@Edward, I bought a WPG trench coat about 7 years ago. Excellent value for money. Very well made indeed, with great attention to detail. More of a tan color than a greener khaki, looks great with my Penman hats (I detest umbrellas). Very warm wool lining that buttons in/out, has another cotton lining beneath that, and between that and the outer shell has a waxed (or oiled?) interlining. Smelt terrible when I received it due to the waterproofing on the interling (very strong linseed type smell). Two weeks hanging on my veranda fixed that.
It's never leaked at the seams even in typhoons. It's quite heavy even without the woolen liner. The only criticism I have is that the leather on the metal fittings is extremely thin (although it's never ripped or failed), and the metal part of the buckle that goes through the belt holes was a little rough at the end.
Amazing for the price.
As for Burberry, they are big in Japan (were massive 15 years ago), and due to Japan's protectionist trade practices, Burberry offers a 'black label' line in Japan, which is effectively a Japanese majority owned subsidiary, using Japanese designers and manufacturing in China (my wife used to design for them, and Paul Smith Japan). These products are offered at 'regular' Burberry prices, whist 'regular' items are marked up as much as 50% above U.K. prices.
In light of that, I was blown away to get my wife's trench coat for her at such a good price.
Don't buy it, it's very thin on content. Some good photos. No worthwhile text. If you see it in a used bookstore for a few bucks then okay, since it's nice to flip through once in a while.Any trench coat fans here familiar with the book "The Trench Book" by Nick Foulkes?
http://www.nicholasfoulkes.com/books/the-trench-book/
It looks interesting but am not sure about the value of the content (i.e. is it mostly photos or is there accompanying text about the history of the trench coat, its sartorial legacy, various manufacturers, etc.).
Thanks for the feedback. Are there any better books out there specifically about trench coats?Don't buy it, it's very thin on content. Some good photos. No worthwhile text. If you see it in a used bookstore for a few bucks then okay, since it's nice to flip through once in a while.
None that I've found, and there's a reason for that: the topic is really small, and there's not much to know. One could summarize trench coats -- their history, their details, their evolution, their cultural/style impact -- in a few paragraphs, or a single page. Seriously. The best way to learn about them it to look at tons of photos and movies, and if you have an "eye" for seeing details, seeing cut, seeing fit, and seeing cloth then you'll teach yourself. And of course, collect them and wear them.Thanks for the feedback. Are there any better books out there specifically about trench coats?
None that I've found, and there's a reason for that: the topic is really small, and there's not much to know. One could summarize trench coats -- their history, their details, their evolution, their cultural/style impact -- in a few paragraphs, or a single page. Seriously. The best way to learn about them it to look at tons of photos and movies, and if you have an "eye" for seeing details, seeing cut, seeing fit, and seeing cloth then you'll teach yourself. And of course, collect them.
With that type of hat it's definitely a New England look.Got my vintage Burberry trench coat today and my vintage new London Fog rain hat. A fantastic coat and a great look with the hat, makes a statement