Life in lockdown has prompted many of us to get back to basics; from baking (no doubt your Instagram feed is full of banana bread) to making more time for simple pleasures such as reading or getting lost in an amazing box set. Unsurprisingly, our closets have also been subject to streamlining. At a time when time itself feels a little elastic, there’s comfort to be found in classic pieces. Case in point: the trench coat.

The word investment piece gets bandied around a lot in fashion, but the trench is one piece that’s truly deserving of the title. An enduring favorite, the classic beige or tan style has been worn by fashion icons including Catherine Deneuve, Jane Birkin and Kate Moss. For SS20, labels including Loewe, Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta have put their own contemporary twists on this timeless piece – in the form of contrasting collars, relaxed cuts and sculptural details – and the results are sublime. The trans-seasonal piece par excellence, shrug one of these covetable coats over everything from a printed dress to a tracksuit to add instant polish to your everyday look.

Ultimately, its versatility is where the allure of the trench coat lies – but that doesn’t mean it’s a sartorial afterthought. Take your styling cues from front-row regulars Angela Fink and Jo Ellison by going for an effortlessly elegant tonal look, topped off with a co-ordinating coat. A trip to the supermarket never looked so chic…

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