Trends are cool and all, but some of the most stylish women we know have cultivated their great taste in clothes not by trying every new fleeting style that pops up but by relying on a few select wardrobe staples. As style people ourselves, we like to keep tabs on our what our fashion friends are favoring each season and one staple that always persists is the trench coat. Take a walk around Paris and NYC—two cities with arguably some of the very best street style—at any given moment and I guarantee you’ll spot more than your fair share of cool trench coat ensembles. After all, the lightweight jacket is a useful layering piece during transitional seasons like spring and fall.
Despite the always-classic nature of a camel trench, the staple is being reimagined in cool and creative ways—as spotted all over the runways and on our favorite fashion girls. From upsized silhouettes to leather iterations, the trenches on offer right now couldn’t be any cooler. To uncover the best trench coats to buy now and wear forever, keep scrolling for our edit of 24 handpicked toppers and get inspired by street style looks from New York and Paris along the way.
This billowing silhouette is slightly upsized and without much structure, lending it a cool relaxed feel. Cut from cotton-blend gabardine and detailed with oversize notched lapels and buttoned straps that define the sleeves, it’s easily thrown atop anything from a suit to jeans.
Ask any editor and they’d agree that the tailoring from COS is some of the best for its relatively affordable price. I like this straight-cut trench which features all the classic accouterments of a trench but is ultra sleek in all black. Fret not, as it also comes in a traditional beige.
Everlane is every fashion girl’s go-to source for stylish staples, so it should come as no surprise that its trench is equal parts cool and classic. The brand took the traditional outerwear piece and re-created it in an oversize shape that’s on-trend and unfussy for nearly half of what similar designer versions go for.
We can’t discuss a piece as beloved as the trench coat without a mention of the brand whose gabardine dates all the way back to 1879. The Kensington comes in both a short and long version and, of course, Burberry’s iconic check-printed interior.
The right amount of oversize with just enough detailing makes this Mango a perfect choice for the minimalists among us. It’s also the pick that’s in this editor’s cart as we speak.
Not every coat is cool enough to be its own outfit, but this patent leather style from 3.1 Phillip Lim absolutely is. With a fabulous belt and large utility pockets, there’s no question it has the “fashion person” seal of approval.
Wardrobe.NYC was created by an industry veteran stylist and designer as a line of luxury essentials “distilled into their purest and most versatile form,” as it puts it. Take the brand’s trench coat, which takes all the classic fixings like the tonal belt, double-breasted shape, and tortoiseshell buttons, and remixes it in a relaxed fit to feel ultra modern.
Word to the wise: ASOS is a jackpot for affordable trench coats that hardly look it. One detail that makes the brand’s offering look luxe is the maxi-length hem, which lends a sleek look to whatever it’s worn with.
You may only know of Sam Edelman for its shoes, but let this trench coat serve as proof that its outerwear is not to be overlooked. A peek at the selection on Nordstrom confirms that it’s equal parts classic and stylish.
Classic detailing with a relaxed fit seems to be the 2022 way to do trench coats, and no style embodies this as much as this Topshop pick.
Of course, J.Crew created the perfect version of the forever favorite. We love the belted shape and lightweight fabric that makes for an easy transition into colder weather.
While beige trench coats are certainly classics, sometimes you don’t want what everyone else is having. In that case, there are a few cool color alternatives like green, ruse, and a classic black that offer a more offbeat approach.
This lightweight, oversize trench hits just above the knee for a polished finish. We love the idea of wearing it with a slip and knee-high boots.
Hello, beautiful. Zara nailed the vintage leather trend at a wallet-friendly price, but are we even surprised?
The definition of a “buy now, wear forever” piece. Isabel Marant’s belted Jepson trench is made from a water-wicking fabric blend that includes a hint of cotton. The longline shape and removable belt give it a sleek look and the neutral hue ensures it will go with everything.
These days, we’re enthralled by J.Crew’s epic comeback and, of course, its lead designer Olympia Gayot’s J.Crew-heavy personal style. Recently, she wore this shorter trench on her Instagram and we immediately took note of the look.
Designers continue to experiment when it comes to reinventing the trench and we couldn’t be any more obsessed with this leather-belted style from L.A.-based label Lvir.
Shoulder pads and an oversize shape give this affordable favorite a street style–approved look. Layer a hoodie underneath for extra warmth and extra styling points.
Supermodel Elsa Hosk went ahead and created her ultimate trench coat for her new eponymous label, Helsa. It’s crafted from faux leather in the most stunning light yellow color.
Are neutral colors not your thing? A bubblegum-hued faux-leather trench eschews modern minimalism for something much more statement-making but no less polished.
Outerwear brand Apparis re-created the trench in a cool vegan leather iteration for an elevated and on-trend take on the classic.
Light beige is a classic trench coat color, but this warmer camel hue feels especially fresh for fall. Plus, anything from Saint Laurent is built to last a lifetime. Wear it over all your jeans, sweaters, and boots.
Don’t skip out on mall brands like Gap and J.Crew. They have quietly carried some of the best classic wardrobe basics without the big price tags.
Leather-effect trench coats are on the rise as a trend-forward alternative to classic cotton-blend iterations. Trust me—this Mango pick is the kind that will earn you so many compliments throughout the fall and winter.
