How To Have Fun With Your Trench

FASHION

BY KATE DARVILL

I have always loved a trench. I first fell in love with its stylish insouciance after watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s as a young girl (I remember loving everything about Audrey Hepburn’s wardrobe). The moment she cinches that trench coat around her waist and steps out into the rain, looking for “cat” and love at the same time, was iconic. I loved how Hepburn mixed feminine dresses and jewels with masculine pieces; I love a trench with heavy tailoring and a more oversized shape.

But while the trench is definitely a wardrobe classic, you don’t have to wear it with unremittingly classic looks. Yes, it looks great with a minimalist tunic and pant, but I also love it as the foil for a silky Alémais pant set or leather, drawstring pant.

The great thing about trenches is that – contrary to what you might hear otherwise – you don’t have to spend lots of money investing in one. Of course, a Burberry is a classic and something you will have and wear forever, but a lot of high street brands are doing great, classic trenches that should also stand the test of time, like this one, above, from Zara.

I love leopard print. To me it’s another denim – I find it goes with everything and it’s timeless. This trench from Ganni is super lightweight and you can put simple pieces under it, letting the trench be the statement. A simple dress or shirt and short set, easy. I decided to pair it back with some summer leather – with lots of lightweight options, leather doesn’t have to be only for winter. These drawstring pants from Country Road that have a casual chic vibe.

A long black trench – this one’s from French label Claudie Pierlot – provides a sophisticated contrast, and the textural leather bag, with its graphic fold-over design in soft plaited leather, really lifts the look. I definitely have black accessories in my wardrobe but my eye is often drawn to lighter tones, especially in summer. They’re an easy way to make your outfit more interesting.

You really can wear anything under a trench. This printed matching set from Alemais, above, shows how: the beige tones in the print tie in nicely with the trench and then the green bag really seals the deal. You could easily do a print that doesn’t have beige tones in it, and tie the outfit together through the shoes and bags you chose. The main thing to remember would be to choose accessories to bring the look together; don’t introduce a new colour with your shoes and bags. Too much.

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Read more about wardrobe’s dependable-best-friend at PRIMER.

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