The Best Trench Coats To Buy
When I was doing my usual searching of products for this edit, I was gobsmacked at the amount of trench coats available from just about every retailer you can think of. High-end, mid-tier, chain-store and beyond — it seems everyone has an iteration of this British wardrobe classic, but that doesn’t mean everyone gets it right…
You see, there are a lot of bad trench coats out there, usually styled with a striped tee and jeans under the guise of “capsule wardrobe dressing”, but unfortunately, they just don’t cut the mustard for me. A good trench has to tick three boxes — colour, fit and fabric — and the overall feel has to be a mix of classic and modern for my personal taste. I don’t love them too fitted, and I certainly prefer a classic beige over any other hue. Here’s how I pick a winning trench, and how you should shop for one, too!
Colour is a personal choice, but I prefer a classic, deep beige over light creamy tones.
Original trench coats are made from a gabardine fabric, which gives them the thick, often waterproof, utilitarian feel. I love this, but it doesn't come cheap… as Burberry will attest. Nowadays they are made in a variety of more affordable materials, but I would personally look out for the waterproof factor which is a lot handier than you think. I also love a woollen version, too.
The flappy bit at the back is called a storm shield and makes the entire coat look instantly more chic in my opinion!
Traditional trench coats have a D-ring buckle at the belt, but a more modern way to wear them is to simply tie at the waist and let the belt hang loose.
You get what you pay for with any coat, but I genuinely don’t believe you need to spend thousands on a good trench coat. The British high street brands do affordable options particularly well, and I’ve included some amazing buys here from Boden, Whistles and Topshop which are worth jumping on.
Shout out to Zara and Mango who always do at least one style each season which is basically perfect but sells out in a nano-second, so if you see them, grab ‘em!
Locally, Camilla and Marc do a damn good trench coat every year which is at a higher price point, but worth the splurge. It’s all about the drapey shoulders…
Styling-wise, yes, these guys look great teamed with denim, knitwear and stripes, but I actually love them as an after-hours option over a black dress and heels.
This is one of those items that you buy once and wear forever, and that also sells out at the beginning of a new season, so if you see something you love, don’t hesitate to pull the trigger! Good luck.
