Hi sweet gal! Welcome to Dressed for My Day. My goal here, with each and every post, is to inspire and help women like you and me to dress beautifully and appropriately for our unique days so that we can look our very best. When we feel good about how we look, we’re more likely to engage authentically and graciously with those around us and be able to influence them well. And that’s the ultimate goal!
To that end, today I’m simply answering a very simple question that I get asked frequently. “How do you tie the belt around your trench coat?” It’s so simple really. But this little style trick can also make you look oh so chic!
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The Versatile Trench
While I shared lots of other great spring jacket options in Monday’s post, I’m definitely gravitating to my trench coats and jackets lately. In fact, besides my denim jacket, my black trench jacket was the only coat I took to Georgia for my recent week long visit. And I wore it almost daily.
I decided to go with the black trench because I felt like I needed a black jacket with the wardrobe I’m currently building for spring. But I also love this short trench coat in navy, as seen below. It’s also available in moss green and sand, but all of the colors are offered in very limited quantities at this point. No wonder! This water repellent Lauren by Ralph Lauren trench coat is marked down 55% now for a really sweet price. (And of course the shipping is free.) I’m wearing a medium for a nice roomy fit.
Sale Alert: Nordstrom has marked down prices 25% site wide. There are exceptions, of course. But you’ll find many great buys marked down 25% or more. Before heading over to Nordstrom, you might want to check out my Shop My Nordstrom Favorites page.
I also still have my pink trench coat from last year. It’s still hiding out in my cedar chest right now, but today I’m pulling it out and adding it to the rotation.
While Talbots no longer carries my pretty pink trench coat, they do have a similar one in pink gingham. How darling! Mine is a small for reference. Oh, and they still have this one in “winter turquoise,” but I don’t see anything winter-y about it at all. Plus, it’s marked down. Don’t think a colored trench coat is practical? I never lacked for ways to wear my pink one.
Sale Alert: It looks like Talbots is also having a special deal today. You can buy one full price item and get one 50% off. This offer is for today only and INCLUDES NEW ARRIVALS. You can check out my updated Talbots Favorites Page here.
Besides a denim jacket, I’d say a pretty trench coat is perhaps the most versatile coat or jacket you can have in your spring wardrobe. You can wear it easily with everything from jeans or chinos to slacks or a dress.
I actually still have one more trench coat to show you later this week! (Here’s a sneak peak at the coat I’ll be styling. It’s marked down 25% right now.) But for now, let’s move on to how to tie that self-fabric belt that comes on most trenches.
How to Tie the Belt of Your Trench Coat
And yes, you can tie your belt with this singular loop whether it has a buckle on one end or not. Also, you don’t have to button up your jacket or coat before tying it. In fact, I’d say it’s more modern and casual to leave it unbuttoned. You can even let the front of the coat gape open a bit if you’re not really chilly.
Let’s get started.
Step #1 – Grab the two ends of the belt, leaving one end drastically longer than the other. You may have to play around with proportions, but I only start with about 6-8 inches of belt in one hand and the rest in the other.
Step #2 – Do a simple criss-cross tie, as though you’re about to tie a bow, keeping the proportions the way you had them to begin with.
Step #3 – Now, go ahead as though you’re tying a full bow, but only pull the long portion of the belt through to make a loop. Admittedly, this is the part I struggled to show well in the photo. So just do as I say, not as I show! Ha! Pull only the long portion through to make a loop.
Step #4 – Adjust the loop and the two ends to lay the way you want them to. The goal is to make it look like you tied it quickly, hastily. It’s supposed to look casual, so it’s okay if it’s even a little sloppy.
Really, practice makes perfect here. But the biggest tip I can pass on is to start the process with one very long end and one very, very short one. You’ll get it!! I promise. If I can do it, you can, too.
Mine looks different every time, but I do love the casual vibe of this simple styling hack.
Style Tip: When your trench coat is not tied, just tie it simply in the back or fold the ties and insert the folds into your pockets.
Shop Trench Coats:
Here are some great options I found, if you’re interested in adding a trench coat or jacket to your spring wardrobe. Several of these are currently discounted and sale prices do not always show up in the widget, so click on through if you see one you’re interested in. Of course, these are affiliate links. that means I potentially make a commission if you purchase anything while shopping through them. Thank you for supporting my work here.
Did you enjoy this style hack post? Would you be interested in learning other style tips similar to this one? Unfortunately, it’s not always so easy to share in a blog post, but I’ll be starting my YouTube channel soon. And style hacks are at the top of my list of video ideas. Stay tuned for updates!
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It’s hard to live with unknowns, wouldn’t you agree? Whether you’re waiting on the results of a medical test, anticipating a loved one’s reaction to your apology, looking over your investment portfolio or watching the evening news for the latest updates on the Coronavirus pandemic, the wondering and waiting is oh so hard.
That’s why I’m very glad that we have a Good Shepherd who cares for us and leads us through each and every day. While we don’t know exactly where we’re going, He does. Not only that, but He is responsible for leading us safely through each peak and valley, providing for us along the way. And He takes that responsibility gladly. Let’s rest in this assurance today.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. ~ Psalm 23:1-3
Thank you! Today’s blog and blessed message is what I needed this morning. Ps, I ordered the pink gingham trench.
Wonderful! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post and that the blessing resonated with you. Have a good day, Patricia.
Loved your tie “style hack” I inherited an authentic Burberry trench and have always tied it that way instead of belting it as intended. Gives a contemporary look to a very classic coat. I just wish it wasn’t SOOOO long. But I will not have it hemmed, it’s practically a vintage piece!! AND, I work for a J. Jill and they are compensating their employees for two weeks as well. Many companies are doing the same!
Yes I am so grateful that it looks like most retail companies – and many other businesses as well I’m sure – are trying to take care of their employees. We’ve all got to work together during this time! Thanks for sharing about your Burberry. Wow! What a treat! I bet it is lovely.
Have a great day, Sue!
Thanks for the tips on tying a belt that way. I just tried it and realized that you must not to make the first loop of the bow before pulling the long end through. I think I finally got it and appreciate your help, I was trying to figure it out on my own yesterday. I am paying close attention to which businesses are helping out their employees right now and will make sure to frequent them when this is over.
Thanks Heather. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Yeah, at that point it got very tricky trying to take a photo of what I was doing. But it sounds like you got it!
I’m paying close attention, too. But so far, it seems most everyone is trying to do right by their employees, not only taking care of pay for time off, but also by keeping their benefits going and even encouraging them to stay home if they don’t feel well. This is definitely a trying time. Thanks again for sharing!
I’ve struggled for years to tie a trench coat so it looked nice. This is great! I love your blog!
Thank you. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for sharing Cathy.
I love these types of style tips. And your message today was much appreciated.
Great to hear. Thanks so much for letting me know Pam.
I really enjoyed today’s post…probably because Spring is my favorite season here in the Midwest. I am always disheartened when I click on an item and it is already sold out. Also, it would be so nice if you post shoes that are also in wide width. Particularly the pointed styles need to be in wide for many of us. Thank you.
Hi MJ. I’ll be providing a complete spring footwear post next week so I’ll try to look for shoes in a wide range of styles. I do know that the Ally shoes are made to fit your feet. You do a special fitting using their own measuring guide and your shoes are then made to fit. So that might be a nice option to look into. The shoes from Target generally are cheaper shoes and are not going to be as size friendly.