How To Wear: The Trench Coat – Spring/Summer

Current Season Trench Coats

Here is a selection of trench coats on the market right now. There is definitely something for everyone, whether you are looking for cropped, long, military inspired, single breasted or double breasted.

Spring/Summer

Today we will be taking a look at how you can utilise the trench coat in both the unpredictable weather of spring, and the warmer months of summer. In spring the weather can change at the drop of a hat; one minute you are standing in a warm spring breeze, and the next you are running for shelter from an April shower. The trench is the perfect choice of outerwear for such a situation.

For spring/summer the trench of choice would be a cropped version which finishes around waist length. This would give you the most versatility and flexibility when it comes to pairing with shorts or jeans/chinos.

In terms of colour, you can opt for bold striking colours if they are available, but for me the choice is easy; a light stone or beige trench is perfect for these seasons. This is because they can easily anchor (and even neutralise) the bold colours commonly used in these months, they are timeless shades which coordinate well with any other colours you have in your wardrobe, and they also do not attract heat like a dark trench coat would. My second choice would be navy, as it fits in with the nautical trend you find prevalent each and every year, and again it is a timeless colour which would work well with the earth tones and neutral colour palettes of the spring/summer seasons.

Look Book

How To Style

Above you can see a variety of very different outfits which would be considered spring/summer looks. First we are going to start with the summer neutral outfits [bottom right and bottom centre]. These both pick up on what I mentioned in my last look book about mixing neutral tones in order to create a great summer outfit. By varying the shade of the neutral from white to beige, to cream and even light brown, you can create outfits that coordinate beautifully but still have enough change in tone in order to make each individual piece stand out. This would be an approach you could take if you invested in a stone, beige, cream or camel coloured trench.

The next two outfits show that you can mix your trench with shorts if it is a warm day. The look which utilises a cream trench with green khaki shorts is my favourite [top right], as it keeps to the same principle as above by mixing neutrals and earthy tones together. Green tone shorts are a great way of standing out in spring/summer, and surprisingly easy to coordinate with. Here the cream trench coat neutralises the effect of the green shorts and instead allows the similar shaded boots become the focal point. By keeping the top half fresh and clean, it means that even on those warmer days you are not going to feel smothered and too hot.

You can swap out the trousers for red, green or purple, and the best thing is this outfit still works with a simple change of footwear. The white tee and trench coat anchors the whole look, allowing you to experiment.

For those of you who are a little bolder with their outfit choices, I can’t recommend the last outfit enough [top centre]. It is the perfect mix of style, arrogance and individuality. This is for the the guy who dresses well, but knows it. Bold white trousers are perfect for making a statement, and just scream confidence in yourself and your personal style. I love this slim fit pair, and when paired with the great suede shoes (with coordinating white sole no less), the contrast is perfect and suitable for the warmer spring/summer seasons.

Read more : http://www.fashionbeans.com/2011/how-to-wear-the-trench-coat-springsummer/