The 'Trench Coat Buttoned to the Top / We Approached Them With Nothing but Respect' meme originated from a viral photograph of individuals, often associated with the hip-hop scene, dressed in high-fashion, fully-fastened trench coats. The phrase 'We approached them with nothing but respect' became synonymous with the image to convey a sense of professional decorum or humble intentions, often contrasted with a humorous or disappointing outcome. It gained massive traction on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram as a way to illustrate situations where a person tried their best to be polite or 'do things by the book,' only to be met with adversity. Today, it is a staple for highlighting the tension between one's outward appearance of composure and the chaotic reality of a situation.