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

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.