I Tried Claudia Winkleman’s Favourite M&S Trench Coat, And I Can Firmly Attest—It Really Is Brilliant

While the idea of wearing anything other than a heavy-duty puffer coat might seem bizarre at present moment, we have good news: spring is next month. Soon, you needn't resemble the Michelin man every time you step foot outside the house, because lighter layers and spring jackets await us. Our favourite transitional jacket of all? The mighty trench coat.

No outerwear wardrobe is truly complete without a great trench, but finding the perfect one isn't always simple. There are several difficulties I've encountered on the quest to finding the perfect trench; too oversized, too long (I'm 5 ft 2) too yellow (the woes of vintage shopping) so when I came across the new Claudia Winkelman-endorsed M&S coat on my Instagram—I knew I had no choice but to give it a go.

Unlike most gabardine trench coats, this one is made from soft, pure cotton giving it a more expensive feel. The double-cloth fabric means its still waterproof, and I was impressed at how warm it felt unlike most other trenches, making it just as perfect for the current forecast as it is for warmer days ahead. Unsurprisingly, as soon as I introduced the trench into my wardrobe, it quickly became my most-worn coat. I love that it can be worn with just about anything, and while my wardrobe is typically firmly casual, I enjoyed that I could also wear it for slightly more fancy events, without looking out of place.

Coming in at just under £200, the M&S Jaeger coat is an investment, but one that's 100% worth it—and I'm not just saying that. I still wear my grandma's Jaeger trench from the late 90s on a weekly basis, and it looks fresher than ever before.

Shop the Claudia Winkleman-approved M&S trench, plus more of Marks & Spencer's popular trenches below.

Shop: More M&S Trench Coats

Marina Avraam is the Deputy Commercial Content Editor for Grazia. Hobbies include (but not limited to) finding the best designer dupes, buying every iteration of the adidas gazelles and listening to celeb podcasts every hour of every day.