The belted trench coat is the most versatile of trench coats, coming in a variety of lengths, colors and textures. The belt creates the illusion of a cinched waist and makes it adaptable to a range of dress sizes, which is useful as people tend to lose and add a couple of pounds through out the year. Most belted trench coats can be worn by both men and women, adding to its versatility. Belted trench coats also come traditional come in summer friendly fabrics like cotton and linen allowing for year round use. How ever you swing it, the belted trench coat is too versatile to be missing from your closet.
There are quite a few variations to the belted trench, but some have outshone the rest and remained adorning the shoulders of the fashionable all year round. One of the favorites is the lady belted trench coat. This is the classic trench cut specifically to complement a woman’s figure with a flare to the bottom half of the coat. Popularised in millions of movie scenes where sultry siren seduces her man with just a lady trench and nothing underneath. Usually the length varies from a few centimetres above the knee to a few centimetres below and comes in a variety of colors. This trench is usually worn as a shirtdress or over a delicate dress. It can be dressed up with a pair of pumps or platforms or dressed down with calf length boots and a loose ponytail.
Another favorite of fashion forward women is the cropped belted trench. This trench is particularly in demand this year because of the resurgence of the peplum trend which has the fashion world in a frenzy. The cropped belted trench usually stop a few inches below the waist and sits at the swell of the hips. The belt on this trench is a little higher to compensate for the lack of length on the coat. The cropped belted trench is a very casual look and can be worn with jeans and boots for a day out on the town or jazzed up with a tweed pencil skirt for that smart alternative look. The cropped trench should be tightly belted to create an artificial peplum that hits the wearer in the perfect place.
The oversized belted trench coat is the immediate go to trench for the fashion savvy man. Usually ranging from the knee to about ten cm below, the oversized trench slouches of the shoulders and provides a loose columned silhouette. Skinny men can create the illusion of looking bulkier by tying the belt tightly and creating two blocky columns and heavy set men can look thinner by loosely tying the belt around the waist. The oversize belted trench comes in a variety of off-kilter textures particular to menswear such as corduroy, tweed, houndstooth, plaid and felt. The oversized trench looks best when interplayed with visual contrasts, a solid colored oversized trench should be worn with a striped or checked shirt and a patterned trench will be well offset with a navy blue or black suit.
The double breasted belted trench is the most popular of the belted trench coats. This variation is the most flattering, with the double lines of parallel buttons elongating the torso and the belt providing a cinched waist. Also this variation of the trench works excellently at any length and draws the eyes away from any unflattering features on the body. The double breasted belted trench is also considered the most unisex, as the double buttons are considered masculine and are found usually on suits and jackets and the belt worn outside the clothes is considered feminine because it creates an hour glass figure and draws attention away from the bust to the mid torso. They are the most forgiving of body sizes and work for every body shape. Paired up with pants or jeans is usually the most flattering way to wear them though they will work with any dress combination.
There are belted trenches that incorporate more than one basic style and versions that embrace a deconstructed simplistic approach. But whatever your preferences are, there is a belted trench coat that will be for you. Don’t fret, go out and get one.
