This might sound a bit bonkers as a post- as I write, the sun is beating down on us and temperatures are hitting mediterranean heights- but this John Rocha padded trench from Designers at Debenhams for this autumn looks like something worth looking out for. It doesn't get into stores until August as it is officially a winter item, but the combination of the classic trench shape and the lightly padded Barbour-esque fabric is a winner in our eyes and is very trans-seasonal (is that a word?) as it is very light padding.
Trenches have had a 'fashion moment' over the last year, but any woman over 35 needs a classic trench as part of her wardrobe as they are terrifically smart -installing a Katherine Hepburn like glamour to something as mundane as a coat for rainy days and being tailored, they add structure to your outer layer, which is always a good thing when your outer lines are starting to 'soften', shall we say.
Because of the British weather you know it will be a good investment as it rains pretty much constantly here, and this one is £75, so not too bad at all. We like the length, not too long so it can be worn over jeans and will be easy in the car, it really does have the makings of a classic. While we are talking about John Rocha at Debenhams, it is worth mentioning that the whole range -which we saw at the autumn press day last week- looks pretty good, there are some very wearable items at reasonable prices, so pencil a date in the diary to visit when you start thinking about winter clothes.
