5 Reasons To Own A Trench Coat

5 Reasons To Own A Trench Coat

Happy Tuesday Cocoa Butter Crewe!

This week’s post is a day late but as I had mentioned on Instagram on Sunday it would be. It was end of month AND due to circumstances that were beyond my control I had some brand deadlines that had to be completed. All I’m going to say about it is that I had better get paid on time given all the stress you put me under okayyyy. But I digress.

Normally when I shoot an outfit to post on the blog I already have an idea of what I want to write about. With this look, I didn’t. I went back and forth about whether to write about how amazing this ASOS faux suede trench coat is, how I styled it here, and why I bought it (I mean, you should buy it because it is amazing) but instead I decided to write about why you need a trench coat in your closet. Trench coats are the under appreciated workhorses of the fall outwear category in my opinion. They don’t get the respect they truly deserve. Here’s 5 reasons why I think you should invest in a trench coat:

1. They’re classic

Sure, their original purpose was for our men in uniform to wear in inclement weather (Burberry invented it for the British Royal Navy) but they’re more than just a fancy raincoat. They have evolved from military field jackets into wardrobe staples for the fashion set that have stood the test of time. Check out any “wardrobe must haves for every woman” magazine article – a trench coat is always on it.

2. They can be worn year-round

On days where it’s too warm to wear a wool coat but it’s too cold to go sans coat, trenches are perfect. They’re lightweight enough that you won’t burn up in it but heavy enough to keep the crisp air at bay. I live in San Francisco where the climate is temperate. Karl the Fog makes mornings and evenings quite crisp around here but the remaining hours are sunny and temps rise a bit – making trench coats ideal. They’re also low maintenance. Most trench coats come with a water-resistant coating that also keeps it somewhat stain-resistant as well so you’ll save money on dry cleaning. Take that, wool coats!

3. Versatility

Whether you’re business formal or super casual, trench coats look great with just about any outfit. I’ve worn mine with everything from a striped long sleeved tee, jeans, and wellies to a pantsuit (back in my corporate days). They’re also quite popular with the fashion crowd these days due to brands like The Frankie Shop who have made the trench cool again with their oversized silhouettes and on-trend fabrics. Street style stars have been seen wearing them with everything from wide leg trousers and layered tops to mini dresses and mini skirts.

4. They’re extremely figure flattering

Whether you’re petite or tall, curvy or thin, there’s a trench that works for you! They come in different lengths depending on your height and that waist belt gives every woman an hourglass shape. Since I’m on the petite side, I personally opted for the midi length where it falls just below my knee. I also wear a lot of midi skirts and dresses and I personally don’t like the look of short dressier coats with midi/long dresses and skirts on me.

5. They’re worth the investment

Like with all outerwear, quality is important. But quality doesn’t necessarily mean it has to cost you a lot. For example, I bought a black trench from Everlane during their annual “name your price” sale. It normally retails for $150 but I got it for $75. If you’re not on their email list, GET ON IT. They don’t advertise their sales AT ALL. I got my first beige trench coat from Banana Republic back in 2011 and it set me back about $200. I wore it to death! So when it got damaged in 2015 (I forgot how), I felt like I got enough cost per wear that I could take the designer plunge. I was so proud the day that I bought my Burberry trench coat. I felt like I had made it lol. Unfortunately it got stolen while I was out in NYC but I have since replaced it.

I hope you’ll consider investing in a trench coat. It’s truly worth it!

xoxo, CCB

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