The Trench is Dead

Long live the (cropped) trench!

Has the trench coat become a meme for vanilla Instagram accounts? I mean…yes. Sorry! But also, I don’t think I’ll ever sour on the trench completely, before you throw your coffee at the screen. There are just too many good inspirational references to banish it forever. Just google Brigitte Bardot! Kramer vs. Kramer. Breakfast at Tiffany’s!

My cropped trench with a sateen finish. A snag from a Loro Piana sample sale. Worn with: 501s (duh), Ven Store polo layered over a Skall Studio ribbed merino tee and a Dorsey, fit for a gala (18”!!) but I’m considering cooler with jeans and a tee. But probably because I have not been invited to a gala.

But you see, I’ve struggled with the trench for a while, due in part because it’s so rarely the perfect temperature for one. A brisk 55-62 degrees AND rainy! A lot of meteorological clouds must collide for me to break mine out. HOWEVER, it has been PERFECT trench weather in NYC the past few weeks (up until yesterday!) so its been fun to reconnect with this portion of my closet and assess what I really need for this transient season.

As you all know by now, I’m am equal parts fashion and function. I like to be able to go go go in my clothes and the long trench is starting to feel a little fussy for my everyday. Tucking it into the car, having it drag on the subway stairs, tripping on it as I climb up the ladder at the playground. It’s just not quite right for my right now. But you know what is? A CROPPED trench. Or more like a cropped khaki, semi-weather-proof jacket.

So before it gets too nice out and you don’t want to hear about jackets again for many months: 5 cropped trenches, or trench-like-products.

QUALIFIERS: beige, would wear in the drizzle, hits at low hip or higher, can be worn slightly slouchy. There are a lot of cropped trenches out there that look like a traditional trench was just cut off at the hip. That is not the look we are going for. We are looking for effortless, thrown on, slightly oversized, great with jeans OR your work pants.

Sportmax trench/bomber hybrid. This is “pre fall” which means it hits stores Mid-May. I will link back to this in a couple weeks (and ping you on instagram) when its available. I had pulled it for a shoot and have since been test driving. So heavenly. Its a size 6…the oversized effect. My trusty Suzi Kondi velour sweats which appear to be sold out in grey at the moment, but here is navy and beige. and Eastland mocs to round us out.

The 5

Coach “trenchy” swing jacket: The retro twist locks! No Coach logos! AND on super sale. I love this.

COS - our home away from home at this point. Color, shape, collar size all on point. Unfortunately this is almost sold out. Only Large left. But check your local store! Including a bonus jacket at the end, bc this is kind of a tease. Shoot!

Ok, not a trench. But REALLY into this 3.1 Phillip Lim jacket. The collar, the pockets! I would wear this at least one size too big for a slouchy look. Definitely a trench replacement in my book. It also has the MOST essential feature for a jacket that sits tight at the hips, and that is: the DOUBLE ZIPPER!

Ba&sh Issey Jacket. Does anyone know how to pronounce this brand? I am dying to know. Anyway, she’s super cute.

Studio Nicholson popover. A fun take on a cropped trench. This looks supremely functional IMO and doesn’t lose any style points in getting there. Looks pretty big as is, I wouldn’t size up here.

Skall Studio cotton twill trench. Met these guys on my last trip to Paris, and the care they bring to their fabric selection is really something. I’m sold!

That’s it for today. You can close all your trench tabs now. Signing off with the outfit I wore on Thursday…in the drizzle!

My Loro Piana score with my favorite black Maria McManus pants and The Row shoes for a (fashionable) business lunch.

Yours TRULY,
Becky

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