Trench talk

Priyanka Chopra’s Ralph Lauren trench coat gown with a floor-sweeping, billowing train has put the spotlight back on the art of trench. The new updated version of it is pronounced in design and droopy in structure. Needless to add that the classic closet staple is timelessly chic given its tactile nature and the ability to discreetly cover up all the fat. Team it with a deconstructed white shirt and embellished denims from Monisha Jaising’s cruise line or pick one from Shruti Sancheti and throw in a straight fit kurta and culottes.

Play with separates

Take cue from the Spring Summer 17 ZARA campaign shot by Steven Meisel which is a modern take on wearing the trench dress. Stylist Allia Al Rufai says, “For summer, the nicest way to style a coat dress is to get undone. You can style a look that’s sexy playing with skin and lace and sheer, play with separates and layering shorts with a bralette, add on a slip top and use the trench over as a layer keeping it open for the day time. You could dress this look with gladiators or even simple slip one. Throw on a thin collar or scarf to add an edge and roll up your sleeves. Button up for an evening out keeping some buttons open to create an exaggerated slit.”

Art of layering

Designer Shruti Sancheti says, “Sheer, textured, heavily embroidered and in industrial fabric etc are used as variations in terms of fabric and surface ornamentation and even in terms of construction, assymetrical, trench coats with train, double layered, reversible etc are popular. The trench coat can be worn as a singular item of dressing , or as a layered garment or even in the Indian context over a sari or ghagra especially in woven fabrics or heavily embroidered ones.”

Designer Rajat K Tangri suggests, “Team a smart sassy dress with a classic tan trench with statement heels for a dinner date. For a brunch outing, layer it over denims in light summer fabrics or in nautical pin stripes for maximum impact.”

Designer Sayantan Sarkar suggests, “A trench dress can be long and flowy like a maxi or else it can be short like a skater dress. A short trench coat can also be styled with a longer dress from within, which creates an illusion of layered dress, as I had already created this look in my Winter/Festive 2014 collection where a knee-length dress was paired with a smart trench coat.”