Seven Beige Trench Coats, Part 2: Burberry Brit, Johnny Hates Jazz, YCH and Erika Cavallini

 After trying on the three Enfold trenches in Part 1, I'm back with the other four coats from my collection of seven beige trench coats.

For years, I'd left them hanging in my closet, using the hassle of driving as my excuse. But taking them out again brought back memories of airport fashion and a Korean drama, and I found myself getting a little nostalgic. 😂 (And yes, these are mirror selfies over my pajama shorts again. Please be kind. 🤭)

1. Burberry Brit trench: a line that no longer exists

Burberry Brit double-breasted trench coat with Nova Check lining

The first is a double-breasted Burberry Brit trench.

This coat always takes me back to a particular airport fashion moment. Korean readers might remember actress Yoon Eun-hye's Burberry trench look: belted, with black skinny jeans. I'm not sure hers was the exact same model as mine, but that's the image that pops into my head. When I looked it up again, I found a blog post featuring the look from 2014. Has it really been that long? 😳

Burberry Brit is a line you can't find anymore. In 2015, Burberry announced it would bring its separate lines, including Prorsum, London and Brit, together under one "Burberry" label. So the "BRIT" on this label feels like a little piece of history to me.

The fabric feels light and smooth, almost like a water-resistant material. Inside, there's the Nova Check lining everyone pictures when they think of Burberry.

It hits above the knee, which makes it a great match for shorts, mini skirts, or skinny jeans like the ones in that airport look. It really shows off your legs.

By the way, yes, it's wrinkled in the photos… I really need to iron it. Sorry… 😅

2. Johnny Hates Jazz trench: belt it and it becomes a dress

Johnny Hates Jazz beige trench coat with a belted flared silhouette

The second is from Johnny Hates Jazz, a Korean designer brand. This trench became famous after actress Kim Ha-neul wore it in the 2016 Korean drama On the Way to the Airport, the one with Lee Sang-yoon. Burberry for airport fashion, Johnny Hates Jazz for On the Way to the Airport. Somehow I own two trenches with an airport connection. 😂

And isn't the brand name funny? "Johnny hates jazz." I got curious and looked it up, and there's a story behind it.

Johnny Hates Jazz was launched in 2007 by designer Choi Ji-hyung. From what I read, the name is meant to express the humor and wit hidden inside clothes that stay true to the basics. So it's not that anyone actually hates jazz. The quirky name seems to be a wink, a way of saying the brand doesn't take itself too seriously. The clothes themselves are practical, classic and minimal, with a designer's touch, which makes the contrast with the name even more fun.

There was also a British band called Johnny Hates Jazz in the 1980s, so some of you might think of them first. 🎷

It's a beige single-breasted trench with raglan sleeves that let the shoulder line fall naturally, and dark buttons that make a clean accent.

What I love about this coat is the combination of two details: the shirring on the sleeves, and the silhouette that appears when you tie the belt, with the bottom flaring out like a dress. So even though it's a trench, it feels very feminine.

The fabric feels firm and clean.

3. YCH trench: strong shoulders, smaller face

YCH trench coat with structured shoulders

The third is a YCH trench. YCH is a Korean brand by designer Yoon Choon-ho. It debuted at London Fashion Week in 2019, and the designer also created the crew uniforms for the Korean airline Air Premia.

The point of this trench is the shoulders. The structured shoulders create a sharper silhouette and make my face look smaller by comparison. 😂

It's the youngest-feeling style of the four. When I put it on, it just looks cool.

4. Erika Cavallini trench: the one with open pockets

Erika Cavallini wool trench coat with open side slits

The last is from Erika Cavallini, the brand named after the Italian designer. "Made in Italy" is printed clearly on the label.

It's the only wool trench of the four. The color is a beige with a grey tone. It feels slightly scratchy to the touch, but somehow that makes it feel more luxurious. The fabric is soft and drapey, so the coat flows down along the body.

And the most unusual thing about this coat: both sides are slit open. In other words, the pockets go straight through! 😂 At first I thought, "What is this?" But I guess that's the whole point of the design. It's a really unique detail.

At a glance

	Burberry Brit	Johnny Hates Jazz	YCH	Erika Cavallini
Brand	British (a line that no longer exists)	Korean designer	Korean designer	Italian
Fabric	Light, water-resistant feel	Firm and clean	-	Wool, slightly scratchy, drapey
Highlight	Nova Check lining, above the knee	Shirred sleeves, dress-like when belted	Strong shoulders	Open side slits (pockets go through)
Mood	Shows off your legs	Feminine	Young and cool	Luxurious

What I felt trying them on again

Trying on all seven coats again, including the three from Enfold, reminded me how much the details change a trench coat. The length, the shoulders, the fabric and where the waist sits can make two seemingly similar beige coats feel completely different.

I've left these coats hanging in my closet for years, blaming the hassle of driving. This fall, I'm going to stop making excuses and wear them one by one. 🍂

Which of these four would you choose? I'd love to hear in the comments. 😊