STYLING MY TRENCH COAT COLLECTION

The in-between weather called for a wardrobe play date. I counted 24 looks I put together, and here's what I've come up with.

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I am the proud owner of two black, three beige and one khaki trench coats. That makes a trench coat collection of six trench coats. Given that the German weather on average grants four days of trench coat weather per year, that is a bit much. However, I love them and there’s nothing more chic to me than an archive of things you love.

My latest additions are this Nak-d number and a Weekday car coat (Scandi vibes on a hanger!). In my years of training in trench coat styling I have found a way to style them in an effortless but chic way (at least it’s the way I like to style them).

Here’s what I found out during my styling session what I do to take away the formal aspect (and sometimes stiffness) of a trench coat:

• mostly wear them with my hair open (best is messy hair in undone waves, I hardly ever wear a trench with a bun)

• wear them with strappy sandals or flip-flops (yes, it’s the Scandi trend but it helps with the effortless styling)

• wear a sweater over the shoulder (gives you an extra silhouette on top - also perfect if you think your trench coat is too short to be on trend - it adds a modern vibe!)

• wear chunky sandals (adds interest)

• wear a structured bag or a bag with a pattern (adds modernity)

• wear an interesting pair of sun glasses (adds interest, too!)

• wear it with simple basics (the more boring, the better! Add a pair of hoop earrings and embrace the simple way of the look)

• wear it with a white t-shirt and black pants (see above, it’s the only base you need for a good trench!)

• that’s a personal preference, but don’t wear a button-down underneath (too preppy).

That’s it. Trench coats are the walls to my wardrobe house, the butter to my styling bread and the salt to my closet soup. Don’t know where that came from, but you get the idea!

Here are all the looks I put together in a forty-minute-styling session with myself. A little disclaimer: I know there’s a lot of repetition in the looks and they all look similar (that’s what I love about my personal style and that’s why I feel great in them!).

This is something I’d wear to the office in the next two weeks: Nakd trench - Arket Men turtleneck - Topshop suit pants -Reserved boots - APC Grace Mini bag

Loved this, easy for just going into the city and also great for the office. Nakd trench - Les Visionnaires x Oh April bag - Second Female tshirt - Uniqlo wide leg pants - Zara flip flops

As I said, the base of a white shirt and pants are the best for a trench - or car - coat. Weekday coat - Second Female shirt - Uniqlo wide leg pants -Zara flip flops - Les Visionnaires bag

Then I started playing with structured bags. This would be my go-to for after-work drinks. Nakd trench - Second Female shirt - Arket Men grey sweater - Topshop pants - Tamaris ballet flats - COS snake clutch

This look needed a bit of interest, so I added chunky sandals. Nakd trench coat . Arket sweater - Topshop pants - Birkenstock sandals - Les Visionnaires bag

Love a good trench-coat buttoned to the top (anyone having a TikTok moment here?) This looks very Scandi-chic to me. Nakd trench - Uniqlo pants - Zara flip flops - APC Grace Mini bag

Styling a beige trench coat is also about mixing color pallettes. I prefer to stay in the natural color scheme, so we’re only adding more beige and grey. Nakd trench - Mango knit sweater - Topshop pants -Zara flip flops - Les Visionnaires suede bag

Now we’re adding leopard print to take away the seriousness of the car coat. Weekday car coat - Arket sweater - Second Female shirt - Topshop pants - Tamaris ballet flats

The great thing about these styling sessions is that there’s a ten minute warm-up and then the creativity is flowing. So I added my braided bag. Le Specs sunglasses - Nakd trench - Hallhuber bag - Mango sweater - Topshop pants - Zara flipflops

Same as before, just without the sunglasses.

Yes, I own two black trench coats. To balance out the more fitted coat, I added a structured pair of sunglasses and a beige suede bag. H&M sunnies - Mango sweater - H&M Premium trench coat - Massimo Dutti grey top - Topshop pants -Tamaris ballet flats

Same base as before, just without the sun glasses - this would be more of an office look.

Then I played with shorts and short dresses and skirts. Mind-blowing. This will be appropriate weather-wise for about two days this year, but who cares. Weekday car coat - Massimo Dutti grey top - Zara leather shorts - COS Snake clutch - Tamaris ballet flats

Here we go again, just a different version of what I played with before. Nakd trench - Massimo Dutti top - Topshop pants - Zara flip flops - Hallhuber bag

Styling sessions mean you switch out different items. Nakd trench - A.Kjaerbede sunnies - Second Female shirt - Zara leather shorts - &other stories leopard bag - Tamaris flats

Okay, this is another variation of a look I did before, just with my chunky Birkenstock sandals. So good.

And another switch up. Nakd trench - Hallhuber bag - Second Female shirt - Zara leather shorts - Tamaris flats - A. Kjaerbede sunnies

I tried my Gucci dupe horsebit shoes and I didn’t like it. Weekday car coat - Second Female shirt - Zara leather shorts - Les Visionnaires bag - Uterque shoes - A. Bjaerkede sunnies

This is a great looks for drinks with the girls. I love everything about this. Weekday car coat - A&F linen dress - Zara flip flops - COS snake clutch - Zara flip flops - Le Specs sunnies

A bit more serious. Don’t have the occasion to wear this, but it’s good to know it’s there. Nakd trench - Arket sweater - COS mini skirt - APC Grace mini bag - Tamaris flats

From the linen dress look I went to this: Weekday car coat - A&F linen dress - Les Visionnaires x Oh April bag - Tamaris flats

This is another version of the look I don’t know what to do with: Mango trench - Arket sweater - COS skirt - Tamaris ballet flats - &other stories leopard bag

I love this. This is me in a trench look. H&M Premium khaki trench - Arket sweater - Topshop pants - Zara flip flops - Les Visionnaires bag - A. Bjaerkede sun glasses

And a last one: H&M trench - Arket sweater - COS mini skirt - Hallhuber bag - Tamaris flats - A. Bjaerkede sun glasses

These wardrobe styling sessions take a bit of energy for me (because I create chaos when I do them and need to tidy everything up now) but I love that I have at least twenty new styling ideas. Plus, I have the best feeling of having a wardrobe full of functional pieces and possibilities I can style.

Let me know how you style your trench coats!