Fashion

15 May 10

For so many years a dubious sign, the trench coat is now becoming a musthave wardrobe item.

A new trend in 60 seconds

THE NEW TRENCH

As Andie MacDowell so woodenly put it in Four Weddings and a Funeral: “Is it raining? I hadn’t noticed.” Well, we have. Spring showers are your cue to leave the country, or belt up in a new, revamped trench coat.

Think of the classic beige mac and I bet you have flashes of saucy French resistance types in belted numbers with fishnet stockings and berets. Ah yes, the trench coat has long been an object of fantasy for fashionistas, and now it’s back in a new 2010 incarnation to pull on when there are cloudy skies over Marseille or you’re sheltering from the Tuscan rain.

A beautiful beatnik trench goes with everything from three-quarter-length cigarette pants and ballet flats, Audrey Hepburn-style, to bare legs, Victoria Beckham-style.

But the key to the new trench (TNT) is period detailing. Burberry has reworked its classic piece into a pretty, feminine number with draped panels in gorgeous metallic taffeta. On the high street, Zara adds capped sleeves to accommodate all the shoulder detailing in your spring wardrobe, and Topshop goes further with a cute bustle gathered at the rear for a touch of Marie Antoinette. The more French you can look, the better – baguettes and rusty bike optional.

So which on-trend celebs love their flasher mac? Gossip Girl, Blake Lively, hit the Lower East Side of Manhattan with her co-star squeeze in a silver metallic number that had us all jealously texting. But kudos to Victoria Beckham for leaving a cookery class in Milan looking like a modern day Brigitte Bardot in a Burberry mini-trench with toned and tanned pins and super-size sunnies. TV’s Alexa Chung (pictured) has also been spotted with the look.

As for you, sun-worshipping Ryanair lovelies, style it out with a nautical (read, naughtycal) top, slouchy denim shorts and espadrilles by day, or mix with skinny jeans and patent heels at night. TNT is also perfect for prettifying the utility trend this summer over khaki pants, riveted vest tops or military shorts. And if the thermometer pops this summer the only thing you need to wear underneath is your bikini. Hands up who wants to get soaking wet!