ago and absolutely love it. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and some older British friends who owned Burberry's and Aquascutum's of the 60's through 90's have admired it several times as well. The Grenfell cloth (worth the extra) is great in the rain and the zip-out liner works a treat in colder weather.

Unfortunately Burberry now make fashion coats, not practical ones. I looked at them, online and in-store here in Sydney, and they did not seem to me to be a quality, weather-proof, long-life coat. They are a fashion statement with cuts that are mostly impractical and will be out of fashion within a few seasons, and their prices are eye-watering. This was a deliberate decision Burberry made 15 years ago (to repitch as a high-fashion brand) and no doubt they're making a lot more money than they used to, but if you want a genuinely classic trench in terms of cut, fit and function... no.

Oh, and classic trench coats are knee length - any longer than that dragged in the mud in the bottom of the WWI trenches.
 
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patrickBOOTH

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It is very hard to find an old style Burberry coat. Go back into this thread when I created it and you will see. They are all short fashion coats and any you find on fleabay are in rough shape.
 

imatlas

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If I were in the market for a vintage trench I’d look at US Air Force coats.

B36DF355-22A1-47E7-A1D7-91A56794ADA9.jpeg
 

FlyingHorker

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Looked at the label for mine, says 100% cotton, dry clean only and reproof.

How do you reproof a cotton trench? Any recommended products?

I've heard Scotchgard works, but I want to get others' input. I don't want to change the breathability, it's one of my favourite parts of the coat.
 

comrade

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Looked at the label for mine, says 100% cotton, dry clean only and reproof.

How do you reproof a cotton trench? Any recommended products?

I've heard Scotchgard works, but I want to get others' input. I don't want to change the breathability, it's one of my favourite parts of the coat.
When I wore all cotton rain coats, which I no longer wear, I found that Scotch Guard was superior
in water-proofing than whatever the dry cleaner applied after cleaning the coat. i now have a dress
rain coat from Sanyo, of some type of artificial fiber which is waterproof. It looks like a Grenfell or
Burberry balmacaan but it sheds water like a Goretex jacket.,
 
Last edited:

FlyingHorker

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When I wore all cotton rain coats, which I no longer wear, I found that Scotch Guard was superior
in water-proofing than whatever the dry cleaner applied after cleaning the coat. i now have a dress
rain coat from Sanyo, of some type of artificial fiber which is waterproof. It looks like a Grenfell or
Burberry balmacaan but it sheds water like Goretex jacket.,
Gotcha, thank you.

Scotchgard it is for me then.
 

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