| Despite their wartime origins, duffle coats refuse | | | | Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Left. |
| to go out of fashion... | | | | However, it was Charlotte Ford, granddaughter of |
| As British as afternoon tea and Asbos, this coat | | | | the car magnate Henry Ford, who moved the |
| has survived two world wars, ban the bomb | | | | coat a few notches up the style scale when, in |
| marches and the vagaries of fashion for nearly | | | | 1965, she eloped to St Moritz with Greek shipping |
| 100 years to become a classic. | | | | magnate Stavros Niarchos wearing a Gloverall |
| Lily Allen and Kelly Osborne wear theirs on the | | | | classic. |
| party circuit; Gwyneth Paltrow saves hers for | | | | The Gloverall duffle coat remains largely |
| strolling with her children in New York, while model | | | | unchanged to this day. A traditional example of "le |
| Laura Bailey turned up in one during London | | | | style anglais", which has legions of followers, the |
| Fashion Week. | | | | coat continues to appeal to the style-conscious all |
| Rachel Hunter and Leah Wood, daughter of Rolling | | | | over the world (80 per cent of the coats from |
| Stone Ronnie Wood, are fans. So too are Sir Bob | | | | Gloverall's factory in east London are exported to |
| Geldof, Clint Eastwood and Torville & Dean - | | | | Japan and Europe), while many British customers |
| not to mention a host of royals and, of course, | | | | buy duffle coats as part of their children's |
| its most famous wearer, Paddington Bear. | | | | (expensive) private school uniforms. |
| The cosy cover-up that unites them all is the | | | | Burberry, which traces its earliest duffle coats |
| humble duffle coat. | | | | back to the days of the great explorers, such as |
| With its large, protective hood, heavyweight | | | | Ernest Shackleton, in the early 1900s, has latterly |
| fabric, leather loops and horn "toggles", the coat | | | | snatched the duffle crown, with designer |
| started life as part of the uniform of the Royal | | | | Christopher Bailey's endorsement. |
| Navy in the First World War. | | | | Burberry's Montgomery duffle coats, along with |
| It became standard issue in the Second World | | | | the Gloverall classics, have always been made in |
| War, when two of its most enthusiastic | | | | England, and have been spotted on actress |
| supporters were Lt Col Sir David Stirling, the | | | | Thandie Newton, Bryan Ferry and his sons Otis |
| founder of the SAS, and "Monty" (Field Marshal | | | | and Isaac, and members of the bands Razorlight |
| Montgomery), who lent his name to the Burberry | | | | and Kasabian. |
| duffle coat, still available today. | | | | With that heritage and cast of supporters, who |
| After the war, large stocks of army surplus | | | | cares if Kate Moss prefers leather bomber |
| duffle coats were acquired by the British | | | | jackets and vintage fur? The duffle coat is here |
| company Gloverall and became an instant hit. | | | | to stay. |
| When that supply ran out, in 1954, Gloverall began | | | | Gloverall Duffle Coat |
| making its own version, adapting the fit and style | | | | This winters must have Duffle coat is the |
| of the military coat for everyday wear. | | | | Gloverall Duffle Coat. Available from Grays |
| In 1956 a ladies' cut was produced, followed by a | | | | Outfitters Blackburn with free delivery £235 is |
| version for children. Almost overnight, the duffle | | | | an absolute bargain. Gloverall have already been |
| coat was being worn by everyone from Bing | | | | singled out by and FHM as the fashion |
| Crosby to politician Michael Foot, university | | | | accessory this season. |
| students and the "Angry Young Men" of the | | | | |