Rainshower Anyone?

On to one of my favorites! Truly, seeing an orange trench on a hanger in Bloom might not send your heart racing…unless you can see the possibilities! Adding a fun skirt underneath--basic , neutral, or even something patterned--can really set this off!

I personally would choose a navy pencil skirt with a wild scarf to pull in the umbrella! Too fun! Needless to say, there are a million directions you can take this ensemble; just use your imagination!

Behold, the Reversible Trench!

More and more, designers are making their products reversible!

Check out this hot pink and zebra trench coat!

Not only is it darling but it’s modest and trendy all in one!

Note: Although we appreciate designers, don’t let them dictate how you wear their products! Notice, this young lady took the belt intended for the trench and wrapped it in her hair, choosing a wider belt to cinch the waist of the trench instead.

Keeping the belt and heels in basic black allows a canvas for the trench…and the girl…to shine!

And, of course, should you not feel quite that pink, there’s always the flip side!

What is too funny is that our model here, Shannon, entered church in the pink trench coat, and then changed the outfit around before the end of service!

You should have seen some of the looks people were giving her:

“Was she wearing that? I must have missed something!”

Now, we don’t recommend that as a practice or as a rule, but it was definitely a fun experiment!

Metallic Trench: Who Would Have Thought?

Animal print need not be predictable. In fact, just like ‘lions, and tigers, and bears’ (oh my!) in the wild, the prints in our closets can be pretty adventurous too!

This particular trench boasts a metallic edge, which matches well with my metallic, tiger print, gold heels here! Caution: Don’t overdo it! If your jacket and shoes are a bit on the flashy side, balance them with a solid colored, non-flashy skirt! I go for basic brown with these!

Remember, contrast is powerful! Contrast colors, contrast fabrics, contrast bolds with neutrals! Stay out of the rut and keep experimenting!

Leopard Print and A Bold Solid!

No matter how many animal print items I stack in my closet, I never get tired of them! Animal prints have the flexibility of being fabulous, glamorous, while also being trendy! This red trench is gorgeous atop a leopard skirt!

A matching scarf would be nice to set it off. If animal print is out for you, try a basic, like black. A knee-length black skirt with the heels pictured here is just what the doctor ordered! Remember, black always makes a bold statement!

Casual...But I Still Have Something To Say!

This is one of my favorite dress-casual looks!

The green, heeled penny loafers combined with a matching trench and scarf over my blue jean skirt—a knee-length one of course! Although I have seen trench coats paired with longer skirts, it’s usually best to offset your top with your skirt.

If you have a long top, try a shorter skirt just below the knee. If, however, you have chosen a shorter top, go for the length on the skirt! Too cute! Once again, this look is a no-fuss way to look completely ‘pulled together’ when you’re on the go!

For the more sophisticated, classic dresser, the trench is perfect!

Who said that being modest has to be a drag?

Beyond a doubt, dressing modestly can be a challenge due to the lack of availability of modest apparel in our malls today.

Luckily, however, layering is 'IN' and there are still some modest styles that have stood the test of time!

Historically, the trench coat served as a lighter weight men's coat and really caught on with the advent of World War I. Thomas Burberry claims to have first designed the coat as an alternative rain coat for British officers in 1901! The coat was in huge supply among those in the military at the time! It was functional, being a good raincoat but also a good source of warmth with its removable wool lining!

It did not take long for women to adopt the trench coat though it primarily served as a work coat, as can be seen in this ad from 1918. The trench was seen as standard ware for military service. Although it soon became standard issue for men in the US armed services, many women still had to purchase theirs. Unfortunately, they weren’t as classy as they are today!

The coat’s popularity increased until it took precedence in several key motion pictures, including Casablanca and Breakfast at Tiffany’s! Not only was it worn by men in this time but had become a staple for women!

To my knowledge, the first woman to make a fashionable public statement in a trench coat was Audrey Hepburn.

Not only is she attributed with the popularity of the little black dress from the film, Breakfast at Tiffany's, but now we owe her for the classic trench from the same film!

Of course, that might be the extent of my knowledge because I am such a fan of this very classy lady!


In the mid-twentieth century, the trench coat was also associated with espionage! Just imagine slipping secret film into the inside lining of your trench and you've got the right idea! Audrey used this look again in Charade! Even the well-known comedic spoof of espionage, Get Smart, utilized the trench coat as a mainstay. In fact, Barbara Feldon, the woman lead in the series, received an award for being the best dressed spy in the business—tongue in cheek, of course!

Since that time, the trench has maintained is popularity! In fact, it is one wardrobe piece that never seems to go out of style! That makes it quite the investment! Even Katie Holmes has been seen in a trench coat styled dress!

The great thing about trench coats is that they are inherently modest! It's next to impossible for a trench to be too tight or too revealing! A trench is a timeless classic that has maintained its popularity since the 1940s in one form or another.

So, if you're looking for wardrobers that will outlast the trends of the moment, a trench is a must! Simply add a few trendy touches here and there!

Tip: Trench coats by themselves can seem almost too masculine or starchy, but accenting them with a colorful belt, skirt, scarf, and heels can make a huge statement!