A classic, well-fitted trench coat [1] is always a winner. Whether it's camel-coloured, two-toned, faux leather, or cropped, a trench coat instantly makes you look and feel so much more put together. If you're ready to invest in the perfect trench for the transitional autumn season, then hold off from opening one hundred shopping tabs, because we might have just found the perfect one for you.
The trench coat first entered fashion history in the 19th century, and it's up for grabs who was the true originator of the wardrobe classic. What is undisputed is that it's a wholly British sartorial invention, but both luxury retailers Burberry and Aquascutum [2] claim to have created the trench. The silhouette for the trench coat, however, can be credited to Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh who invented a rubberised cotton in 1824 to be used to make coats for the British Military (almost 100 years before they were needed in WWI). Macintosh is widely credited as the inventor of the Macintosh raincoat, and that's why the word "Mac" is often used to refer to raincoats and trench coats.
The downside to Macintosh's raincoat is that it wasn't breathable, so tons of designers scrambled to create a more breathable alternative. One of those designers was John Emary of clothing company Aquascutum, who patented a breathable waterproof fabric in 1853. A few years later Thomas Burberry created a slightly more innovative, flexible, and breathable fabric called gabardine in 1856 that — combined with the British military's trench jackets worn during WWI — introduced the classic trench coat to the fashion world.
Fancy a charming trench coat for your own collection? Keep reading for 19 of our tops picks from across the web.
Sézane Scott Trench
Sézane Scott Trench [3] (£225)
Monki Classic Trench Coat
Monki Classic Trench Coat [4] (£75)
Whistles Single-Breasted Trench Coat
Whistles Single-Breasted Trench Coat [5] (£199)
Mango Trench Coat
Mango Trench Coat [6] (£70)
Tommy Hilfiger Singlebreasted Trench (Plus)
Tommy Hilfiger Singlebreasted Trench (Plus) [7] (£161, originally £230)
Free People Eastwick Trench Coat
Free People Eastwick Trench Coat [8] (£188)
Club Monaco Sd Everywear Trench
Club Monaco Sd Everywear Trench [9] (£165, originally £276)
Reformation Holland Trench
Reformation Holland Trench [10] (£270)
Weekday Travis Oversized Trench Coat
Weekday Travis Oversized Trench Coat [11] (£125)
Burberry Trench Coat (Secondhand)
Burberry Trench Coat (Secondhand) [12] (£218)
All Saints Cade 2-in-1 Trench Coat
All Saints Cade 2-in-1 Trench Coat [13] (£379)
Asos Design Double Layer Trench Coat in Navy
ASOS DESIGN Double Layer Trench Coat in Navy [14] (£75)
Sandro Flowing Trench Coat
Sandro Flowing Trench Coat [15] (£215, originally £359)
Bardot Vegan Leather Trench Coat
Bardot Vegan Leather Trench Coat [16] (£185)
Weekday Janis Coated Short Trench
Weekday Janis Coated Short Trench [17] (£80)
Scotch & Soda Long Throw On Reversible Coat
Scotch & Soda Long Throw On Reversible Coat [18] (£188)
Kassl Editions Original Glossed PU Trench Coat
Kassl Editions Original Glossed PU Trench Coat [19] (£242, originally £605)
Baum Und Pferdgarten Denelia Coat
Baum Und Pferdgarten Denelia Coat [20] (£239)
Zara Long Classic Trench Coat
Zara Long Classic Trench Coat [21] (£80)