The Trench Coat: An Obsessive, Comprehensive Guide

FEMME FATALES, French women, spies, soldiers, old-time gangsters and even flashers may come to mind when you think of that ever-versatile garment, the trench coat. Despite its more vulgar connotations, the style is rooted in British aristocracy, having been originally developed as a sporting coat for the upper crust. It soared to broader popularity during World War I, when British officers adopted the weatherproofed, double-breasted, oft-belted style (typically in khaki) for use on the front lines, according to Jane Tynan, leader in the M.A. in Fashion Critical Studies at Central Saint Martins in London.

Yet...