"...their finest hour."

When Churchill said those words, things couldn't have been worse.

But he wasn't lying; he was just saying something before anybody else knew it was true.

Everybody else was thinking about whining bombs; sirens; husbands gone; children "temporarily" relocated in the country; and yes, people were also thinking... wouldn't some crisp bacon from Devon be nice right now.

All over England at that time people were seen wearing duffel coats; it was standard issue to British forces; it was the coat for adversity. Men were seen wearing it on the bows of ships on the North Sea; and at Scapa Flow; seen going into No. 10 Downing St. and not coming back out for days; seen getting into the back of Daimlers; seen at Malta; seen at Sandringham, even.

Kennedy, over here, wore a duffel coat; the photographs show him in it, deep in thought, alone, walking the beach of Hyannis. What was he thinking? He wore a duffel coat sailing too, as any sane person would.

Duffel coats come with everything adversity requires: hoods; toggles instead of buttons (easier to operate in severe cold); densely thick protective sheltering wool; and lastly character, lots of it.

The only concessions to the present day are leather attachments and horn toggles.

And the most gorgeous smooth, navy blue wool and dark tartan lining. A coat for looking good while dealing with adversity, and good times, and history. Imported.

Men's English Duffel Coat (No. 2598).

Men's even sizes: 38 through 48.

Women's English Duffel Coat (No. 2602).

Women's even sizes: 2 through 16.