YouLookFab Forum » Topic: On the practicality of the trendy short trench.

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: On the practicality of the trendy short trench. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:57:09 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Val MN on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411811 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:03:40 +0000 Val MN 2411811@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Nay for where I live now (Upper Midwest, US). I used to live in the Pacific Northwest, and can see how it could be practical there. Thanks for reporting! Joyce on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411807 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:39:22 +0000 Joyce 2411807@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I too live on the wet coast and reluctantly adopted a short trench with a detachable hood, Kit & Ace. In the past I have had trouble wearing short outside jackets for all reasons mentioned; not practical in rain, not warm enough. But as Suz wrote, it is a great style enhancer to wide legs and is surprisingly warm and functional in a light rain. My never has become a happy sometimes. Carla on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411805 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:35:29 +0000 Carla 2411805@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I’m a Yay! though mine isn’t waterproof, but more of a topper as described by jAileen.  I love it for its ease of wear - especially when doing errands involving getting in and out of a vehicle - and for being a fashion forward piece.   Angie on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411804 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:07:00 +0000 Angie 2411804@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yay, yay, YAY!!!  Suz, I fully agree! I have to run off and work with a client, although needed to stop by quickly and say that BOTH my trench coats - long and short (see FINDS) - are wardrobe workhorses and wardrobe essentials for my style. I have worn my short trench coat sooooo much more than I expected! :)  LOVE you in your KILLER short trench! Janet on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411802 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:52:40 +0000 Janet 2411802@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz, I absolutely agree. For where I live, and for my lifestyle, a full-length trench can be overkill AND can be a bit too formal. My cropped trench has seen more wear in the past couple of months than my classic Burberry has seen in years (although to be fair, that's also partly because the Burberry is a little snug these days). On days when I need to be more prepared for downpour, I turn to my Athleta raincoat with its hood. JAileen on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411800 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:29:33 +0000 JAileen 2411800@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <div>I was a little dubious about these short trench coats at first, but I changed my opinion when I stopped thinking of them as raincoats.  I think of them as another layer, like a utility jacket, but in a different style.  The fact that some are waterproof, like Suz’s is great, but most aren’t.  Most raincoats aren’t waterproof.  You might say, what do you care?  You live in a desert!  Yes, but I go places where it rains.  Anyway, I haven’t seen the short trench that I can’t live without, but I haven’t ruled them out.  And the ones I’ve seen here look great.</div> Suz on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411798 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:31:13 +0000 Suz 2411798@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sarah, right??? There is rain, and then there is RAIN, and while we do get a lot of rain, we rarely if ever get that kind of rain that feels like the gods released the floodgates and the deluge is upon us.  Even the atmospheric river events are more of a steady, looooong rain vs. an intense hard rain.   Irina on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411797 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:26:34 +0000 Irina 2411797@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ For someone who bikes, it absolutely makes sense. I personally prefer longer lengths in trenches but I don’t ever bike.  SarahD8 on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411795 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:17:51 +0000 SarahD8 2411795@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Can confirm your assessment of the practical requirements for dealing with Cascadia weather, and I would absolutely wear your short trench for an intermittently drizzly spring day. I was recently in Chicago for a work conference and one evening there was an absolute cloudburst. "My gosh," I thought, feeling my shoes fill with water as I dashed about 200 feet from a restaurant to my waiting Lyft, "it NEVER rains like this in Seattle!" Suz on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411794 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:00:02 +0000 Suz 2411794@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ kkards, i hear you, and back when I lived in Ontario, I'd have said the same!  kkards on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411791 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:41:17 +0000 kkards 2411791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ unpopular opinion any coat that doesn't cover my butt is an indoor coat i get the appeal but for me i'm not convinced of the practicality, but different horses for different courses Suz on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411790 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:37:05 +0000 Suz 2411790@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Aquamarine, you raise a good point -- if a person doesn't walk a lot but travels by car or transit, this length of jacket might be enough.  I'll add another note -- it's useful for me on my bike.  Aquamarine on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411788 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:33:18 +0000 Aquamarine 2411788@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I’m a YAY! Love my new short trench! I’m rarely on foot and if I am and rain is in the forecast, I might bring an umbrella….or just wear another rain coat. But we have been in a drought here for a while, so it’s not been a problem. Suz on "On the practicality of the trendy short trench." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/on-the-practicality-of-the-trendy-short-trench#post-2411784 Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:27:50 +0000 Suz 2411784@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I want to take a controversial position and stick up for the short trench as actual rainwear.  Actual rainwear, you are thinking. Ha! Poor Suz. She's lost her senses. Ok. But hear me out.  I think it's agreed -- there's nobody on the forum more sniffish about "seasonal confusion" than me -- and I see it everywhere. EVERYWHERE!! Granted, my views have been moderated by the experience of moving to a new climate, where I have learned that what is seasonal confusion in one part of the world may be plain good sense -- or at least not impractical --  in another. Bare ankles and toques or beanies, for instance. This combo makes no sense for winters in Ontario, where I used to live. Whereas on some winter days here on the wet coast, and for some people, who run warmish, it can work quite well. Short trench coats were available last year and maybe even the year before. I was immediately drawn to the look. But I scoffed. I mean I literally laughed out loud. Who needs a raincoat that will not keep them dry? As you know, I have since bought one of these babies myself. And I love it! It's a workhorse! And not just because the proportions work with wide legs, which I like to wear.  Here's why: My own short trench does keep me dry. Admittedly, mine is a gearish version with a hood. And admittedly, I haven't walked for hours in a downpour while wearing it.  But here's the thing. While downpours and atmospheric rivers do occur where I live, and require more serious rainwear, most spring days are not like that.  Most days, the forecast is for intermittent showers, with a mere possibility of more serious rain. And it turns out, the short trench is perfect for such weather.   For the more serious rain, an umbrella or longer rainwear or both are required. But those days become less and less common as winter turns into spring.  In short, if you get the kind of rain that is more common back east, I.e. constant downpour or thunderstorm, then no, these jackets won't work, except for style and possibly wind coverage. But if you live in a climate like mine, this is a surprisingly practical piece of clothing.  So: who's with me? Short trenches can be practical: Vote YAY.  Short trenches are a seasonally confused fashion idiocy where I live: Vote NAY!