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April 10, 2015

The 40 Chicest Women in Trench Coats of All Time

By Erica Schwiegershausen

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Photo: Andre SAS/GAMMA

There’s a new theme every day on It’s Vintage. Read more articles on today’s topic: British “It” Girls.

Now that April is upon us, it’s finally time to pull out your trench coat — that instant wardrobe classic. This season marks a hundred years of the evolution of the Burberry trench, which was originally designed to protect World War I officers from blustery and damp weather conditions. Since then, it’s become a symbol of weather-appropriate elegance, on the backs of everyone from Marlene Dietrich in A Foreign Affair to Kate Moss. Click through our slideshow for a look back at the chicest women in trench coats from the past century, including Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O., Brigitte Bardot, and more.

This story was originally posted in April of 2014.

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1 / 40 Photos
Marlene Dietrich, 1948 In A Foreign Affair. Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection/Courtesy Everett Collection
Audrey Hepburn, 1961 In Breakfast at Tiffany's. Photo: Paramount Pictures/2008 Getty Images
Brigitte Bardot, 1963  Photo: Andre SAS/Andre SAS/GAMMA
Catherine Deneuve, 1964 In The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/2011 Getty Images
Jackie Kennedy Onassis, 1970  Photo: Roland Schoor/Time Life Pictures
Twiggy, 1971  Photo: Justin de Villeneuve/2004 Getty Images
Gwyneth Paltrow, 2001  Photo: Bill Davila
Claire Danes, 2005  Photo: Carvalho
Sarah Jessica Parker, 2005  Photo: Gareth Davies/Gareth Davies
Julia Roberts, 2006  Photo: Tom Wargacki
Angelina Jolie, 2006  Photo: Marcel Thomas/MARCEL THOMAS IMAGES.COM
Jessica Biel, 2007  Photo: Marcel Thomas
Keira Knightley, 2008 On location for Last Night. Photo: James Devaney
Katie Holmes, 2008  Photo: James Devaney/2008 James Devaney
Victoria Beckham, 2008  Photo: Marcel Thomas/2008 Marcel Thomas
Mischa Barton, 2008  Photo: Jon Kopaloff/2008 Jon Kopaloff
Diane von Furstenberg, 2008  Photo: Andrew H. Walker/2008 Getty Images
Blake Lively, 2009  Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/2009 Jeffrey Ufberg
Emma Watson, 2010  Photo: Christopher Peterson/2010 BuzzFoto
Anna Wintour, 2010  Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/2010 Getty Images
Kate Moss, 2011  Photo: Neil Mockford/2011 FilmMagic
Kate Middleton, 2011  Photo: Indigo/2011 Indigo
Lou Doillon, 2011  Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/2011 Getty Images
Taylor Swift  Photo: Jackson Lee / Splash News/Ã?© www.splashnews.com
Christie Brinkley, 2011  Photo: Ray Tamarra/2011 Ray Tamarra
Kirsten Dunst, 2011  Photo: Frazer Harrison/2011 Getty Images
Scarlett Johansson, 2011  Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/2011 Jeffrey Ufberg
Suki Waterhouse, 2012  Photo: Gareth Cattermole/2012 Getty Images
Amanda Seyfried, 2012  Photo: Jason Merritt/2012 Getty Images
Emma Stone, 2012  Photo: Jeffrey Ufberg/2012 Jeffrey Ufberg
Poppy Delevingne, 2012  Photo: Dave M. Benett/2012 Dave M. Benett
Natalie Portman, 2012  Photo: Alo Ceballos/2012 Alo Ceballos
Alexa Chung, 2012  Photo: Tim Whitby/2012 Getty Images
Heidi Klum, 2012  Photo: Alo Ceballos/2012 Alo Ceballos
Rashida Jones, 2012  Photo: Jason Merritt/2012 Getty Images
Maggie Gyllenhaal, 2012  Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/2012 Getty Images
Sienna Miller, 2013  Photo: Bennett Raglin/2013 Bennett Raglin
Michelle Dockery, 2013  Photo: Gareth Cattermole/2013 Getty Images
Jessica Hart, 2013  Photo: Paul Morigi/2013 Paul Morigi
Karlie Kloss, 2014  Photo: Alo Ceballos/2014 Alo Ceballos
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