The coat dress is to the public figure, as the denim jacket is to the It Girl.
(See: Kate Middleton's best looks as evidence.)
The typical closet may not include the seemingly fancy, cold-weather piece, but royals and first ladies have them in spades. Call it the de facto wardrobe essential for influential women. On her tour of Asia, Melania Trump wore at least three variations of the coat dress. And, we've seen the Duchess of Cambridge wear it on the job even more.
The coat dress is warm and looks formal without requiring much outfit coordination. Just pair one with heels and you're ready to meet the Japanese prime minister…or attend your next holiday party. It's an efficient piece of clothing that is also sophisticated, but just because it seems simple, doesn't mean it's not without impact.
Although it's obvious that the first lady and duchess have a penchant for the coat dress, the women have completely different styles—and it shows…even when wearing very similar-looking pieces.
We're calling it: It's time to invest in a coat dress.
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