A trench coat is often seen as a wardrobe essential. It’s a style laden with nostalgia – Catherine Deneuve, Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn have all made the trench coat their own, rendering it an item which can be at once sensual, sophisticated and elegantly functional. And in the UK, Burberry’s trench is arguably one of our most famous fashion exports – the house is celebrating its 170th anniversary this year and has cast stars from Kate Moss and Kendall Jenner to Kristin Scott Thomas and Daisy Edgar Jones to show how versatile the staple can be.
But trenches are not always as effortless to pull off as we’ve been led to believe by this rich sartorial history. With them sometimes being too bulky or too shapeless, it can be tricky to find a trench coat which feels easy to wear.
Here, The Telegraph’s fashion team road-test some of the best options they’ve discovered that are available now…
Best cropped version
Lisa Armstrong
I’ll take a cropped trench over a long one every time. At 5ft 4in, I can be swamped by traditional shin-grazing versions with epaulettes and storm flaps: all heritage and not enough individuality. A cropped trench does the opposite. It sharpens an entire outfit and lets your proportions show, whether that’s in tailoring, denim or a good skirt. You can actually see what you’re wearing rather than disappearing into beige fabric. It also feels more in step with real life, easier to move in, easier to layer, less theatrical. You keep the authority of a trench but lose the heaviness. Modern, practical – and it rolls into a tote compactly should the drizzle finally lay off.
Cotton twill jacket, £345, Ralph Lauren
Best classic keep-forever trench
Bethan Holt
I often feel as though clothes made today are simply not the same as they used to be, not the same attention to detail and not imbued with the same thoughtful design subtleties. If you too feel these woes, then may I introduce WNU’s Chatsworth coat to restore your faith in solid clothing? It doesn’t come cheap but I was so impressed with all the little elements in this coat which make it superior to so many others I’ve seen – it can be buttoned at the bottom to stop it flapping around in the wind and has an authentic throat latch. Personally, I don’t love cinching my trench coats but this one was weighty enough to work with the belt undone.
Cotton single breasted trench coat, £450, With Nothing Underneath
Best on the high street
Tamara Abraham
A “perfect” trench to one person might be wildly different from what appeals to another, but M&S has managed to create a real crowd-pleaser with this new launch, which has just landed in stores. The design borrows from pieces in the company archive, and I like the slightly oversized, mannish silhouette. The water-resistant cotton twill feels like decent quality, and the checked lining gives it a vintage aesthetic. At first glance, I was worried it was a bit too yellow-toned, but when I put it on it was just right. The detailing of the cuffs and vents is spot on for styling versatility: they look great when you push up the sleeves and have a shirt cuff peeking through. That they’ve achieved all this at under £100 is pretty amazing.
Cotton twill trench, £95, M&S
Best option for versatility
Hansveni Dave
Something that signals spring has arrived is the sea of trench coats that pop up across the country. This version from Damson Madder, to me, is the “perfect” spring coat. The light structure it holds without looking too stiff, or being too heavy, is ideal for these sunnier days. My wardrobe consists of darker tones, so this piece immediately lifts an outfit without adding too much colour. The coat is also reversible, so if you want that pop, you can have a fully red trench with gingham details. That customisable element is something Damson Madder carries throughout all its jackets, with its Myrtle style able to be cropped with the pop of a few buttons. These are trenches that work so much harder than just shielding you from the elements.
Reversible showerproof trench, £165, Damson Madder