The spring coat: Beyond the reliable trench
A colleague wonders why anyone would want a spring coat. “I’d never wear one,” she says, then quickly retracts that never: “Oh, remember that black linen coat I bought? I wore that thing to death last year.”
Point made.
The spring coat is that old reliable–if you choose it wisely. And let’s face it, you may need more than one. Some women do admit to having two or three.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with your tried-and-true trench coat. This is not to say get rid of it. Consider it spring coat No. 1 or 2.
Designers on both continents feature spring coats in fabrics ranging from gabardine twills to muted silk blend pastels to rich metallics (such as this silk one enveloping Kate Dillon, among the cover girls in the February issue of Mode magazine). Marc Jacobs showed some of the best, as did Narcisco Rodriguez and Jil Sander.
What to look for? Clean line, single-breasted, the hemline hitting the knee. No puckering, epaulets, gathering or cuffs. Just simple and straightforward.
This coat is a perfect companion piece. Those sheer-though-lined dresses and tops continue to be popular, and body-hugging jerseys and knits have been embraced by women of all sizes. What better than a simple cover-up coat, rain or shine, for comfort and security? Just as important, a spring coat refines the look of what you’re wearing with it as you move through the office or down the street looking quite smashing.
And for dramatic evenings when you’re wearing the simplest dress or pantsuit, that metallic raincoat (yes, the same one you wear during the day) renders just enough shimmer to go the distance.
