The Duffle coat can trace its origin to the Belgian town of Duffel, where warm woolen clothing was manufactured to stave off the winter chill. The coat itself, which was adopted by the British Navy and most famously by Field Viscount Montogmery (from hence the coat’s nickname – the “Monty”), is made of heavy wool with a two-piece hood and wood toggling held by rope. The reason the Royal Navy commissioned them is that the toggles could be unfastened while wearing thick gloves and the hoods were carefully designed to fit over peaked Naval caps. The coat has had its moments as a fashion favorite, but has survived all these years because unlike many other designs it is functional and understated. I still have one that I purchased 15 years ago and looks like new with the advantage that it is “broken in”. The price range and different designers’ take on it are spread far and wide. Stick with the trusted names such as Gloverall and Burberry and you will enjoy wearing it for years to come.