'Timeless' is a term often used to describe the best trench coats. But it's acutely fitting. As fashion's trend cycle continues to churn at an ever-quickening pace, the double-breasted and belted trench remains steadfast as a polished and practical option that works just as well for running errands in the rain as it does in a street-style outfit for New York Fashion Week.
Beloved by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, old-school detectives chasing clues, and insouciant Parisiennes with enviable style, the trench coat is, "in one word, universal," says Renia Jazdzyk, a fashion content creator whose wardrobe is "dominated" by the outerwear style. "Even if your trench coat is several years old, it will fit in with the latest coat trends," says Jazdzyk, whose oldest trench, a 30-year-old khaki jacket she bought secondhand, remains a favorite in her core coat rotation.
Take Burberry as another example of the trench's enduring appeal: The heritage British brand started producing durable gabardine trench coats in the late 1800s and, over 130 years later, still sends out iterations every season—like the classic tans and olive styles and more maximalist feather-trimmed and belted trenches seen on its spring 2025 runway.
Renia Jaz at Copenhagen Fashion Week in a sculptrual khaki trench with a built-in scarf that leans more into the fashion than the function.
"It's the practicality of a good trench coat that keeps it an everlasting wardrobe staple," says Paris-based fashion stylist Sylvie Mus, who roams the city's cobblestone streets in trendy leather trenches from Saks Potts and belted black wool coats from Mango.
The hardworking outerwear's history tells this story best: Initially designed by Thomas Burberry (the founder of the eponymous brand) in the late 1800s as protective and waterproof outerwear for British military officers, trenches then trickled down into civilian fashion to become the layman's staple it is today, explains fashion historian Michelle Tolini Finamore. "The trench coat is the perfect example of utilitarian clothing that, over time, has blurred the line between function and fashion," says Finamore. While protecting you from a spontaneous rain shower, the coat also delivers a sharp impression—a true win-win.
Kendall Jenner at Milan Fashion Week's Spring 2025 season in a classic, cropped khaki trench coat.
Ahead is Marie Claire's curated and comprehensive guide to the best trench coats for women in 2025. With designer picks from Burberry (surprise, surprise) and Loewe alongside affordable options from Barbour and J.Crew, these coats offer smart utility, a sophisticated look—and, in a few cases, bold takes on tradition. Weave the options below into your spring jacket collection, and you'll have outerwear to rely on for years, perhaps even decades.
At a Glance: Five Marie Claire-Approved Trench Coats
- The Worthwhile Investment: Burberry Kensington Belted Double-Breasted Coat
- The Always Classic Trench: J. Crew New Icon Trench
- The Compliment Magnet: Theory Leopard Print Wool Trench Coat
- The Rainy Day Favorite: Rains Curve Belted Trench Coat with Drawstring Hood
- The Leather Statement: Babaton Tabloid Trench Coat in Unreal Leather
The Traditional Trench
Never underestimate a classic. These tried-and-true, double-breasted trenches are as reliable as a coat can be. For the names to consider, Jazdzyk and Mus both shout out Burberry—which should hardly come as a surprise considering the coat is a known code for the British brand. Mus also applauds the Swedish minimalist brand Toteme for its cotton-blend Signature trench, a personal favorite for the Paris-based stylist.
The Ladylike Trench
The trench coat has staunch roots in menswear but, over time, has become more of a fluid and feminine outerwear option. This spring, get inspired with femme-feeling updates to the traditional style, like single-breasted buttons, ruffled details, and cropped silhouettes. You can also tap into a more girlish attitude via your styling: “I think [a trench coat] can be a very feminine piece of clothing if worn, for example, with high heels and red lipstick,” Jazdzyk adds.
The Minimal Trench
With a single-breasted silhouette, clean lines, and neutral color palettes, Jazdzyk relates a minimal trench to a blank canvas: "The most interesting outfits are those that show our creativity, and trench coats have been a perfect base for such looks for years," she shares. A hidden button-front coat in ivory lets a printed trouser or a pair of red Mary Jane shoes steal the show.
Mus also credits more minimal trench coats as a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency—an easy solution to an outfit crisis. When all else fails, and inspiration is sparse, throw a streamlined, unfussy trench coat—like The Row's parachuting style or The Frankie Shop's neutral number—over any outfit and call it a day.
The Double-Take Trench
Up the ante with a trench that veers from the coat's traditional minimal design. Whether it's a splash of animal print or a built-in cape, unconventional touches inject personality into your outerwear collection. Jazdzyk recommends you seek out JW Anderson and Dries Van Noten when hunting for bolder trenches that leave lasting impressions.
The Waterproof Trench
Finamore says trench coats were originally made from a water-resistant material called gabardine and designed as rain jackets. But now, in the great year of 2025, designers are experimenting with a variety of other fabrics—nylon, for instance—and non-khaki colorways to repel water.
The Leather Trench
If you're looking for more edge in your outerwear, and a cotton-twill blend or rain-proof nylon coat doesn't quite tick that box, opt for a leather trench—a leather jacket's sophisticated counterpart. Whether made from real or faux fabrications, matte or patent materials, the leather look always exudes an enviably cool.
Meet the Fashion Experts
Renia Jazdzyk is a fashion content creator and blogger.
Sylvie Mus is a freelance stylist and creative consultant.
Michelle Tolini Finamore is a Fashion and Design Historian, Curator and Author. She has curated numerous exhibitions, including the recently opened Fashioning America: Grit to Glamour at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. She has written numerous books and articles for both the scholarly and popular press on topics as varied as fashion in silent film, menswear, contemporary fashion, and sustainability. Michelle has taught courses on fashion, design, and film history at Northeastern University, Rhode Island School of Design, Massachusetts College of Art, and the Fashion Institute of Technology. She has interviewed fashion luminaries such as Hamish Bowles, Fern Mallis, Isaac Mizrahi, Liz Goldwyn, Hussein Chalayan, Diane Pernet, Viktoria Modesta, Virgil Ortiz, and Rodarte on stage.
