Say goodbye to traditional trench coats.
“It’s not a beige world anymore,” says Ellin Saltzman, fashion director for The Limited Inc. “There’s frosted pales and brights now.”
Add, too, bold geometrics, solid high-gloss whites and a new abbreviated midthigh length and — voila! — rainy days just got sunny.
“For women the short trench is an easy length to wear,” says Mossimo Coronna, national sales manager for Allegri, an Italian rainwear line. “Short or tall, anyone can wear the short trench.”
With a crisp collar, cinched waist and flared skirt, trenches forgive figure flaws. But neatness counts with this year’s model.
“I prefer them with skinny pants or skirts that are short,” says Saltzman. Let only clean lines peak out beneath them, leaving the trenches to shoulder those showers in style.
Wearing it well
– Don’t buckle up. Instead, tie your belt to achieve that unstudied — but thoroughly practiced — chic look.
– Open trench coat collars cry out for a scarf. Geometric patterns can make a coat mod while a multihued muffler softens a solid.
– High-tech fabrics are powering spring styles, echoing ready-to-wear trends from vinyl to shine to pleather. Want day-to-evening versatility? Check out metallic or iridescent styles.
– For soak-free accessorizing, carry a slick weatherproof tote or backpack.
