Sunday Styling Series // 012

let's get in the TRENCHES

Hello Readers,

I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday!

This newsletter is going out a bit late today as I was in NYC last week and then spent some quiet R&R time this weekend back upstate to refill my cup. I always try to reserve one big shopping day towards the beginning of a season so I can check out as many brands in-person to get a sense of all the fits and qualities currently being offered to share back with you and my clients.

There were a lot of great pieces I was excited about and will plan to share some in next month’s High-Five!

I also saw too many barn jackets and suede outerwear to count. As much as I am excited about those pieces, I can’t go through these confusing weather months without talking about one of my transitional wardrobe heroes -

THE TRENCH COAT

the queen of COOL

I am not one to believe that there are must-have pieces that every woman should own in her wardrobe. What is a “must” for me may not be a “must” for you — it’s up to the individual to decide what makes sense for their tastes, preferences, versatility, wearability, and lifestyle. And they can evolve and change over time.

However, I do believe there are pieces that are considered universal in that they act as chameleons, shifting and shaping and molding to what you make of it.

And I believe the trench coat is one! A white tee another.

Whenever I wear a trench, people always seem to say…”A trench isn’t my style…it’s too classic/boring”, or “I could never wear a trench, I’m too short/big/it looks horrible on me”.

I honestly think this is why a lot of people get stumped. They try on a trench coat and it looks a bit shapeless and dull and they move on. My best advice? If you are drawn to a style, play with it! Tweak and refine it on your body, try it on with different outfits, get a sense for the piece beyond the first impression.

Today we are going to show you FUN ways to style the iconic trench so it feels more like you and less like a J Crew ad (unless that’s what you want!) and HOW to style it so it doesn’t feel so “blah” on you.

Different body shapes, different styling but both look equally great!

We’ll cover:

• WHY I believe it’s such a great style chameleon

• WHAT to wear and style with the trench - all the different ways you can think about styling it via inspiration images that go beyond just the classic and basic looks

• HOW to wear it - visual tips and tricks for Petites and larger frames or if you feel like it's a harder silhouette to master in general

• WHERE to start should you be in the market for one and want to be pointed in the right direction

PS - if you want to learn some great history on this iconic piece, check out Sarah’s deep dive from Spring:

Fashion 🌀 Spiral: In The Trenches

My personal journey with the trench coat

I never actually used to like a trench coat. In my 20s, every time I tried it on, it never felt like me. I was the one that would say “It’s too boring!” or “I can’t make it work for me!”

It wasn’t until:

• I took some time to figure out what type of trench I wanted (fitted, oversized, classic, non-traditional, long, short)

• I had some trial and error figuring out the best color for my skin and my existing wardrobe (turns out it’s a lighter beige with neutral undertone vs a grey undertone or anything too dark or camel!)

• I took the trench out of the dressing room and into my own closet so I could figure out how I wanted to style it that made sense for my personal preferences

Hint: the key was to style it in a way that wasn’t how I pictured it in my mind:

There are obviously so many ways to style a trench but if you are a millennial like me, this was the most popular way the trench was styled back then and how I felt I “should” be wearing it

The rest is history as the trench coat has been a wardrobe hero in my closet for the past ten years and continues to be a mainstay!

Some ways I styled my trench back in the Spring:

This is an old “placeholder” trench from Mango that I still wear and love. It has the classic double breasted buttons and cuff details: Look 1 | Playing with proportions with lived-in denim shorts Look 2| a white tailored linen set and black accessories Look 3| an airport travel look with silk pants

How I’ve been styling my trench this past month:

Wearing a new version from The Curated which has a more clean minimal shape and details: Look 1 | All-White and ballet flats (probably the most classic way I wear the trench) Look 2 | Balancing out a sequin skirt Look 3| I love wearing a classic trench with oversized fits for juxtaposition Look 4| I love mixing something feminine like a lace slip dress with a utility piece like the trench and a lived-in element with the suede loafers Look 5| a classic pairing of a navy sweater + tennis necklace + loafers but I like the contrast of the trench with a pair of baggy lived-in denim vs something classic like a clean straight leg

WHY I love the trench for transitional weather -

1. It’s chic, classic, and simple in silhouette. It’s one of those pieces that can stand the test of time if you want it to and adds just the right amount of polish to a basic look that you never have to overthink it.

It perfectly compliments a basic tee or tank, or a classic button down, and your favorite pair of denim or trousers. Use accessories to change up the look and level of formality.

2. It’s a great “effortless” layer for lazy days

Perfect for the days you are running out the door (with a sweater draped over your shoulders for extra chic points!), grabbing a coffee but still want to wear your pajama pants, heading to the airport at 5 am and still asleep, or coming/going from a workout class

3. There’s something for everyone!

You don’t have to go traditional in color - I love shades of olives and greens and greys. These can help it feel more like a coat than a trench.

You also don’t have to go with the typical gabardine (cotton twill) - try an airy nylon if you want something a bit more sporty and soft or leather, denim, or suede which offers the same structure as a traditional trench but creates texture and depth

I also think modern details makes the silhouette feel less classic in nature - contrast materials, a colorblock detail, an exaggerated cuff

WHAT to wear and style with the trench -

1. Use accessories and fit to convey your style POV

   

   Look 1 | Classic Trench/Fit/Accessories with the clean tucked-in double denim, leather loafer, clean earrings and a more classic crossbody bag. Look 2 | Modern Trench/Fit/Accessories - She’s essentially wearing the same double denim look but her overall vibe has a bit of casual edge. The shirt is tied casually, her shirt is opened into a deeper neckline, her jewelry is chunky, her glasses are retro, her trench is open and a bit more undone. Look 3| Modern Trench/Fit/Accessories - This version has a bit of a sharper edge. Similar retro glasses but she has a statement earring, the trench is belted over a tailored shirt with oversized cuffs, I love the tonality of her trench/bag/boots that doesn’t feel matchy matchy

Look 1 | Zoe’s trench is pretty classic but it feels modern because she paired with minimal separates in a modern fit and her more modern sunglasses. Look 2| A classic look but the olive color makes it feel less traditional and I like how she paired with a crop shirt and mini for interesting proportions. Look 3| I love the drapey soft trench with the really clean lines of the blouse and midi skirt. This look is from The Row 2015 but I feel it’s still so relevant in terms of shape.

I also love a trench, or any outerwear, paired with all-white clothing and black accessories. It’s the one time where matching colored accessories really helps modernize a look in a less on-the-nose way (in my opinion!). The black gives this type of look some substance and contrast. I also love the last look where she’s belted the trench fully for proportion play.

2. Style the trench to add a contrasting element to your look

   

   The trench adds structure and a nice contrast to something soft and delicate like a silk slip dress. I love the juxtaposition of something really feminine or sexy with something utilitarian like a trench.

   

   This also works with something tougher like leather. The classic fabric and shape of a trench adds softness to the edgier nature of leather. I DIED for this Proenza Schouler look from the recent runway!