Duster vs Trench Coat: Difference and Comparison

Coats are highly fashionable and can keep you warm in winter and also make a glamorous look. Many celebrities have been setting trends in winter coats for many years.

From Kate Middleton’s camel tone coat to Selena Gomez’s orange fur coat to Hailey Baldwin’s Olive trench coat, coats are always trendy in the winter. Duster and trench coats are two of the most popular types of coats.

Key Takeaways

  1. Dusters are long, loose-fitting coats originally designed to protect riders from dust and dirt while on horseback.
  2. Trench coats are double-breasted, belted coats with a military-inspired design, made from waterproof materials.
  3. Dusters prioritize practicality and protection from the elements, while trench coats combine functionality with a more refined, fashionable design.

Duster vs Trench Coat

The name “duster” refers to the coat’s intended use as a protective garment while performing dusty tasks such as driving or working with horses. A trench coat is a raincoat with a belted waist, double-breasted front, and knee-length design. It serves as both a practical and fashionable item, with features like pockets, and a back vent. 

Duster vs Trench Coat

Duster refers to a full-length lightweight coat that doesn’t have any buttons. Originally it was made of light-colored linen or canvas.

Both women and men wore duster coats during the 19th and 20th centuries for protecting their clothes from the dirt of the road while riding open motorcars. In modern times, any full-length coat is considered to be a duster. 

A trench coat refers to a loose fit, double-breasted, long coat which also has a belt. Generally, trench coats are made up of waterproof fabric.

A trench coat covers almost the whole body since it is a long-length coat. It can be worn by both women and men and can create both casual and professional looks.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonDusterTrench Coat
OriginOriginally developed for horsemen for protecting their clothes from trail dust.    Originally developed for British army officers.
LengthFull-length.Not as long as a duster coat.
DesignPockets, belts, and buttons are absent.    Pockets, belts, and buttons are the main design feature.
Front openFront open. The front of the trench coat is closed with a belt. 
MaterialLightweight fabric compared to the trench coat.    Waterproof fabric.
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What is Duster? 

Duster is a lightweight loose-fitted full-length coat that is highly fashionable.

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The duster coat was originally designed for horsemen and later in the 19th and 20th centuries, the duster coat gained popularity in western countries. In modern times, leather duster coats are worn by motorcyclists for preventing road rash.

Duster coats got famous in the late 20th century when worn by several 20th-century movie characters. David Tennant wore a cinnamon brown duster coat in his film, Doctor Who.

Van Pelt who was the main enemy character in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle wore a dark brown colored duster coat. 

Duster coats have moved away from the traditional brown and cream color and currently, it comes in various colors including practical autumnal hues and pretty pastel shades.

Many celebrities and fashion vloggers are seen slashing in duster coats. Style guru Kylie Jenner, Ashley Olsen is seen in duster coats many times.

Duster coats over pantsuits and dresses look classy and trendy. Be it Priyanka Chopra’s pink-colored duster coat or Chrissy Teigen’s satiny duster jacket, they all are highly fashionable and classy.

Printed duster coats can give you your fashion statements. Funky fabrics and prints along with design work, embellishments, and studs are trendy and classy at the same time. You can also wear duster coats with shorts, summer dresses, or jeans. 

duster coat

What is Trench Coat?

A trench coat refers to an iconic wardrobe staple which is the most stylish form of raincoat as it is made of water-resistant fabric. The trench coat has a long history too.

It was initially designed for soldiers, before and during world war I, in trenches for protecting themselves from the rain and the mud. Hence this coat was named “Trench coat”. 

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Initially, the trench coat was used as a stylish raincoat. It was then made of gabardine fabric which was water-resistant and stylish at the same time.

During the world war, the trench coat was made with a hood and used by the soldiers as a carrying umbrella in the war is not possible. As a result, it got popularity among the soldiers.

After the world war, many Hollywood performers and actors started to wear trench coats in the movies. During the 20th century, trench coats got popular among businessmen, and men in the urban areas and cities also started to wear trench coats.

After a while, several female movie stars and celebrities started to wear trench coats in movies and TV shows which popularized it among women too. 

The trench coat has remained trendy today. In the modern era, the trench coat is more than a stylish raincoat. The trench coat has established a firm place in the fashion industry with numerous materials, designs, colors, and styles.

trench coat

Main Differences Between Duster and Trench Coat

  1. Duster was originally developed for horsemen for protecting their clothes from trail dust, trench coat, on the other hand, was originally developed for British army officers.
  2. What makes duster coats different from any other coat is their length. It is a full-length coat, on the other hand, the trench coat is not as long as a duster.
  3. Duster doesn’t have any pocket, belt, or buttons, whereas a trench coat has a belt, buttons, and multiple pockets.
  4. Duster is worn front open style, on the contrary, the trench coat is worn with a belt and the front always remains close.
  5. Duster is made of more lightweight fabric compared to the trench coat. The trench coat is made of water-resistant fabric.
Difference Between Duster and Trench Coat

References

  1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/656494
  2. https://academic.oup.com/jdh/article-abstract/24/2/139/507127

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Chara Yadav
Chara Yadav

Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.

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