Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with trenchcoat

Help me replace the button I lost off my French military trench coat!

atmosphere — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:40:21 -0800

Please help me replace a lost button from my French military trench coat - or even just shed some light on the origins and history of the coat. Thanks! A few months back I purchased this French military trench coat from my local military surplus store. Now I have managed to lose one of the buttons, and am desperate to replace it! Here is a close up of the button (it measures aprox. 23mm across). Apparently the coat is Artillery, and I know the flaming grenade is a standard French military symbol, but I haven't been able to find a replacement.

A few more detail shots of the coat: inside label detailing where the coat was made, lapel design, and insignia from just above the cuffs.

I went back to the store I purchased the coat from and when I asked if they had any spare buttons or knew of a place I could get some, the guy replied "Nah, the coats come with the buttons already on", so that avenue isn't looking too promising. I've looked on ebay a bit but haven't found anything that matches the buttons exactly.

I'm hoping someone here can help me replace my lost button. Maybe you know of somewhere I could get one, like a specialist website, or would be willing to check out your local military store that you know to be helpful, or know of some weird button replication service that'll make me one, or anything at all that can help me replace it - the coat just really isn't complete without it! Even just some information about the coat itself in terms of it's origin or history would be much appreciated.

Thank you hive mind!

How to look normal in a long black trenchcoat?

lostburner — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:55:38 -0800

I'm 6 feet tall, solidly built, in my early twenties, and I have an ankle-length black leather trenchcoat. It's swishy and sleek, with a button closure (no belt), like this one (it may be the same coat). I got this coat after pining for it in high school for years, and went through a wearing-black Matrix phase with sunglasses and the whole deal. Now I have a girlfriend and some perspective, and I'm more likely to wear pullover sweaters. What can I wear with this coat? It's awesome, but I don't want to project the Matrix Poseur image every day. Occasionally is fine, as costume wear, but I'd like to be able to wear this coat more often than that, at dinner parties or evenings out, without seeming ridiculous. Is this possible? I'm in Southern California, so assume that it's comfortable to wear this without a lot of layers underneath.

Trench Coat ID

CitrusFreak12 — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 19:23:54 -0800

I recently lost my favorite trench coat, and hope to buy a new one. Only problem is, Idon't remember the brand! Can you help me ID it? It wasn't a full length trench coat. That is to say, not like a duster or one that goes all the way down your legs pretty much. It stopped around my mid-thigh. The inside fabric looked like the burberry pattern. What I remember of the logo was that it was a German eagle in red thread. Very much like this except.. y'know not all nazi-fied. The brand of the coat too, if I'm not mistaken, was German.

I'll see if I can dig up any photos other than this awful halloween photo (that's me in the fedora) for reference, but I'm hoping the burberry and the eagle will be clues enough for some trenchcoat connoisseur.

How do I tie a decent bow on a dress or coat?

zembla3 — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 15:35:51 -0800

I have a trenchcoat that ties in the front, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to make a bow that doesn't look lopsided. Is there an illustrated guide to this somewhere? I've checked Google, but all I can find are guides to making floral bows or tying neckties.

Where can I buy trench coat fabric?

orange swan — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 08:28:45 -0800

Where can I buy trench coat fabric? I want to make myself a spring coat, but I can’t find suitable fabric. I’d like the kind of fabric they use to make trench coats – water resistant fabric, not nylon or anything that will make me feel like I’m wearing a sandwich baggie. I’m told one brand name for this type of fabric is Thunderbolt. I live in Toronto and have tried Fabriclands, BouClair, Finer Fabrics, the Fabric Factory Outlet Showroom, the Designer Fabric Outlet, one other store at Keele and St. Clair (the name of which I can’t recall), and every store in the Queen Street fabric district. Only the Designer Fabric Outlet carried it, and I didn’t like any of the colours they had. I’m hoping for a cream, rather than that ubiquitous and ugly trench coat tan.

I thought perhaps I could order it online, but I can’t seem to find any on the (admittedly few) sites I looked at. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get my hands on 3 metres of this fabric?