We’re about to enter the dreaded transitional period, when you have to rely on layers you might be sweating in by mid-day. My easy style fix? A lightweight coat that looks good with everything, Enter the cropped trench! It’s fresh, it’s easy to style, and it’ll shield you from any spring showers coming your way.
The classic khaki trench, which always makes me think of Columbo and foggy London mornings, is double breasted with a belt to cinch everything neatly. You lose some length with a cropped version, but you can still keep those stylistic elements! Rails’s Lucien jacket is a perfect example. The length goes past your hips, and the belt gives you this really great kicky silhouette. Favorite Daughter’s The Cropped Charles is a little bit shorter, but you can still accent your waist with the belt.
Outerwear doesn’t have to be a big purchase, either. You can update your look for under $100! In the header image, I’m wearing this navy blue trench that I found on Amazon. Trust me, I was surprised too! But I love the buttons and the adjustable strap on the sleeves for a more fitted look. Massimo Dutti, which is Zara’s chic older sister, has a great 100% cotton khaki jacket that’s a little more loose and flow-y. I’ve found it’s perfect for balancing out a more fitted trouser or skirt.
When the jacket is cropped, there’s obviously less fabric to work with. Sometimes you want something a little sleeker. I love the straight lines and darker camel color of this Boden jacket. And the buttons! The buttons are gorgeous. This one, I would definitely wear open. Tuckernuck’s Drew trench has bell sleeves and an exaggerated color that feels very mod, very 60s, very sitting at a bistro in Paris. And then there’s this cape from Massimo Dutti, which feels deeply elegant to me. The structure of the lapels almost like an opera coat!
Shop the rest of our cropped trench edit below:
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