Leather bound

the trench coat has gone soft

Designers are bringing a soft touch to the utilitarian trench coat this season, reimagining the quintessential style in leather. ‘it is fascinating to work with classic shapes and see how you can develop them without losing their essence,’ says Copenhagen-based designer Freya Dalsjø. her trench coat has a double layer with a python-skin collar peeking from a folded off-theshoulder sleeve. ‘the detailing highlights the inner jacket,’ she says. ‘it looks like two jackets in one.’ italian leather house tod’s, meanwhile, has brought biker jacket details to its khaki trench coat. Valentino’s interpretation comes in sugary-pink lacquered leather, while bottega Veneta has added a shinier top coat, reimagining the trench coat silhouette in glossy patent leather.