Opinion Bring back the duffle coat?

[76woodenspooners]

So me and sirlothie were down at our local, having a beer, reminiscing about them good ol' days, when he mentioned the prized duffle coat he had as a kid.

The duffle coat, now there's an item of apparel you don't see on the catwalks of Paris very often these days!

For the benefit of anybody born after around the 1980's, here's what they looked like:

Take careful note of the features of this item of clothing:

(1) The number of badges on the front was a symbol of wealth. Or fanaticism. If you had the whole team then your daddy probably drove a European sports car. Or you were one of those Collingwood fanatics who spent their Christmas money on badges instead of Donkey Kong.

(2) The coat was made of a material that soaked up the rain nicely. However it was outrageously thick. So it would take a few weeks of torrential rain before water penetrated through. The thing would weigh about 500kg after a rainy Saturday afternoon at Victoria park. And it would take a week to dry out in time for the next game. 6 day breaks were problematic.

(3) The things were warm. Very warm. Which was kind of handy in the era before global warming.

(4) The standard issue "I hate Carlton" badges.


So fashion goes in cycles ... Is it time to bring the duffle coat back?

The original? Or in a modified form?

Would you buy one?

Would you wear one if a lover bought it for you?

What would you think of others wearing them?

Or is it now exactly where it belongs, a relic of the 80's where it should remain?

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

No one is stopping you man.

You don't need to write up a long spiel that no one is going to read.

If you want to wear one. Just do it already.

Nothing grinds my gears more than indecisive people who always have to seek approval for everything.

 

[sirlothie]

Bring back duffle coats! I have no idea how such an iconic piece of fashion disappeared...

I remember it being about 8 degrees but I used to sweat like it was 40 in that thing.

Surely it should be an item of club apparel.

 

[Hagla]

I have one. Got it while I was in Melbourne earlier this year knowing that I'd be coming back to live in January. Can't wait to put it to good use.

 

[vjknight]

Lets just say they don't survive storage well.

Or the expanding girth.

 

[Magpie Girl]

So me and sirlothie were down at our local, having a beer, reminiscing about them good ol' days, when he mentioned the prized duffle coat he had as a kid.

The duffle coat, now there's an item of apparel you don't see on the catwalks of Paris very often these days!

For the benefit of anybody born after around the 1980's, here's what they looked like:

Take careful note of the features of this item of clothing:

(1) The number of badges on the front was a symbol of wealth. Or fanaticism. If you had the whole team then your daddy probably drove a European sports car. Or you were one of those Collingwood fanatics who spent their Christmas money on badges instead of Donkey Kong.

(2) The coat was made of a material that soaked up the rain nicely. However it was outrageously thick. So it would take a few weeks of torrential rain before water penetrated through. The thing would weigh about 500kg after a rainy Saturday afternoon at Victoria park. And it would take a week to dry out in time for the next game. 6 day breaks were problematic.

(3) The things were warm. Very warm. Which was kind of handy in the era before global warming.

(4) The standard issue "I hate Carlton" badges.


So fashion goes in cycles ... Is it time to bring the duffle coat back?

The original? Or in a modified form?

Would you buy one?

Would you wear one if a lover bought it for you?

What would you think of others wearing them?

Or is it now exactly where it belongs, a relic of the 80's where it should remain?

Oh, they were sooooo Collingwood!!!

Great idea

 

[3066]

They were selling them at the Collingwood shop at the club last time I was there.... Last year? I just checked online but they don't come up in a search so maybe not anymore. Anyway they were made in China and my first thought was "geez they're thin!" .... can't remember what price they were asking.

 

[Kappa]

76 needs his own random thoughts thread

 

[donkeyballs]

So me and sirlothie were down at our local, having a beer, reminiscing about them good ol' days, when he mentioned the prized duffle coat he had as a kid.

The duffle coat, now there's an item of apparel you don't see on the catwalks of Paris very often these days!

For the benefit of anybody born after around the 1980's, here's what they looked like:

Take careful note of the features of this item of clothing:

(1) The number of badges on the front was a symbol of wealth. Or fanaticism. If you had the whole team then your daddy probably drove a European sports car. Or you were one of those Collingwood fanatics who spent their Christmas money on badges instead of Donkey Kong.

(2) The coat was made of a material that soaked up the rain nicely. However it was outrageously thick. So it would take a few weeks of torrential rain before water penetrated through. The thing would weigh about 500kg after a rainy Saturday afternoon at Victoria park. And it would take a week to dry out in time for the next game. 6 day breaks were problematic.

(3) The things were warm. Very warm. Which was kind of handy in the era before global warming.

(4) The standard issue "I hate Carlton" badges.


So fashion goes in cycles ... Is it time to bring the duffle coat back?

The original? Or in a modified form?

Would you buy one?

Would you wear one if a lover bought it for you?

What would you think of others wearing them?

Or is it now exactly where it belongs, a relic of the 80's where it should remain?

Top ten best posts I've seen

 

[Bard]

Hell naw.

 

[Vicky Park]

You're on fire with these threads 76. And you've touched a raw nerve here.

I had a duffle coat in the 1970s. I loved it. Couldn't attend a game without it. Covered in metal badges, plus the embroidered textile ones, that you or your mum sewed on.

In the early 1990s I tried to find a new one, and couldn't, other than for cheap versions made in China. I finally tracked down a proper 'made in England' duffle coat, at the (now defunct) Georges department store in Collins Street, but it was hideously expensive.

Don't be deceived, the real duffle coats are and were made of heavy wool which, as you note, could withstand heavy and sustained rain without getting wet. But once wet - yuck. You didn't mention the smell!

 

[Baltimore Jack]

The Club sell them

 

[Anzacday]

My favourite badge was I hate Carlton - surprising I know.

 

[ottoman]

As a young kid going to the football I used to marvel at the badges and assorted adornment on the duffle coats of supporters. I think they are an icon of our sport. Would love to see them come back into fashion.

 

[Ted Parker]

I'd like to see these and other items as part of an extensive Pies memorabilia / museum section down at the Holden Centre.


'Good Old Collingwood Forever'

 

[WalterBlaknWhte]

You're on fire with these threads 76. And you've touched a raw nerve here.

I had a duffle coat in the 1970s. I loved it. Couldn't attend a game without it. Covered in metal badges, plus the embroidered textile ones, that you or your mum sewed on.

In the early 1990s I tried to find a new one, and couldn't, other than for cheap versions made in China. I finally tracked down a proper 'made in England' duffle coat, at the (now defunct) Georges department store in Collins Street, but it was hideously expensive.

Don't be deceived, the real duffle coats are and were made of heavy wool which, as you note, could withstand heavy and sustained rain without getting wet. But once wet - yuck. You didn't mention the smell!

Vicky Park, did you also wear thigh-high, knitted, black and white leggings?

(IF so, why did you never respond to my note?)

 

[Ted Parker]

While on memorabilia, I see a jumper reportedly worn by Stan Magro is available on GumTree.
Thing is the peanut that is asking $3k claimed to have won it at a quiz night then decided to get it signed by the 2001 team. If you had to get it signed surely you'd attempt to track Stan down and get him to sign it. Like painting an antique with Dulux. [emoji34]


'Good Old Collingwood Forever'

 

[MyManLynch]

While on memorabilia, I see a jumper reportedly worn by Stan Magro is available on GumTree.
Thing is the peanut that is asking $3k claimed to have won it at a quiz night then decided to get it signed by the 2001 team. If you had to get it signed surely you'd attempt to track Stan down and get him to sign it. Like painting an antique with Dulux. [emoji34]


'Good Old Collingwood Forever'

Yes...totally devalued now.
I wonder if it was the jumper he wore the day he 'fixed up' Jezza.
Also get Jezza to sign underneath the blood stains...

 

[Smoky]

Got one...

My prized possesion.

 

[Vicky Park]

Vicky Park, did you also wear thigh-high, knitted, black and white leggings?

(IF so, why did you never respond to my note?)

WBW, leggings were not my style I'm afraid! Although I have an extensive collection of black and white scarves to draw on. Again, they have to be wool, none of this acrylic rubbish.

Back on the decorated duffle coats, some of them were works of art. Years of collecting badges and medallions, and then careful planning as to their arrangement on said duffle coat. The back was important, and which player featured centrally. The arms were also decorated, and the fronts. But the back was the focus. A bit like the 'colours' of a biker club. There was a lot going on.

 

[76woodenspooners]

I'd like to see these and other items as part of an extensive Pies memorabilia / museum section down at the Holden Centre.


'Good Old Collingwood Forever'

+1 for showing extensive pies memorabilia.

However I'm not convinced that installing a permanent museum down at the Holden Centre is the best way to achieve that (yet).

The club would probably spend a sack of cash setting it up, open it to great fanfare, and then after the initial interest has passed it'll languish as one of those dusty old museums that nobody ever goes to (kind of like what has happened to forever.collingwoodfc.com.au )

How often do you go to the national sports museum? Many folks are probably unaware it even exists

I'd prefer that the club set up temporary exhibitions for the next few years. Hire a decent curator to help set them up. Make them a "living museum" with events. Run them for only a few weeks a year - long enough for people to be able to fit it into their diaries, but short enough so that people actually pull their finger out and go. And consider taking the temporary exhibitions interstate to show the supporters around the country.

And I'd prefer that the club also work on making forever.collngwoodfc.com.au sustainable.

And once they've got the recipe for those things right, then maybe consider spending the money on installing a permanent museum.

 

[eddiebankbalance]

When I was a teenager ratbag I ditched the duffle for an army jacket and covered it in AC/DC stuff.

 

[Good_Old]

Get out your old hessian backpack whilst you're at it.

I wouldn't wear one if you paid me. Not with all those patches and shit sewn on it anyway.

 

[Lord Wilberforce]

Lets just say they don't survive storage well.

Or the expanding girth.

Expanding girth is the issue...

 

[McCrabblett]

What is this archaic madness?

I feel like a young whippersnapper now. Thanks