On a beautiful day in April, at an event at the White House, Melania Trump was photographed in a coat that was so stunning I had to find out who made it. The off-white, double-breasted white leather trench coat is from Mackage, a Montreal-based luxury brand known for keeping cold Canadians toasty warm in high style. Named the GAEL-V Maxi Leather Trench Coat, the coat is styled with a traditional storm flap and tailored with a belted waist for a beautiful, flattering fit. The New York Post noted that Mackage is also a favorite brand of Megan Markle. The coat comes with a royal price tag of close to $2,000.
Originally designed for the battlefield, trench coats have been largely known as rain gear, but are showing up in all weather conditions. They are especially suited to the transitional seasons of spring and fall, when the sun shines but temps are still cool, or a slowly darkening sky indicates rain is coming but you don’t know when. Some trench coats have zip-out linings you can leave in for the fall frost and take out for April showers. Women’s clothing is notoriously short on pockets. Trench coats in general have deep pockets with room to store essential items so you can ditch the shoulder-crushing pocketbook.
Trench coats come in full and knee lengths for more coverage and formality; three-quarter and crop jacket styles for a more casual look. The all-weather versions are either water resistant or waterproof. Dressy satin and suede trench coats make no pretense of being practical when the drops start falling. And then there is color. I have had both black and beige trench coats over the years. A review of trench coats in the Fashionista blog showed wild colors and prints as well.
And, of course, there is what I now think of as Melania white.
What makes the Mackage trench coat stand out? A review in a 2020 Forbes magazine article stated that “Mackage collections combine the finest leathers, down, and wool with tailored silhouettes and precision detail.” I found a smattering of reviews from fashion designers and loyal customers. They cited the tailored fit of a Mackage coat and the brilliant blend of fashion and function. None of the other trench coats I looked at matched the elegant fitted style of Mackage, though a few of the mid-priced brands came close. Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers and even the Coach outlet had models that were flattering as well as practical. Donna Karan has several attractive models and one with an unusual double collar.
Like any piece of clothing, if you’re thinking about a trench coat, know your purpose. If you want one mainly for inclement weather, read the label to make sure it’s at least water resistant, and preferably waterproof. Do you want something to throw on to look put together without too much effort? A cute, perky crop jacket may be calling your name. Is your goal to arrive at work without dripping over the papers on your desk? Get something full length. Surprisingly, I saw very few trench coats with attached hoods. That’s one reason I’ve held onto my current raincoat for years. A hood is especially valuable on a rainy walk to shul. While I loved Melania’s formal look, I don’t need to stand out in a crowd. But I do have my eye on a cute trench jacket that would be just right for a casual get-together or lunch date.
