Hand Picked, The Black Trench Coats Worth Shopping

I’ve owned a black trench that I regretted within a fortnight, cheap poplin that went stiff as cardboard after one rainy commute and never softened up again, so I know exactly what separates a good one from a bad one. It comes down to the cloth and the cut, nothing else really matters. You want a fabric with enough weight to swing when you walk but enough give that it doesn’t stand away from your body like a tent. Cotton gabardine done properly, or a wool blend for the colder months, holds a crease at the collar without going papery. The belt should actually cinch, not just decorate, and the shoulders need to sit at the shoulder, not somewhere near your elbow.

Black is the clever choice here, honestly cleverer than camel for most people’s lives, because it doesn’t show London puddle splash the way beige does, and it goes from office to a late dinner without any negotiation.

My colleague Priya wore hers over a slip dress to a leaving do straight from work and looked like she’d planned the whole outfit that morning, when actually she’d just grabbed the coat off her chair.

Styling it is less complicated than people make out. Over tailoring it reads sharp and a bit severe in a way I like for meetings or interviews.

Over jeans and boots it does the school run and the pub without trying. Belted tight with the collar up it’s doing something for a dinner date, left open and swinging it’s just a coat that gets you from the tube to the office without a jacket underneath. Sleeves pushed up, worn open, thrown over the shoulders like a cape when it’s too warm to actually wear it properly, all valid.

It suits the in between months mostly, that stretch where a proper coat is too much and nothing is quite enough, but a genuinely good black trench also earns its place at weddings, on flights, and for the ten months of the year British weather can’t commit to a season.

Top Picks

BLACK TRENCH COATANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Crop Trench Coat Jacket

$168.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)

BLACK TRENCH COATEGO (US & CA)Long Sleeve Longline Trench Coat In Stone Suede, Women's Size US

$60.00 EGO (US & CA)

BLACK TRENCH COATW CONCEPT (US)Coated Over Fit Trench Coat [Black]

$277.00 W CONCEPT (US)

HARVEY NICHOLS USGanni Belted Wool-blend Trench Coat - Black - 42 (UK14 / L) $978.89 HARVEY NICHOLS US

FALCONERIFalconeri Long Technical Trench Coat Woman Black $885.00 FALCONERI

KARL LAGERFELD (US)Kl Jeans - Denim Panel Trench Coat, Woman, Multicoloured, Size: Xs $235.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)

GOBI CASHMEREDouble Breasted Cashmere Trench Coat - S / Black / WT0001-1481 $714.45 GOBI CASHMERE

THE LUXURY CLOSETVersace Black Patterned Cotton Trench Coat $678.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

ZEAGOOWomen's Thick Windproof Belted Long Trench Coat Outerwear - Black / M(6) $69.99 ZEAGOO

JANET HOWARDJamie Trench Coat $210.00 JANET HOWARD

MODA DI ANDREA (US)Trench coat $864.70 MODA DI ANDREA (US)

ZEAGOOLapel Single Breasted Wool Blend Trench Coat - Zeagoo- Black / XL(12) $59.99 ZEAGOO

HELLO MOLLY (US)Urban Moonlight Faux Leather Trench Coat Black $85.95 HELLO MOLLY (US)

THE LUXURY CLOSETMax Mara Black Garbardine Double Breasted Trench Coat $362.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

HELLOMOLLY (US)HELLO MOLLY Covert Heart Trench Coat Black $155.95 HELLOMOLLY (US)

ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Crop Trench Coat Jacket $168.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)

HARVEY NICHOLS USMeotine John Wool-blend Trench Coat - Black - X $959.57 HARVEY NICHOLS US

THE LUXURY CLOSETBurberry Black/Beige Gabardine Two Tone Trench Coat $704.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

THE LUXURY CLOSETVersace Jeans Couture Black Leather Trench Coat $207.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

THE LUXURY CLOSETValentino Black Synthetic Double Breasted Trench Coat $495.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

HELLO MOLLY (US)DNM Denim Trench Coat Charcoal $175.95 HELLO MOLLY (US)

UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAMNotch Buckled Sleeve Crop Trench Coat $64.84 UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM

EGO (US & CA)Long Sleeve Longline Trench Coat In Stone Suede, Women's Size US $60.00 EGO (US & CA)

RENT THE RUNWAYDerek Lam 10 Crosby x RTR Black Faux Leather Trench Coat Black $214.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

SHOEBACCAPUMA We Are Legends Harlem Renaissance Trench Coat $49.95 SHOEBACCA

THE LUXURY CLOSETGucci Black Synthetic Double Breasted Trench Coat $471.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - Transformable Trench Coat, Woman, Black, Size: $529.95 KARL LAGERFELD (US)

SELDOM SEEN STYLES? limited-time price offer ?Mid-length trench coat with denim-jeans seams $39.99 SELDOM SEEN STYLES

COLE HAANCole Haan Women's Zip Up Trench Coat with Stow Away Hood - Black Size $328.00 COLE HAAN

THE LUXURY CLOSETBurberry London Black Gabardine Double Breasted Trench Coat $337.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

CERQULARARMANI EXCHANGE Womens Trench Coat Black $61.09 CERQULAR

CERQULARREISS Womens Trench Coat Black Knit Wool UK $119.59 CERQULAR

W CONCEPT (US)Cotton Twill Unlined Detachable Belt Trench Coat [Light Grey] $240.00 W CONCEPT (US)

KARL LAGERFELD (US)Karl Lagerfeld - Perforated Faux Leather Trench Coat, Woman, Black, Size: Xs $300.00 KARL LAGERFELD (US)

PRINTERVALTrench Coat! - Bojack Horseman $18.95 PRINTERVAL

CERQULARDRESS Womens Trench Coat Black Leather 90s $54.59 CERQULAR

CERQULARGAP Womens Trench Coat Black $29.63 CERQULAR

CERQULARMAX&CO Womens Trench Coat Black Leather UK $170.29 CERQULAR

CERQULARWomens Trench Coat Black Leather 90s $54.59 CERQULAR

W CONCEPT (US)Half Trench Coat Black $532.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Bustier Set Adjustable Belt Trench Coat (MBD42O2JK004) $774.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Bustier Set Classic Trench Coat (MBD42O2JK004) $774.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Oversized Trench Coat Black $268.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)FLARE Oversized Trench Coat Black $210.00 W CONCEPT (US)

CERQULARALAIN FIGARET Womens Trench Coat Black Velvet UK $49.39 CERQULAR

CERQULARLAKELAND Womens Trench Coat Black Leather $38.21 CERQULAR

COLE HAANCole Haan Women's Twill Trench Coat - Black Size $378.00 COLE HAAN

W CONCEPT (US)Coated Over Fit Trench Coat [Black] $277.00 W CONCEPT (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Raglan Double Trench Coat (Black) $189.00 W CONCEPT (US)

ZEAGOOZeagoo Women's Trench Coats Double-Breasted Coat with Belt - Short-black / 2XL(14) $69.99 ZEAGOO

−52%

ANN TAYLORAnn Taylor Snake Print Belted Trench Coat$218.73 $104.99 ANN TAYLOR

−52%

ANN TAYLORAnn Taylor Petite Snake Print Belted Trench Coat$218.73 $104.99 ANN TAYLOR

−20%

SHOPBOPJoe's Jeans The Liz Cropped Trench Coat Black$348.00 $278.40 SHOPBOP

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