Buying Guide
The Best Designer Trench Coats
Designer trench coats are the one outerwear shape that earns its keep across seasons, and this edit gathers the best of them for women and men. Burberry built its name on gabardine, but the rail now runs wider: Mulberry, Sandro and Maje for a softer cut, Alexander McQueen for a sharper shoulder. We have grouped the selection by who it is for and by the classic gabardine styles worth knowing. Start with the cut that suits your build, then think colour.
Women's trench coats
This is the deepest part of the edit, and it spans the full range of the women's trench. Expect Burberry's belted gabardine, Mulberry's softer British tailoring, and lighter, body-skimming cuts from Maje and Sandro that suit smaller frames. Miu Miu brings a more playful, cropped read on the shape. Buy your usual size: a trench should close cleanly over a jumper without straining. If you are short, look for a shorter back length so the hem sits above the knee rather than swamping you.
Michael Kors
Glen Plaid Silk-Wool Melton and Knitted Mohair Chesterfield Coat
Men's trench coats
A men's trench should hang from the shoulder and skim the body, not box it. The classics here lean Burberry and Mulberry, with the storm flap, gun yoke and D-ring belt that define a proper gabardine coat. Sandro offers a leaner, more modern line if you want something to wear over a suit and tailoring rather than knitwear. Stone and honey are the safe first buys. Go navy or black only once you already own a neutral, and check the sleeve breaks at the wrist bone.
Gabardine and classic styles
Gabardine is the tightly woven cotton twill Burberry patented, and it is what makes a trench shed light rain and hold its shape. These are the classic, double-breasted styles you keep for years: full length, belted, in stone or beige. Burberry is the reference point, but Mulberry and Sandro cut the same heritage shape cleanly. This is the section to shop if you want one coat that outlasts trends. Pay the most you can here, because the fabric and finish are where the money shows.
The buyer's brief
How to choose
A trench lives or dies on fit, fabric and how often you will actually wear it. Here is what we weigh up before buying.
Fit the shoulders first
The seam should sit right at the edge of your shoulder, never drooping down the arm. Everything else can be tailored, but a dropped shoulder line cannot be fixed and always reads cheap.
Let the length match your height
Knee length flatters most people and works over both jeans and tailoring. If you are under 5ft 5in, a shorter cut stops the coat wearing you; taller frames can carry a full-length style.
Buy stone or beige first
The classic gabardine shades go with everything and look most expensive. Save navy, black and khaki for your second trench once the neutral is covered.
Check the fabric weight
Cotton gabardine handles drizzle and three-season wear. A lighter unlined trench suits spring and travel, while a heavier or lined version earns its place in a real British autumn.
Mind the details that age well
Storm flap, gun yoke, D-ring belt and horn-look buttons are the marks of a proper trench. Tie the belt rather than buckling it for a softer, more current look.
Decide on belt and lining
A removable lining stretches the coat across more of the year. A self-tie belt sits better than a stiff buckled one, so check how the waist cinches before you commit.
Good to know
Answered
Yes, if you buy the classic shape rather than a trend cut. A good gabardine trench in stone gets worn for years across spring and autumn, so the cost per wear drops fast. Spend on fabric and fit, not on logos.
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About this edit
Diligo's edits are curated by our editorial team and updated as ranges and availability change. Every product featured is hand-picked for design, quality and lasting appeal, so you can discover pieces worth buying without trawling dozens of sites.
Product availability and prices shown are indicative and refreshed regularly. Tap any product to continue to the brand.