10 Classic Trench Coats You’ll Cherish Forever

By Charlotte Rickards & Charlie Colville

1 week ago

It's the wardrobe staple you'll be wearing for decades

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Trends come and go: but the trench coat will always remain a sartorial staple. Park walk? Yes. Commuter statement piece? Obviously. And it’s not going out of style anytime soon. As we’re opting for more considered, trendless wardrobes, classic trench coats can withstand even the fastest of frenzied fashion cycles. These are the best to shop now.

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What Is A Trench Coat?

Though the trench coat is now the unofficial off-duty look of the fashion set, it’s actually been around since time immemorial. First designed over a hundred years ago during the First World War, trench coats were the perfect antidote to the required woolly and heavy greatcoats. The trench was lighter, waterproof, and much more fit for purpose.

British heritage brands Burberry and Aquascutum both lay claim to the coveted coat. The former’s then 21-year-old founder, Thomas Burberry, is said to have invented waterproof gabardine before the war in 1879, which inspired the trench we know today. Although Aquascutum (literally in Latin meaning ‘water’ and ‘shield’) was the one that designed the trench coat for the British Military for World War I – and those camouflage khakis, browns, and camel hues have yet to fall out of fashion.

Style Inspiration

Neutral Cohesion

The classic trench coat uniform. Play on those warm, rich neutrals with cohesive colour pairings – think caramel, mocha mousse and mahogany – that draw the eye to key points of your fit. A chocolate-hued cardigan, a handbag stained in shades of oak and a pair of coffee ballet flats teamed up with a classic beige trench can really give your outfit an overall sense of synergy.

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Print Pop

Not a fan of flat colour? No problem. You can break up those vast swathes of beige, khaki and cocoa pretty easily – just take Burberry, which often lines its trench coats in the brand’s signature house check. And the playfulness doesn’t have to end there; you can team up your trench with a bold print shirt (stripes, check and polka dots are the go-to patterns of the season).

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Contrast Cuffs

Sometimes the biggest of impacts comes from the smallest of details. An instant way to add some interest to your fit? A chunky, flipped cuff that offers a stylistic contrast for the rest of the coat. Think clashing colours, prints and textures. Keep them as your point of interest, or opt for cohesive styling across other items of your fit (like a similar colour trouser or jumper) for a more ‘put-together’ feel.

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Casual Crop

While the classic trench is long and dramatic, those craving an off-duty look can opt for a shorter style that is more adaptable for day-to-day wear. For the perfect off-duty uniform, team up a cropped trench with jeans, trainers and a slouchy jumper or knit. Coffee cup and handbag in hand, you’ll look like you’re ready for a lazy stroll through London.

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Colour Pop

Trench coats might be the neutral hero of your wardrobe, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep the rest of your outfit in the same colour family. A bold, bright pop can go a long way in adding depth and dimension to your outfit – and gives plenty of opportunity to play with colours you might not usually get the chance to.