Hurry up, jacket weather! Princess Anne's cropped trench is a timeless transitional staple I can't wait to pair with jeans and light knits
Late summer and early autumn is the perfect time to start lightly layering and a trench is one of the most classic designs
After weeks of wearing nothing but summer dresses and sandals we're forecast to finally enjoy a break from the heat and I'm already thinking of autumn outfit ideas. The one wardrobe staple I've really missed wearing the most is jackets and Princess Anne has reminded us all that trenches are a brilliant transitional option.
We tend to think of them as a spring style, though they work for late summer/early autumn too and she wore hers in Scotland on 5th August. The Princess Royal, who's celebrating her 76th birthday on 15th, stepped out for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo rehearsal in a light beige trench that fell to hip-length.
Shop Cropped Trenches
With a mac-inspired design, this Barbour jacket is cropped and has a double-breasted fit with neat buttons. It comes in a few different colours and it's showerproof, making it a practical choice for late summer/early autumn weather. There's a pleat at the back and cuff tabs for a smart final flourish.
Made from 100% cotton, this trench coat is something a little different to the sand-toned designs that we always see. The deep chocolate brown shade is another versatile neutral and the shape is double-breasted, with a waist-cinching belt. The cropped coat also has timeless storm flap detailing.
Perfect for transitional weather, this double-breasted trench has a notch lapel collar and buttons at the front. It's fully lined and cropped, with adjustable cuffs. Throw on with your favourite jeans and a Tee and you've got a smart-casual outfit that looks put-together.
Shop More Trench Coats
Not everyone will be a fan of cropped trenches and this one from M&S falls to midi length and is about as timeless as it gets. It comes in regular and petite versions and is crafted from cotton-rich fabric. The tie belt can be adjusted to cinch in the waist and there's added stretch in the material for comfort.
The belt on this chic trench is removeable so you can make it more casual or cinch it in for extra definition. It's got a long, streamlined silhouette and a lapel collar. Two side pockets are a practical addition and there's an inner lining to finish it off in style.
This trench coat is a lightweight, shower-resistant outerwear option that you can throw on with jeans or style with flowy midi dresses. It has a lapel collar, double-breasted button fastening and an adjustable waist belt. There's a single storm flap and the pale beige colour is easy to pair with other shades.
Longer trench coats give a gorgeous frame-elongating effect but cropped styles like this are a lovely alternative. Anne went traditional in Edinburgh and paired her coat with a knee-length tartan skirt, navy loafers and a jumper and shirt combination.
This was a quintessential *her* ensemble and it won't be for everyone, though the Princess Royal's coat was incredibly classic. Shorter trenches are a little lighter than full-length designs and tend to feel more casual too.
This length looks especially flattering when draped over trousers and jeans, which naturally draw the eye downwards, compared to midi hemlines that can cut off at a tricky point under a shorter coat. Princess Anne has probably had her trench for years like so many of her staples and the stone-beige tone is classic.
Black trenches are equally easy to style, but light neutral ones are less of a stark contrast against pastels and pale tones. This makes them more versatile for spring and late summer when a lot of us are wearing these kinds of hues.
When autumn arrives, beige trenches look great with rich colours like chocolate brown, olive green and burgundy and are softer than black. The King's sister clearly likes the combination of a light trench with navy blue too.
Her coat was double-breasted and had tortoiseshell buttons and a notched lapel collar. She fastened it up to the top, though a trench coat that's left open looks more relaxed so it's a clever way to dress them down. If you love the formal, military-esque trench look then go for a design which has the signature epaulettes, storm flap and belt.
Anne's had belted cuffs but was otherwise more pared-back. She also owns a mac-trench hybrid coat she's worn a lot and this doesn't have a waist belt either, so the Princess seems to prefer a less structured fit.
As she's famously quoted as saying there's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing, both of these coats could have an extra practical feature. Trenches are often shower resistant or water repellent to some degree and this is another reason why they're such a useful piece for the transition between seasons.
So far the summer has featured one heatwave after another but Scotland has had some rain recently so I wouldn't put it past Princess Anne to come prepared. She's the Patron of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and met with the military personnel, crew and international cast who were bringing it to life.
