The trench coat wears its military heritage proudly, from the name (earned in the trenches of WWI) to the nuts and bolts of the thing—the epaulets, the D-rings, and, of course, the belt. Do it up in front for that badass, Get Carter—era Michael Caine look, or try the technique preferred by our style director Josh Peskowitz, which combines a slim silhouette with a slightly more casual look.

1) Lay the coat out on a flat surface, and then flip the belt upside down within the belt loops so the attached D-rings face up. This will ensure that the buckle is facing the right way—namely, “out”—when you’re done. Now, tie a classic four-in-hand knot—yep, the same thing you do with a necktie every morning (or, um, some mornings).

2) With the knot tied, you can adjust the cinching the much the same way you would a tie—pull the pointed, buckle-free end of the belt to tighten, pull the knot to loosen. Watch out for those D-rings when moving things around, as they’ve got a tendency to get caught up on any obstacles they might encounter.

3) Throw on your trench, button it up, and reach behind to readjust the belt to fit your body. It should be snug enough to give you a trim line around the waist, but not so tight that the coat pulls at the midsection. Admire your newly slimmed silhouette—you're ready for whatever comes your way, be it rain or a rain of compliments.