# The curious fashion of tying the belt on a Trench Coat **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2017, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969 "2017-06-27T03:50:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/1 "2017-06-27T03:50:22Z")
Why not buckle it properly? How did this fashion start? Would you notice it on someone today? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/2 "2017-06-27T04:00:47Z")
I’ll take a stab. Buckling takes a long time - longer than a belt I think because its not as stiff as a belt. Also, unlike a trouser belt, it doesn’t need to be buckled for any purpose other than to provide some shape to the drape of the garment and prevent you from looking like a walking wigwam. So, to show you do have a waist, just tie a light knot. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/3 "2017-06-27T05:52:27Z")
IINM, trench coats started as garments for British officers in the trenches of WWI. I would guess that tying them was simply more expedient than having to mess around with a buckle on the battlefield and possibly not being able to draw your pistol from its holster in a hurry. It also looks really cool! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/4 "2017-06-27T06:33:55Z")
On the front page, I saw this thread title as “The curious fashion of tying…” and I was sure it was gonna be about wearing onions on belts, which was the style at the time. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/5 "2017-06-27T12:35:20Z")
Because [Bogart did it.](http://theredlist.com/media/database/muses/icon/cinematic_men/1940/humphrey-bogart/005-humphrey-bogart-theredlist.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/6 "2017-06-27T12:44:24Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > It also looks really cool! 🆒 This. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Because [Bogart did it.](http://theredlist.com/media/database/muses/icon/cinematic_men/1940/humphrey-bogart/005-humphrey-bogart-theredlist.jpg) QED ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/7 "2017-06-27T12:47:37Z")
Once a boy learns to tie his bathrobe, he’s done! ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/8 "2017-06-27T17:42:57Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > On the front page, I saw this thread title as “The curious fashion of tying…” and I was sure it was gonna be about wearing onions on belts, which was the style at the time. Me too! We should both go down to the qua. . . nah, fuck that. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/9 "2017-06-27T18:43:37Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Because [Bogart did it.](http://theredlist.com/media/database/muses/icon/cinematic_men/1940/humphrey-bogart/005-humphrey-bogart-theredlist.jpg) I’ll have to start doing that. I only wear the trenchcoat to be pretentious, now I can be cool at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/10 "2017-06-27T18:53:53Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’ll have to start doing that. I only wear the trenchcoat to be pretentious, now I can be cool at the same time. Absolutely. If I still have mine, I need to change the buckles to metal ones like Bogie’s. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/11 "2017-06-27T19:08:36Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Because [Bogart did it.](http://theredlist.com/media/database/muses/icon/cinematic_men/1940/humphrey-bogart/005-humphrey-bogart-theredlist.jpg) Does not count. Bogart could wear freeze dried dog crap suspended from his ears and it would be cool. Until someone else did it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/12 "2017-06-27T19:55:14Z")
> [@Weisshund](#): > > Does not count. > Bogart could wear freeze dried dog crap suspended from his ears and it would be cool. > Until someone else did it. Sure, imitating Bogart is cool, if you can pull it off. Excuse me while I tug my earlobe. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/13 "2017-06-27T19:56:25Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Sure, imitating Bogart is cool, if you can pull it off. Ironically, if you can’t pull it off, you’ll look like a wanker. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/14 "2017-06-27T20:00:27Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Ironically, if you can’t pull it off, you’ll look like a wanker. Indeed. That’s why I can’t find my trenchcoat. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/15 "2017-06-27T20:26:45Z")
If cool’s why, then why no inkblot masks, too?? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/16 "2017-06-27T21:29:19Z")
> [@Trancephalic](#): > > If cool’s why, then why no inkblot masks, too?? What do inkblot masks have to do with Humphrey Bogart or trench coats? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/17 "2017-06-27T22:24:12Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > What do inkblot masks have to do with Humphrey Bogart or trench coats? :dubious: I don’t know squat about comics, [but inkblot masks turn me on.](https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/1/1e/RORSCHACH.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140216062403) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/18 "2017-06-27T22:51:51Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I don’t know squat about comics, [but inkblot masks turn me on.](https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/1/1e/RORSCHACH.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140216062403) You should speak to your physician or a person of the cloth. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/19 "2017-06-27T23:26:05Z")
Tying it (loosely) is much quicker than buckling it, and even quickerer in un-doing it. And it’s an easy method to get the flopping ends out of the way, like tucking your tie into your shirt or under your seatbelt, or using available orifices to tuck away the ends of your binding. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curious-fashion-of-tying-the-belt-on-a-trench-coat/789969/20 "2017-06-27T23:37:57Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > or using available orifices to tuck away the ends of your binding. Eh, will you run that by again?