The Duffle Coat on Screen
Some garments are built for the spotlight—even if they weren’t looking for it. The duffle coat, with its unassuming charm and enduring silhouette, has quietly made a name for itself in film, television, and popular culture. And not just as set dressing, but as a symbol: of character, warmth, and resilience.
From bear adventures to Cold War drama, the duffle coat has turned up on screen time and time again—always subtle, always striking.
Paddington in Peru
Let’s begin with perhaps the most beloved duffle wearer of them all: Paddington Bear. In his signature navy duffle, paired with a battered suitcase and that red felt hat, Paddington is more than a children’s character—he’s a British icon.
In Paddington in Peru, the upcoming chapter in his cinematic journey, the duffle returns once again, as dependable as ever. For Paddington, the coat is more than outerwear—it’s a kind of armour. A symbol of kindness, curiosity, and hope. Whether navigating London or the jungles of South America, the duffle keeps him grounded.
Much like our Children's Original Duffle Coat in Royal, Paddington’s coat is practical, timeless, and charming—crafted to accompany young adventurers wherever their stories take them.
Sean Connery in The Russia House
The camel duffle coat worn by Sean Connery in The Russia House is a lesson in understated cool. Set against the stark, greyscale backdrops of Cold War Europe, Connery’s duffle adds warmth—not just visually, but emotionally. It softens the tension, brings a human touch to a spy film defined by control and distance.
It’s a coat that suggests intelligence, calm, and quiet rebellion—traits mirrored in Connery’s character. It calls to mind our Original Monty Duffle Coat in Camel, a heritage piece that carries a similar air of quiet confidence and intellectual edge.
The Third Man & The Cruel Sea
Look back a little further, and the duffle’s cinematic roots run deep. Trevor Howard, trenching through post-war Vienna in The Third Man, wears one with conviction. Four years later, Jack Hawkins dons his in The Cruel Sea, navigating both sea and sorrow through wartime Britain.
In these stories, the duffle coat is more than wardrobe—it’s context. It speaks of men shaped by war, softened by weather, and still moving forward.
Much like our Original Monty Duffle Coat in Camel, the duffle here is durable, democratic, and reassuringly substantial—cut from the same cloth as history itself.
Moonrise Kingdom
Then there’s Moonrise Kingdom—Wes Anderson’s wistful, meticulously framed tale of young love and rebellion. Among the khaki scout badges and vintage binoculars, one look stands out: a red duffle coat worn with purpose by young Sam Shakusky. It's romantic, slightly rebellious, and entirely sincere—much like the film itself.
Wes Anderson is a director known for details, and nothing in Moonrise Kingdom is accidental. The red duffle is bold, but never brash. It captures that peculiar mix of vulnerability and resolve—ideal for a boy who runs away to find something real.
It’s a coat with a story, a soul. And it’s not far from our Admiral Duffle Coat in Red. Crafted in England, cut with care, and dyed in that same unmistakable hue, it’s a piece that stands out quietly—designed not just to be worn, but to be remembered.
Doctor Who
No celebration of iconic British style would be complete without Doctor Who. Across regenerations, the Doctor’s wardrobe shifts—eccentric, timeless, and always telling. In several incarnations, from the Fifth to the Eleventh, the duffle coat makes memorable appearances, chosen not just for practicality, but for character. It brings earthiness to a figure defined by the cosmos. A coat that feels grounded—even when you’re hurtling through time.
In 2024, our very own Mid Monty Duffle Coat was featured on screen, continuing the tradition of timeless outerwear in one of Britain’s most beloved cultural exports.
This Town
In the 2024 BBC series This Town, set against the gritty backdrop of 1980s Birmingham, the duffle coat once again plays its role without fanfare. It’s there on the shoulders of youth—restless, searching, building something new. The duffle doesn’t demand attention. It just belongs. A coat that fits the climate, the culture, the moment.
Our Morris Duffle Coat in Camel Buchanan was proudly featured in the series, worn not as costume, but as clothing—alive with character, purpose, and place.
