Brooks Brothers was founded in 1818 and are responsible for several staple items in men's fashion. They popularized plaid pants and shirts, and have now re-invented themselves, transforming what was once reserved for grandfathers into young and trendy fashion. Another item that seems almost signature for Brooks Brothers is the trench coat. The trench is hugely popular in the UK and are worn by men of all ages and occupations. While visiting London in 2007, I was surprised to see the vast abundance of trench coats in thrift stores and boutiques. They carried trenches in all styles and colors, though the most common one seems to be the khaki colored double breasted one with the belt and falls to the mid thigh. These coats would sell for at least $150.00 used and could go as high as $1000.00 depending on the designer..jpg)

Burberry and Christian Dior has a huge selection of trench coats from the early days of a few decades ago. These tend to be on the heavier side with an inner lining and are full length to the ankle. Those coats would be great in colder climates, but in cities like Los Angeles, a lighter and shorter trench is more ideal. Urban outfitters featured a lightweight trench with a velcro belt that was on sale for only $30.00. that was a steal because it was originally priced at $189.00. When shopping for a trench, be sure to get the right size, as it should be loose enough to wear over a suit jacket for the trip to the office, yet close enough to not bulge. The sleeves should fall about mid hand, right between the thumb and the index finger. The color and cut is completely subjective.