"Uniforms as a solution to expensive Fashion stores?" Topic

I will start this post by stating that I am not a reenactor, but I really want a nice quality overcoat or trench coat. The big-name "men's fashion" companies charge $300 USD+ for a good tan or black double-breasted overcoat. However, my time working with OD green American overcoats from World War II, the late 1940's, and the early 1950's at a museum has shown me that military uniform overcoats, when treated properly, can last a long time and still look great. Are there World War II reproduction companies that are reputable and produce good overcoats? Five seconds on Google brought some results but I do not know enough about the companies: if their uniform parts are accurate (which is not that big of a concern for me except for the principle that a reproduction should be accurate), if they fit right, or if they are made from material that will last as long as the originals.

Try surplus stores too. Waco Joe may know where they are there. I only know of two here off hand.

I know of one, and I'll give them a call tomorrow. But it didn't look like they had much when I stopped by a year ago to buy some pepper spray.

You can but some snazzy ex Russian/East German militaty greatcoats on e-bay.

Repro greatcoats go for a hundred quid or more, although some are really quite good, others are quite thin and nasty material. ymmv.

otoh you can pick up originals for rather less, I got a 1940 dated British Army greatcoat with all the original brass buttons for 50 quid, and a 1942 dated Swedish also for 50 (reworked into a German one by changing the buttons and rear belt strap, and adding shoulder boards).

ebay.

postwar Soviet greatcoats are also fairly cheap, original WW2 ones aren't as they are as rare as hens teeth. A lot of postwar Soviet stuff is on ebay marked as 'WW2' so caveat emptor.

postwar French greatcoats are very similar to US wartime ones.

Originals are warm, heavy but very hardwearing. Mine look almost new, which isn't bad as they are 70 years old.

The problem with 1940s originals is that there are few available in larger sizes, so whether they are any good depends on if you are 1940 sized. Repros of course go up to XXL or equivalent.

And if lucky enough,even up to 4X,if needed,on the repros.

Currently the US Marine Corp uses an all weather trench coat that is the perfect classic style trench coat. You can find them at several surplus stores. They call it an All Weather Coat. Do an Internet search for that, I've seen them as cheap as $50. USD My son got me mine at the PX on Camp Lejeune.

Currently no one makes a reproduction US WWII enlisted overcoat. You can find originals on Ebay all the time, but anything over size 38 gets bid up pretty high because of all the reenactors looking for ones that actually fit them :) (They are sized a bit large so if you are not wearing a lot under them you can get away with a size smaller than what you normally wear--I got a size 40 a few months ago that fits pretty well.) But I agree that military overcoats are not only warm and sturdy, but incredibly stylish!

I decided to try the safe thing and go to a surplus store, instead of running the risk of buying poor quality from a total stranger online. I found a recent Army all weather trench coat in black, which was in really good condition (and only needs to be dry-cleaned, no tears or thin fabrics).