Why are trench coats popular? Perhaps we should look to the markets.
As a professional trend-tracker by day, and an amateur day-trader by night, it’s impossible not to notice the winds of fashion and finance changing as one. With a recession on the horizon and fashion bracing for the impact of President Donald Trump’s catastrophic tariffs, the last few months have seen a drastic shift in the stock market, yes, but in the retail market as well.
Just look to the forward-thinking shoppers who have pivoted away from the loud, celebratory trends we collectively adopted after 2020 (logomania, leopard print, etc.), in favor of dependable basics that can withstand several years of belt-tightening. Given its own belted design, the khaki trench coat is a prime example.
The trend first kicked off in spring of 2023, when then-President Joe Biden was beginning his bid for reelection. Within days, the term “quiet luxury” was everywhere, washing over the industry at large like a beige tsunami. Though it wasn’t apparent at the time, the aesthetic was a forecast of financial troubles to come.
Following President Trump’s second inauguration, “stealth wealth” reached a new fever pitch. While the stock market was reaching all-time highs, customers were choosing to invest their own money in reliable staples with a low cost-per-wear. Namely, trench coats, ballet flats, and nondescript handbags that will ensure their closets remain stylish and on-trend, even in the event that shopping becomes a far less frequent occurrence.
“The goal is to build a wardrobe that can carry you through seasons and economic cycles,” says financial blogger and influencer Haley Sacks (or, as she’s more commonly known, Mrs. Dow Jones). “It’s about making smarter purchases that don’t lose value the second you leave the store. A quality trench from a heritage brand might not skyrocket in value, but it will hold up over time.”
Today, the “quiet luxury” favorite is, perhaps, one of the safest sartorial investments money can buy—which is probably why trench coats are so popular. It’s timeless in its appeal and unfailingly functional, which Sacks says are exactly the qualities one should look for when recession-proofing their wardrobe.
“Think of your clothes like a portfolio; you want reliable assets,” Sacks says. “A trench coat is the high-yield savings account of your wardrobe—classic, dependable, and always there when you need it. It gives rich energy…even when you’re feeling recession-core.”
According to Steve Dool, Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Comms at Depop, the resale platform has seen a huge increase in interest in recent months, “with searches for trench coats increasing 15 percent over the last six months and 50 percent over the last year,” he tells Glamour. “It’s the kind of purchase that could see you recouping your investment, should you wish to sell it, and promises a solid cost-per-wear.”
He continues, “So you can invest, but also know they’ll have a decent resale value.”
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