How do you pronounce “Balmacaan?” Do you get annoyed when things are sold with the wrong name? Some names really are umbrellas, pardon the pun: the rain coat category has trench coats, mackintoshes, Balmacaans, and other water resistant outerwear. Trench coats and Balmacaans are perhaps cousins; they’re both from the British Isles, both made for rainy weather, both khaki in color. But they are separate categories, and one clue to that is their separate names. The trench coat is modeled after British army uniforms from World War I. Therefore, it makes sense that they’d have gun flaps and other details that confer functionality relevant to trench warfare. The Balmacaan, or “Bal,” is named after a Scottish estate near Inverness. It was originally made in a rough woolen cloth, while the trench coat is made from cotton gabardine woven from threads treated to repel moisture. I am seeing a deluge of Balmacaans being sold as trench coats. We are in a minimal phase of the fashion cycle, so I can see how it’s fitting to opt for the cleaner design of the Balmacaan. No issue there. Just use the right name. Fashion education is so lacking in the era of social media, and it’s sad when brands and retailers abandon history in order to maximize search engine clicks. LTKVideo LTKstyletip LTKworkwear