Since Humphrey Bogart quipped “Here’s looking at you kid” in a Burberry trench coat in the 1942 film Casablanca the outerwear staple has carried undeniable sex appeal. Flattering, well suited to a range of outfits, trench coats for women are a holy grail capsule wardrobe item we’ll spend most of our sartorial lives hunting for. So wherein lies the appeal?
The classic Burberry Trench Coat was made with practicality in mind. Thomas Burberry created the trench in 1879—a garbine, water resistant loose coat made of cotton textile. He was outfitting the military (trench coat a la, the trenches) but the style was soon adapted for Hollywood.
ELLE’s Edit Of The Best Trench Coats:
- Best Classic Trench: Toteme Organic Cotton And Silk-Blend Trench, $1,040
- Best Cropped Trench: Camilla and Marc Neroli Short Trench, $450
- Bet Trend Trench: Norma Kamali Faux Leather Trench Coat, $490
Audrey Hepburn wore the style in Breakfast at Tiffany’s while Catherine Denauve and Anna Karin wore the cropped iterations in The Umbrella’s of Cherbourg (1864) and Jean-Luc Godard’s Made in the U.S.A (1966) respectively. Lauren Hunt and Richard Gere popularised the oversized trench in American Gigolo (1980) – Gere’s Armani cashmere camel version was particularly swoon worthy. And in 2024 the trench coat enjoyed a viral moment when Lily-Rose Depp was rude to some fans while wearing one.
For an item known for its practicality the trench coat has become synonymous with Main Character Energy. It covers up while teasingly outlining the body, a quality which has made it a favourite for the depiction of sex workers and wives looking to spice things up in the bedroom a la Pretty Woman (we recommend wearing it with just lingerie at home to save yourself awkward moments). It’s practical but billows as you stomp about, an outerwear version of an exclamation mark, announcing your arrival as you swoop into the room. Toss it on your desk before a ill-timed meeting and your colleagues will know you mean business.
In 2025 the drama of the trench isn’t going unrecognised and we’re seeing it in a variety of styles. On the Paris Fall/Winter runways we saw cropped trenches at Akris, burgundy trenches at Christopher Esber and Chloé and a sweeping leather at Gucci. So how do you wear a trench coat in 2025?
The Classic Trench
Born of grit and function, the classic trench coat has evolved into a perennial wardrobe staple—because, like all true icons, it transcends its origins. What began as battlefield gear now cuts a sharp silhouette on city streets. Practicality has never looked so effortlessly polished—and that’s precisely the allure.
TOTEME
Organic Cotton And Silk-Blend Trench
CAMILLA AND MARC
Evans Classic Trench
&OTHER STORIES
Belted Trench Coat
SANDRO
Aliocha Trench Coat
The Cropped Trench
Once a twist on tradition, the cropped trench coat has carved out its own space in the style canon. Perfect for transitional weather and modern proportions, it’s the kind of piece that makes a statement without trying too hard.
FAVOURITE DAUGHTER
The Cropped Charles Trench
JW ANDERSON
Oversized Collar Cropped Trench
CAMILLA AND MARC
Neroli Short Trench
BURBERRY
Gabardine Cropped Trench
The Trend Trench
Today’s trench coat doesn’t just play by the rules. Think bolder colour, buttery leather and soft suede. These modern takes keep the silhouette we love but add a fresh edge, turning a timeless piece into something completely current.
COS
Layered Trench
NORMA KAMALI
Faux Leather Trench Coat
NOUR HAMMOUR
Tate Suede Trench Coat
TOTEME
Organic Cotton Trench Coat
How To Style A Trench Coat
The trench can be worn with everything from “a short skirt and a long jacket” to jeans. “When I’m thinking trenches this season I’m thinking the Gucci oversized hero moment in that fabulous camel,” says Jordan Boorman, ELLE Australia’s fashion editor. “Wear it with simple jeans, a tank and a ballet flat. Clean lines, classic and chic.”
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