For such a classic item of clothing - the kind that defies trends and crops up season in, season out - a trench coat can be surprisingly hard to get right. In fact, it's a bit of a sartorial minefield, akin to the 'perfect' jeans or bridesmaid dress. Before you give up until next spring, we've done the hard work of finding the best trench coats for women.
Firstly, you've got to find the right fit. Do you want something tailored or oversized? Cropped or elongated? And that's without factoring in the shoulders and sleeves, both areas that can lead to a slightly awkward fit instead of something that's just so (different brands also have varying sizing charts, which means you might be a 12 on x's website and 14 on y's. Not helpful). As well as fit and size, however, you've also got to navigate a trench coat's functionality versus fashion nous; wildly varying price tags (and whether an extra zero actually equates to higher quality); the issue of maintenance (is your favourite new coat dry-clean only?); and, especially if you live in the UK, perhaps the most pertinent question of all: can you fit a jumper underneath?
What are the trench coat trends for 2025?
While trench coats have a timeless quality that means they're always a key spring cover-up, every season usually sees a micro trend emerge in the genre. This year, the leather trench coat is already a front-runner. Rihanna has been repeat-wearing a take from Phoebe Philo, styling it belted over snake-print boots for extra impact. At Coach's show as part of New York Fashion Week, meanwhile, Emily Ratajkowski posed on the front row in one of the brand's suede trench coats, giving the classic style a retro flavour that worked perfectly with her butter-soft knee-highs.
Paris, however, is the trench capital - and with unseasonably warm temperatures over fashion week, it quickly emerged as the street-style set's coat of choice. A whole gamut of styles were on show, from interesting funnel necks, tent-shaped silhouettes and metallic fabrications to supersized trumpet sleeves, cut-out backs and contrast lapels and cuffs.
Sometimes you can't beat a classic, however. Jennifer Lawrence swears by the no bells and whistles style by The Row, pairing her with the easy-to-wear uniform of a grey hoodie and satin track pants. Oscar-winning Mikey Madison, meanwhile, favours Burberry's Castleford Gabardine Trench Coat.
Grazia's Best Trench Coats For Women, At A Glance:
Best Overall Trench Coat: Arket, 2-In-1 Trench Coat, £259
Best Multifunctional Trench Coat: Aligne, Barnaby Reversible Trench Coat, £189
Best Lightweight Trench Coat: Whistles, Khaki Riley Trench Coat, £199
Best Denim Trench Coat: COS, Oversized Denim Trench Coat, £180
Best Designer Trench Coat: Toteme, Signature Cotton-Blend Trench Coat, £870
Best Cropped Trench Coat: Farm Rio, Green Short Trench Coat, £234.50
Best Budget Trench Coat: Nobody's Child, Brown Double-Breasted Trench Coat, £159
How we tested the best trench coats for women
In order to find the best trench coats, sorting the proverbial wheat from the chaff so that you don't have to, Hannah Banks-Walker, Grazia's head of fashion commerce, scrolled through many (many) trench coats to find the best in the various categories (cropped, budget and denim for example). Team Grazia then took each of the finalists for a spin, testing on a grey and blustery day on a rooftop no less, paying attention to fabric quality and composition, construction and craftsmanship, fit and comfort, style and versatility, weather resistance, practical features and overall value for money.
Shop: The Best Trench Coats For Women 2025
Editor's Choice
Best Overall Trench Coat For Women

www.arket.com
Arket has nailed the brief with its 2-in-1 Trench Coat, which as its name suggests comprises an outer shell layer and an insulating liner than be worn together or separately - clever, no? But as well as being a multifunctional cover-up, it's got one best fits we've found, almost hitting the ankle rather than hovering around the knee. Having said that, it's probably one to avoid if you're petite (Renee is 5'10" and wearing a size S, but the trench's hemline still brushes a few inches below her mid-calf).
Pros
- Multifunctional, with a shell layer and an insulating liner that can be worn as individual garments or fastened together
- Elongated length with loose fit
- Machine washable at 30°c
Cons
- Probably too elongated for a petite fit
Colours | Beige and navy |
Size range | XXS-L |
Material | Cotton 75%, polyamide 25%; Lining: viscose 100% |
Best Multifunctional Trench Coat For Women

aligne.co
Aligne is the high-street destination for trenches, with reversible designs being its USP. This season, it's brought back its 2-in-1 coat, the Barnaby, but has mixed things up with a new stone-and-navy colour way. Firstly, I loved the fit. Trench coats have a tendency to look messy if they're oversized, although that can work depending on your aesthetic and the occasion, but this one has a slightly heavier feel that means it immediately looks smart (it's a great work coat for that reason). I tried it on with a flaring linen skirt and flat knee-length boots, but you could just as easily pair it with straight-leg jeans and sneakers.
Pros
- Reversible
- Detachable belt
- Tailored fit
- 100% organic cotton
Cons
- Dry-clean only
Colours | Stone and navy blue |
Size range | UK 4-22 |
Material | 100% organic cotton |
Best Single-Breasted Trench Coat For Women

uk.sandro-paris.com
Sandro's trench coat is perfect if you're looking for a cover-up with a point of difference. I found the single-breasted silhouette a refreshing change from a double row of buttons, although, having said that, it's probably not the one for you if you're looking for a classic trench coat with a belt and storm flaps etc. The rhinestone detail on the collar also means that it would be a great option for spring weddings (layer it over a pastel frock or block-coloured tailoring).
Pros
- Slightly flaring silhouette with single-breasted closure for a neat fit
- Rhinestone collar detail
Cons
- Dry-clean only
Colours | Camel |
Size range | FR 36-42 |
Material | 69% cotton, 29% polyamide, 2% elastane |
Best Lightweight Trench Coat For Women

www.whistles.com
If you're looking for a lightweight trench coat that's fluid when it falls as opposed to something heavier and more structured, Whistles's trench coat comes highly recommended. As you can see on Renee, who's 5'10", it has a shorter hemline so it's one to avoid if you want your coat to almost reach the ankle. It's also one that you'll have to steam judiciously as wrinkles form quite easier with this type of blend. Other than that, however, it's a brilliant option for throwing over tailoring or spring dresses - and the khaki feels like a nice move-on from camel.
Pros
- Showerproof
- Available in petite and regular fits
Cons
- Care instructions read 'do not wash'
- Prone to wrinkles
Colours | Khaki, camel and black |
Size range | Petite and regular: UK 4-20 |
Material | 92% viscose, 8% polyester; lining: 100% polyester |
Best Denim Trench Coat For Women

www.cos.com
COS's Denim Trench Coat genuinely elicited squeals of glee when our team saw it on Amber - it's that good. The best thing about it? The denim fabrication, in the perfect indigo wash, puts a twist on classic gabardine that's still really easy to wear. The second best thing? Its oversized fit. Amber is 5'5" so, as you can see, the trench coat falls well below her mid-calf and the sleeves appear elongated. She was also wearing jeans at the time of the try-on, proving that a denim trench coat can absolutely be worn with your favourite pair of true blues.
Pros
- Classic features like storm flaps and buttoned cuff tabs
- Oversized fit
Cons
- Dry-clean only
Colours | Blue |
Size range | XS-L |
Material | Shell: 80% organic cotton, 20% recycled cotton; lining: 65% recycled polyester, 35% organic cotton |
Best Designer Trench Coat For Women

www.mytheresa.com
How chic is this coat? Answer: very. It also comes in at under £1,000, which is unusual for a designer trench of this quality. As you can see on Amber, the silhouette is both straight and slightly oversized, which is perfect if you want something that's chic but also effortless. (Amber is 5'5" so it's worth bearing in mind that its hemline will be shorter or longer depending on your height.)
Pros
- Unusual silhouette
Cons
- Dry-clean only
Colour | Beige |
Size range | UK 2-16 |
Material | 75% cotton, 25% polyester 51%; lining: polyester, 49% acetate |
Best Alternative Trench Coat For Women

kitristudio.com
This definitely isn't a traditional trench coat; great news if you're looking for something a little different. Its best feature is that its faux-fur collar and cuffs are detachable, meaning you can transform this simple vinyl mac into something really quite fabulous. It's also excellent at elevating the everyday (Gavi paired it with jeans and loafers when she tried it on).
Pros
- Removable faux-fur collar and cuffs
- Hand wash
- Fully lined
Cons
- Limited size range
Colour | Oxblood and black |
Size range | XS-L |
Material | Shell: 100% PU; backing: 100% viscose; lining: 100% recycled polyester; trim: 100% polyester |
Best Cropped Trench Coat

farmrio.uk
A short trench can be hard to pull off because of the hemline can look awkward. Farm Rio's, however, reached the ideal point on my frame - I'm 5'7" with a smaller waist and bigger hips - which, in my view, is on the upper thigh so that it covers your bum and leaves enough space between your waist and its hemline. I was wearing a zip-up top and a linen midi skirt at the time of our try-on, and the flaring silhouette of my bottom half paired really nicely with this coat. If you're a jeans or trousers person, however, I would personally choose a style that stretches to the mid-calf.
Pros
- Machine washable
- Wear with or without a belt
Cons
- Colour isn't as versatile as beige
Colour | Green |
Size range | XS-XL |
Material | 2% lyocell, 48% cotton |
Best Printed Trench Coat For Women

www.neverfullydressed.com
A printed trench coat might seem like a bad idea - can a pattern really stand up to a classic shade like beige when it comes to cost-per-wear? - but, thankfully, leopard almost works like a neutral in this context. Gavi tried it on with jeans and loafers, a uniform that many of us can relate to at this time of year, and the coat lent the entire look a sense of fun.
Pros
- Statement-making print
- Detachable belt
- Made in an audited factory and delivered in recycled packaging
Colour | Leopard |
Size range | Petite: UK 4-18; regular: UK 4-28 |
Material | 98% cotton; 2% elastane |
Best Hooded Trench Coat For Women

jovonnalondon.com
Jovonna's Brinn Trench was my favourite of the bunch (go figure because it's one of the brand's bestsellers). From the silhouette to the practical hood-scarf hybrid, the details were on-point. I thought it worked particularly well over my outfit on the day of the try-on - a fitted tracksuit top and a flaring midi skirt that hit the mid-calf - because of the way it cinches at the waist. My only criticism is that its fabrication doesn't have quite the same feel as other styles made of cotton, but, all in all, I love the way it looks.
Pros
- Under £150
Cons
- 100% polyester
Colour | Beige |
Size range | XXS-XL |
Material | 100% polyester |
Best Petite Trench Coat For Women

www.thereformation.com
Fit can be really tricky with trench coats, which is why it's a good idea to shop from the petite or tall sections if possible. Reformation's Matteo Trench comes in both petite and regular - and, as it's designed to have an oversized fit, it's a great option if you want a relaxed silhouette but don't want to be swamped in the sleeve and the shoulders.
Pros
- Made of deadstock fabric
- Relaxed fit
Cons
- Dry-clean only
- 100% polyester
Colour | Khaki and black |
Size | XS-XL |
Material | 100% polyester |
Best Evening Trench Coat For Women

www.net-a-porter.com
Most trench coats are strictly daytime affairs, but not this 2-in-1 design from The Frankie Shop, which can either be worn as a classic trench with your arms in the sleeves or with a twist (bare arms and the sleeves left to dangle at the back). Ever the innovator, Gavi decided to strike a balance between the two, exposing a slice of shoulder but keeping most of her arms covered. Genius if you're heading out-out but still want a cover-up of sorts.
Pros
- Can be worn two ways
Cons
- Dry-clean only
Colour | Black and beige |
Size range | XXXS/XXS-M/L |
Material | 67% TENCEL™ lyocell; 33% polyester |
Best Budget Trench Coat For Women

www.nobodyschild.com
Nobody's Child's trench coat isn't the cheapest on the high street, but in terms of striking the right balance between cost and quality, it's definitely best in show at £159. With a shell made of 100% organic cotton, and with a pop of check on the inside, it has a weighty feel that makes it a bestseller for a reason.
Pros
- Shell made of 100% organic cotton
Cons
- Dry-clean only
- Limited size range
Colour | Brown |
Size range | XS-L |
Material | 100% organic cotton; lining 100% recycled polyester |
Best Trench Coats For Women FAQs
What should I look for in a quality trench coat?
A quality trench coat will most likely be 100% cotton, or thereabouts, with design details like storm flaps, cuff tabs and a belt.
Are trench coats still in style?
Not only are they still in style but, as a wardrobe perennial, they're almost guaranteed to never go out of style.
How should a trench coat fit?
That depends entirely on how you want it to fit because trench coats range from tailored and belted to loose and relaxed. Look out for the fit notes on each brand's website as they'll often recommend whether you should size up or down.
How can I style a trench coat for different occasions?
The beauty of a trench coat is that it can be styled up or down to suit different levels of smartness. Going to a wedding? Throw your favourite trench over a swishing midi dress or block-coloured tailoring and it will immediately look more elevated. On the flip side, an unbelted trench slipped over sweats and sneakers is also fair game.
Do trench coats work for all seasons?
They're probably best suited to autumn and spring but can also work on milder winter days if layered up (think a thermal vest, a cashmere jumper, a scarf and a beanie).
How do I care for and clean a trench coat?
Most trench coats are dry-clean only because of the fabrics and finishes, but you can also spot clean for minor stains and steam for an instant refresh.
What are good brands for trench coats?
Almost every brand makes a trench coat so it depends on what you're looking for. My personal favourites are Arket, COS and Toteme. All Scandi and all supremely chic.
What colour trench coat is best for women?
Beige is probably the most standard colour for trench coats - and it's a classic for a reason - but you can always mix things up this spring with an equally wearable khaki.
Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.