Shop the Trench Coats We'd Actually Wear

Proven by years of wear and re-wear, a quality trench knows how to earn its place in your wardrobe, it doesn’t simply hang there by virtue of its brand name. Start with the collar; it should stand up and away from your neck, rather than droop (this is almost always due to proper interfacing and not a glued on lining). Belts on trenches are more important than you might think; they need actual belt-loops placed at your natural waist, not decorative ones placed too high or too low, as that determines whether your coat hugs or hangs. Cotton gabardine is still the gold standard trench fabric; it is dense enough to create a crease and offers water resistance without becoming crunchy or plastic-like. Lightweight trench coats fall apart after a day’s wear, unless you dress like you’re staying indoors. Heavyweight trenches can be unbearably warm by October.

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Get the weight right and it works with everything.

The fit: This is where most trenches fall apart.

The seam should hit your shoulder exactly, not halfway down your arm. Allow enough room in the back that you can wear a jumper underneath without fighting with the buttons.

As for the length; choose how you feel about proportions, not dictates: Skater length (below the knee) is more formal and pairs well with suits, midi (knee breaking) is more casual and works best with jeans and boots. The bib-front with storm flap isn’t functional bullshit; it keeps your coat cinched closed when blustering about town, so choose this style over a TB if the intention is for your coat to do some actual OUTDOOR activity and not just gather dust as an “office layer”.

How to wear a trench: Contrary to what you might think; it’s less about matching and more about playing off textures. A trench coat looks best over something that adds texture underneath; a ribbed sweater, a boxy shirt, slim fitted trousers that end just before the ankle so your coat can easily slide. Belted cinched over a dress and it’s sudden daytime appropriate.

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Leave it open over jeans and it’s the detail that pulls an everyday ensemble together. Throw your sleeves up rather than leaving them dragging and you’ve gone from looksawfulycareful to effortlessly off-duty.

When to wear: Say what you want about these coats but they can take you from every season’s grey areas. Monday morning commute when it’s not yet cold but you need more layers. The in between seasons; fall through spring. That client meeting where you need to feel like you wore something but can’t quite afford to impress. Wedding guest attire that requires just ONE more layer for the outdoor walk from your car to the venue. They look sharp in photos because they are structured to hold a silhouette, which is exactly why they’ve trumped every short-lived coat trend over the past century.

Shop the Trench Coats We’d Actually Wear

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Author camesawwore

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