Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Above: Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Blake Edwards, 1961) wears the trench with a head scarf, polo t-shirt and black sunglasses.
Right: Catherine Deneuve in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) wears a trench paired with pointed flat shoes while sending off her lover to war.
Catherine Deneuve in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
Seeing people dressed in trench coats on the streets inspires me, maybe more than other pieces of clothing, for my brain somehow always associates the silhouette with cinema scenes. There are a few great movies that showcase the classic trench and I’d like to share a few of my favourites.
With its clean lines, tailoring, and goes-with-everything taupe colour or black, whether you choose a long or short version, tailored or loose, there are endless choices when it comes to picking a trench. (I’ve also included a few links for you to shop in case you’re looking for a great trench for springtime.)
Marilyn Monroe in Let’s Make Love (1960)
In Let’s Make Love (1960) directed by George Cukor, Marilyn Monroe vies for the affection of one of the wealthiest men in the world in a perfect pairing of a trench coat styled with a black beret: “Wrapped around Monroe, the trench suddenly has sex appeal. She makes you wonder what’s under it—if anything.” (Source)
Alain Delon in Le Samouraï (1967)
Sophia Loren in The Key (1958)
Above left: Alain Delon in Le Samouraï pairs his trench with a hat
Above: Sophia Loren wears a fitted trench coat and headscarf in the 1958 WWII drama The Key.
Paul Newman in Paris Blues (1961)
In Martin Ritt’s Paris Blues, Paul Newman wears polo sweaters or shirts and blazers with slacks and a trench coat on top.
Julie Andrews in Torn Curtain (1966)
Julie Andrews wears a trench paired with a beret and bike in the film Torn Curtain.
Meryl Streep Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
For Meryl Streep’s character in Robert Benton’s Kramer vs. Kramer (1979): “Costume designer Ruth Morley dresses Meryl Streep’s absentee mother Joanna head-to-toe in various shades of brown. Joanna’s appearance is regimented by control and routine, and nearly always finished by that epitome of late 1970s chic and impending yuppiedom, a three quarter length Burberry trench coat.” (Clothes On Film)
Marlene Dietrich in A Foreign Affair (1948)
Marlene Dietrich plays legendary cabaret singer Erika von Schlütow in the 1948 post-war film A Foreign Affair wearing this stylish dark trench coat.
Brigitte Bardot in Babette Goes to War (1959)
Brigitte Bardot wears a trench and scarf in the Christian-Jaque directd Babette Goes to War, a comedy is about a naive French country girl in London who helps the war effort by parachuting into German-occupied France to help kidnap an important German general.
