Back in 2017, an epidemic swept the streets of the international Fashion Weeks, and it seemed like all of a sudden, everyone had forgotten how to wear their coat.

But then no, wait. It's a trend.

Back then, we had Demna Gvasalia to thank for it. The Creative Director of Balenciaga (and Vetements) debuted the look at his first show for the iconic Parisian fashion house back in March 2016.

Shrobing trend -Ā Balenciaga show, Paris, AW16
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Balenciaga show, Paris, AW16

What is 'Shrobing'?

Kagools, Macs, puffers, aviator, leather and denim jackets were all cut and crafted with extra-wide necklines to be worn to look as if they were being 'shrugged' off the shoulders by the models wearing them.

It is quite a different concept to the one where you see street stylers draping their jackets round their shoulders without putting their arms in the sleeves, just FYI.

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Balenciaga AW16

And so a trend was born, the beauty being that you can do it with any piece of outerwear in your wardrobe.

Fast-forward to the next year, during the AW17 Fashion Weeks show season, in New York and London and the 'shrobing' trend was all over the street style glitterati. Or should we say, it's falling off the shoulders of the street style glitterati.

'Shrobing' trendpinterest
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Irina Lakicevic

Briefly, as the polar vortex began assaulting the lives of fashion editors in the Northern hemisphere, we all began wearing our coats properly again. Indeed, Balenciaga even started a new trend for wearing more than one coat at once, a la Joey from Friends when he puts on all of Chandler's clothes.

Balenciaga aw18 multiple jacket look
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Balenciaga AW18

But here we are today, after a fresh spate of London Fashion Week shows, debuting the AW19 collections, and it seems that shrobing might be firmly back on the agenda.

Shrobing at Asai AW19
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Asai AW19 show at London Fashion Week, Feb 2019

And not just back, but back in even more dramatic fashion.

Newly on the schedule, Asai debuted a collection that was full of off-the-shoulder outerwear. But not just that, some of the coats were so far off-the-shoulder that they were almost round-the-waist.

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16Arlington AW19

16Arlington got in on the action too and so did Mark Fast, who opted for a one-shoulder shrobe in a particularly revealing manner.

Mark Fast shrobing trend
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Mark Fast AW19

How to Style the Shrobe?

Now, let's be honest. It's not the most practical of trends. A shoulder bag is a no-no, your coat is perhaps not quite serving it's purpose of keeping you warm, and you can't lift your arms up. But, hey, who said fashion had to be practical?

They key? Wear a cross-body bag beneath your open 'shrobed'coat, and get a few solid layers on underneath to prevent the chill.

Also, belting at the waist, over the top of your coat, is always a great way to keep the jacket on.

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