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The trench coat has come a long, long way in its century-plus of existence. The style was first developed before WWI, for British Army officers; during the war, soldiers in the trenches wore and popularized them. Thus, the trench coat.
What was once a distinctly military style, though, has taken on entirely different connotations. The trench coat is a chic, elegant piece of outerwear now. Every major designer of has an iteration of their own, from Burberry's iconic version that stays true to its British roots to Tom Ford's take with a simple, minimalist silhouette. These days, the trench coat is a malleable, fluid thing. It often retains the double-breasted, buttoned, beige look, but you can also opt for single-breasted, snag one with or without a wide belt, get it hooded or unhooded, and choose from every fabric from wool to water-resistant nylon. Older trench coats had removable linings to stay dry and warm in the trenches, but now, that's harder to come by—we prefer to layer with hoodies and sweaters instead.
The great thing about the trench coat is how wearable it is. You look put-together in it no matter what you wear underneath (and this is from someone who will throw a trench coat over my pajamas to run to the bodega on a weekend and still get compliments on my outfit). The style is a rainy-day icon, a business-casual superhero, a do-it-all piece of outerwear. The 15 best ones are on the market are below, so whatever your taste and vibe, there's one for you.
One of J.Crew's most iconic pieces is the Ludlow Trench, and for good reason. This slim silhouette is modern and chic, with a fly front, a removable belt, and pockets that you can button for extra safety.
If anyone has a standout, non-traditional trench coat this season, it's Cos. This coat takes the classic components of the trench coat—buttons, belt, lapels—and turns them upside down, resulting in this shawl-collar, draped effect with a drapy hemline and removable belt.
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PRL makes a trench that'll never go out of style. The timeless piece is elegant and sophisticated, with all the standard features of a trench coat, plus a lightweight fabric that makes layering easy.
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Who doesn't love a discount? Coach Outlet has a versatile, two-tone trench coat for less than 300 bucks. You better grab this one before I do.
I know trench coats are a timeless style, but if you want one with an undeniably 21st century appeal (and perhaps just the right amount of '90s grunge?), Volcom has you covered with a cool, edgy skater style. In slate gray, this is the coat you put on to match your melancholic winter mood.
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If beige and black aren't your thing, Saturdays NYC has a contemporary trench coat in rich, deep navy. In addition to a button front closure, raglan sleeves, and welt pockets, this trench is also waterproof, so don't worry about the rain.
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The most functional way to update the trench coat is to add an adjustable hood, and Alex Mill did just that. This utilitarian style has three flapped pockets, real corozo buttons and a water-repellent nylon shell to fend off the rain.
In the eternal words of Jay-Z: "What's that jacket, Margiela?" Why, yes, actually, it is. If the high-end look and feel wasn't a dead giveaway, surely the contrast-stitch detail is.
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For a definitively cool, casual coat that looks dope as hell over loungewear, go oversized. ASOS Design has one that retains a slightly elevated vibe, but can just as easily be dressed down.
An all-black coat is sleek, sharp, and smart. You'll feel like a Bond villain in this monochrome wooly trench.
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With a simple aesthetic that tweaks the proportions of the trench just enough, Celine Homme's coat is an investment piece worth every penny.
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Sometimes, it's all about keeping it simple. Take Tom Ford's fly-front, single-breasted trench coat, for example—perfect for adding a scarf on top of, thanks to its effortlessly chic design.