Classic Trench, The history and how to style

It was a rare moment. I had a few hours of solo shopping while I was in Orlando this winter. Otto and Joe were having a swim and I snuck off to the outlets for a bit of quiet time. I love outlet shopping. I’m dutch to more core and I LOVE a good deal. I have a hard time paying full price for anything because over time, you just know that certain things will always have a coupon code. And the ones that don’t are the only ones that I will splurge on from time to time on special occasions.

I was walking around in the mild heat enjoying a coffee when I strolled past the Burberry outlet. I thought, meh I have time I’m going to browse. A Burberry trench has been on my list forever but the $2,000 price tag has kept me away and it’s been on my list for a some day big achievement. That day though as I walked into the store just browsing I saw it. All by itself, lonely on a sale rack way in the back. The Burberry Classic Kensington trench coat and it was 70% off and it was MY SIZE.

Still out of my budget for just a random casual shopping trip I thought no no I’m not even going to make eye contact. Then as I started to walk out I thought… no harm in just seeing how it fits. I slipped it on and it’s like it was made for me. The only alteration needed is a bit in the sleeves. It’s like the Burberry fairy plucked this out of the backroom and on to the sales rack just for me.

Still, I thought no no Abby. No. I stalled a bit more by checking my messages and texts on my phone. I had a notification that I sold a purse on Poshmark. I took it as a sign. The universe wanted me to have this jacket. At least that’s what I told myself.

I went up to purchase the trench and it was like a scene from Confessions of a Shopaholic. You know the one where she’s purchasing the iconic green scarf and uses like 5 different methods of payment.

One card and the remaining balance of my birthday and Christmas cash and the coat was mine. I couldn’t believe it that I found this trench on that big of a sale.

There are so many amazing trenches from different brands but I have always admired the history of the classic Burberry trench.

It became an iconic fashion piece (to me at least)  after I saw  Audrey Hepburn wearing it, running through the rain looking for her cat and finally admitting that she was in love with Gregory Peck in breakfast at Tiffany’s. From that moment on it was added to my lust list.

There are a few really amazing pieces of history that make the Burberry trench an iconic and lust list item for me.

The fabric is called Garbardine a fabric that Thomas Burberry invented himself, it’s a weatherproof cotton while other weatherproof items at the time were waxed, stiff and heavy.

The D rings along the back of the coat were installed onto the jackets during the first world war to hold officers tools and still remain on the jacket to this day.

Iconic movies and film stars have sported varying versions of the classic Burberry trench such as:

• Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca
• Robert Redford in The Way We Were
• Bridget Bardot
• Meryl Streep
• Sophia Loren
• Marilyn Monroe

Burberry has been an iconic part of fashion and film history for over 130 years!

My love for antiques and vintage often trickles into my fashion pics and I love when a piece carries some history.

If you are after the iconic look of the trench without the hefty price tag and investment there are some great trench coats in different fabrics and fits.

• J.Crew – Icon Trench is almost an exactly replica of the classic Burberry trench and is 10% of the retail price. 
• London Fog – Heritage water repellent trench is on sale now at Nordstrom and the back detail is very similar to the Burberry style. 
• Gap – Classic Trench. This one lacks the waist definition but still a great trench cut and khaki color. 
• ASOS – Classic New Trench. I love the dark colored buttons on this one and it’s currently $60 with 20% off coupon. 

This is one treasured piece that will always be a part of my wardrobe. With proper care and wear it should last for years and years to come.

One of my favorite ways to style the classic trench is just by keeping it simple. I wore it with my Sezane chloe collar button up top, farrah AG jeans and Tory Burch Jessa loafers.

We were out getting groceries on a cold drizzly morning and it was the perfect opportunity to bust out the trench.

PS if you want to check out more jackets I have an entire guide dedicated to jacket styles here.