SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

You see that big ol’ grin on my face? Simply put, it’s because I’ve finally found the perfect trench coat!

When done correctly, a woman’s trench coat is the perfect jacket. A trench keeps its wearer warm, but it isn’t too heavy; trench coats are belted, so the woman wearing one gains an instant hourglass figure — whether she has one or not! The right trench coat can add instant sophistication to even the most basic outfit; but best of all, a well-cut trench coat can hide a multitude of figure flaws while taking an outfit from day to night. Scott Jordan let us know last October that SCOTTEVEST would be coming out with a women’s trench coat, and the idea of a trench done SeV-style was enough to keep me from ordering elsewhere.

Scott shipped me one of the first SeV Women’s Trench Coats to be tried by anyone outside of his office while I was at CES; the SeV trench is available in black, blue, mud (dark khaki) and the red I received. Dan and Francis were with me at the Cosmopolitan Hotel’s business office when I opened the package; Dan caught the unwrapping on video …

After trying it on, the red SeV trench was the only jacket I wore at CES. That the trench was able to replace a jacket with an embroidered Gear Diary logo on it at a place where name recognition is so important should give you an idea of how much I liked it. But the fact that the same red trench has since become my jacket of choice when I need to look nice while staying warm, that should indicate its status as a personal wardrobe staple more than anything.

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

Francis, Dan and me headed to a CES party.

There are so many variations of trench coats available out there in every price range and from so many designers; I was pleased to see that SeV did not price themselves out of reach, nor did they mess up the classic trench design elements: There are epaulets on the shoulders, double rows of black plastic buttons on the front, adjustable belts with metal hardware at the wrists, and only four pockets immediately evident on the coat’s exterior. The exterior fabric is thick enough that it doesn’t look lumpy lying over layers of clothing, and the belt is long enough that it can be smartly tied into an overhand knot.

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

But as with all SCOTTEVEST garments, there is much more to this trench than first meets the eye. Under its 100% polyester water and stain-resistant exterior lies an extensive network of pockets, cable management pathways, and other conveniences. The coat is set up so that you can carry everything you need without using a handbag, and that is a very welcome feature when you are traveling or dashing about while running errands. And look, just because there are 18 pockets doesn’t mean that you have to fill them all or go around carrying enough gear to support a gadget convention (as the X-Ray photo below seems to imply); the large number of pockets to choose from simply means that you can put your gear into the pocket placement that most suits your needs.

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

The interior of the trench is lightly lined in a silky 100% polyester fabric that doesn’t grab onto clothing; I can insert long-sleeved shirts or sweaters into the trench’s roomy lined sleeves without worrying about garments bunching back up — one of my peeves. ID, pen, device, and stash pockets line each side, and all are neatly kept closed with velcro tabs or zippers, and most have neat little fabric tags showing pictorial suggestions of the devices or items SeV designers had in mind when creating the pockets.

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

The earphone CollarConnect system and loops are present so that you can thread your favorite pair and keep them handy. The eyeglass cleaning cloth on an elastic cable, a feature that I like so much and look for in every new SeV garment, is tucked into one of the vertical zippered interior breast pockets.

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

I like that SeV didn’t put one of those big flappy vents in the middle of the trench coat’s back; instead, there are fitted seams above the waist, similar to what you would see on your favorite jean jacket. The bottom of the coat flares into a flattering A-line from the wearer’s waist when the belt is tied.

After returning from CES, I machine-washed the trench coat in cold water and hung it to dry; I was thoroughly impressed that the coat dried virtually wrinkle-free. Perhaps the most noticeable result of the washing was that afterward, the coat’s exterior seemed softer, which was not a bad thing.

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

I wore this coat all over CES; during the day it tied my outfit together and helped me look professional, but at night the coat kept me warm and looking sharp. January in Las Vegas usually means a variety of temperatures from a high in the low 60s during the day to the bone-chilling 30s at night. Add a bit of wind, and it can all seem even colder. Many times it is impractical to go back to your hotel when there are meetings all day and parties to attend at night. With a scarf around my neck and a long sleeve shirt on, the trench cut the biting wind and kept me warm when I was waiting in cab queues, but it wasn’t so heavy that I ever felt it was too much while indoors.

Perhaps the trench coat’s most impressive feature is that it is a constant compliment-catcher. I have received more positive comments when wearing it than on any jacket I have ever owned. So keep that in mind; you can expect to be noticed when you wear it … which is why I have put in a request for a black SeV women’s trench coat. I leave for Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain on Saturday, and I don’t want to stand out quite as much while there.

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

Because Helena (my Mobile World Congress traveling partner) and I will have to change hotels after our first night in Barcelona, I am really putting a lot of thought into the gear and clothing I plan on bringing. I don’t want to be overloaded with extra bags full of clothing or gear I might not even need while getting from the airport to hotel, and I can just picture the two of us struggling to move multiple suitcases down the street from one hotel to the next at some odd time in between meetings and evening’s activities; no thanks! Could anything else scream “ROB ME!!” more effectively?

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

Due to the trench coat’s many NoBulge pockets and its weight management system which keeps the coat’s pockets from unsightly dragging when holding items, I think I’ll be able to bring everything I need for MWC distributed between my large rolling carry-on bag, my back Epi Louis Vuitton Lussac laptop bag, and the SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench. As an added bonus, exploring Barcelona will be worry-free because I won’t need to carry my purse at all — my identification papers, credit cards, cash, and my mobile phone will be inside a selection of the trench coat’s interior zippered pockets, secured safely away from a pickpocket’s fingers or bag-snatcher’s grasp.

SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review

In 2002 I reviewed the v2.5w Vest, SCOTTEVEST’s first women’s garment. Oh, go ahead and look because the review is fun to read — especially now, nine years later! So much has changed since then — beyond just the length of my hair, my last name, or the gear I carry daily. Well a lot has changed with the exception of Louis Vuitton bags and the Delta Dolcevita stylus mentioned; I still carry both of those! It’s fun to think about the evolution of SeV’s women’s garments. No longer does the women’s line consist of just one feminized version of a menswear product; SCOTTEVEST now has a fantastic selection of women’s jackets and vests, and there is something that will work in any weather and with every body type. Vive la différence since 2002 … for both SeV and me! 🙂

The SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench is available directly from SeV; it comes in red, black, blue and mud, and it comes in womens’ sizes XS to XXXL.

MSRP: $130

What I Like: Machine washable; includes all of the SeV pockets and features we’ve come to expect; the trench has a flattering cut that will hide a multitude of figure flaws; the trench coat dresses up day wear and helps transition it into the evening; the trench coat is available in four great colors that will work with many outfits; the trench coat is the most feminine SeV garment to date, and I love it!

What Needs Improvement: Nothing … this jacket is the perfect marriage of form and function!

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She started in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie is best known for her device-agnostic approach, deep-dive reviews, and enjoyment of exploring the latest tech, gadgets, and gear.

29 Comments on "SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review"

  1. So THAT’S the trenchcoat that Carmen Sandiego wears when she’s out on a big job…

    So the bottom pockets ARE large enough to stuff an iPad or similarly-sized tablet into? IF so… well, I don’t expect the airline people to be happy about it, but travelers might be. 😀

  2. Most awesome trench coat ever? I think so. =) The @SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review http://goo.gl/fb/u7fUg

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  4. RT @GearDiarySite: The SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review http://goo.gl/fb/u7fUg

  5. The SCOTTEVEST Women?s Trench Review #gadgets http://bit.ly/gm0QXf

  6. The SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review http://tinyurl.com/6boqmon

  7. Thanks for a great review!!
    Scott Jordan, CEO
    http://www.SCOTTEVEST.com

  8. :lol:I thought about Carmen — even if only for a moment, but then dismissed her. I don’t have a fedora!

    And yes, you could stow an iPad in one of the bottom interior pocket if you wanted to. You can remove the jacket and send it through the TSA scanner, put it back on and still meet the carry-on limit if you have a bag and a purse. 😉

  9. The SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review #ipad

  10. Joel McLaughlin | February 6, 2011 at 12:14 pm |

    Ya know they need a MENS version too. Something to wear over the SeV sport coat.

  11. RT @GearDiarySite: The SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review http://goo.gl/fb/u7fUg

  12. RT @GearDiarySite: The SCOTTEVEST Women’s Trench Review http://goo.gl/fb/u7fUg

  13. Eh, fedoras can be found – even red ones. It’s the boots which aren’t THAT common. 😉

    You know, I have to echo Joel’s desire for a men’s version of this – it’d be nice to have a trench that I could not only shove a paperback into, but a full-blown tablet. This looks like it might fit an iPad in its Commuter case, and have enough room left over for a few other odds and ends… which makes it the bane of the people who charge baggage fees, but useful for light travel.

  14. Checking out: Multi-pocketed women's trench coat from @scottevest is now out. Here's a review: http://bit.ly/fThM5L

  15. RT @FarWriter: Checking out: Multi-pocketed women's trench coat from @scottevest is now out. Here's a review: http://bit.ly/fThM5L

  16. tlvancouver | March 17, 2011 at 10:43 am |

    Julie, great review. What size is the red coat you’re wearing? Just trying to get an idea of the “bulk” of the coat.

  17. @tivancouver – I am wearing a large; for reference, I am 5’10” and I weigh about 155. =)

  18. tlvancouver | March 18, 2011 at 11:56 am |

    Thanks so much Julie, it looks gorgeous on you, I’m ordering today. Do you still love it?

  19. tlvancouver | March 18, 2011 at 11:56 am |

    Oops Judie, sorry 🙂

  20. I do still love it! I wore a black one in Barcelona, which reminds me — I should upload those photos to this article, as well. This is my favorite cool weather garment EVER!

  21. tlvancouver | March 24, 2011 at 5:31 pm |

    Judie, just ordered it at 20% off today http://tinyurl.com/techgear – the code is wtrench20!

    Do you know of any reviews that show the pocked used for the ipad? Have you tried that? It’s cute as can be but wonder how bulky it is all loaded up 🙂

  22. Hi tivancouver — I have been using a Samsung Tab which is slightly smaller than an iPad for several months, but it was in my right pocket in the picture of me with the other two women, wearing the black trench. It does pull the pocket down a little bit, but oddly enough, putting something of similar weight in the other side’s outside slash pocket (my canon g11here) seemed to balance it out well. i would imagine that it would be a similar deal with the iPad. You ought to give it a try! =)

  23. did you wear in indoors like a jacket too ? Or does one have to remove it ?

  24. I found it light enough to comfortably wear indoors, as long as what I was wearing underneath wasn’t too warm. For instance, in Vegas I wore light cotton sweaters or long-sleeved t-shirts under the Trench, and it was perfect indoors and out. In Barcelona, I wore long-sleeved dress shirts under the trench, and it kept me warm outside without cooking me in the conference halls and press parties. 

    The biggest benefit is that it cuts the wind without adding a ton of weight. =)

  25. Super thanks. Mine is a fall trench coat too. And i was hoping I wouldnt be asked for “your coat ma’dam” while I am at a dinner or at a theatre or so. Its quite a light jacket. 

  26. Great article!
    My question is regarding sizing. Did you buy your normal size, or go up a size due to the bulk added when your interior pockets are used? I know that re: the menswear, or at least the Scotte vest my husband wears and loves, it is suggested that you buy up a size. He did and his fits perfectly.
    Thanks, Sheila

  27. I’d like to know the answer to Sheila’s question above re sizing…can anyone out there help/

  28. Sheila & Chris, I think that the trench runs just a smidge large. I originally received and wore a large, but now I think that a medium might be a better fit. Bear in mind that I have not lost any weight, the coats just seem a bit more loose than what I’d like. Of course, I don’t weigh my jacket down with 40 different devices EVER; if you do that, you may need the looser fit. 

  29. Thanks girls.  I usually always wear M sized clothes, would never wear L normally,  but I tried my daughter-in-law’s M Trench and it was just a little too tight, so wouldn’t be good loaded up. I chose the L and it is fine.  Looking forward to negotiating the underground in London hands free with just my suitcase, when I arrive from Heathrow!

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