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If there’s one coat worth investing in, it goes without saying that a trench coat will work hard in your wardrobe. Come rain or shine, year on year, your trusty mac will play its role in keeping you warm and dry while relying on its timelessly stylish appeal.
So how many of us have lived in the same one for countless years, content in the belief that we would never tire of it? My mother and I certainly have — until recently.
Famous for propelling the trench into the fashion sphere, and therefore the brand to take note of, Burberry’s latest Spring/Summer 26 runway showed us more iterations than ever before. And even though the classic trench will, without doubt, always be — well, classic — variations have slowly been creeping their way off the catwalk and onto the high street.
And don’t worry, I’m not talking about the crazy vibrant yellow or crocodile-skin numbers; it’s the versions with more flattering features, modern lengths and updated colourways that are worth looking at.
Since, grabbing our go-to coats this year hasn’t quite felt the same. For my mother, her long, shapeless, stone-coloured trench — albeit still useful — leaves her feeling dowdy and dated, while for me, mine just feels outright boring.
So the pair of us set out to find fresh replacements and, in the process, narrowed down a list of top contenders. From youthful cuts on the classic to modern colours and on-trend fabrics, here are the 12 most youth-boosting and flattering trench coats on the high street that my mother and I are loving right now.
The Classic
Kathryn’s mother loves:
A slightly smarter and more structured version of her old trench. The longline elegant shape of this is modern and creates a flattering, anti-aging silhouette when belted. My mother also likes to tie the belt at the back and leave the coat open to reveal her outfit underneath for added style.
Kathryn loves:
The slightly more pronounced shoulders and brown leather detailing on this trench is subtle enough to keep it classic while adding a youthful edge for me.
Both love:
The darker neutral shade feels modern and doesn’t wash us out, pulling us to Massimo Dutti’s new trench. Its thick, water repellent fabric won’t age or look dowdy quickly, making it a favourite for us both.
Shorter
Kathryn’s mother loves:
Moving away from the standard longline trenches which can sometimes feel a little too covered up. My Mother is loving the shorter styles as they avoid the dearth of material which can be swamping and bulky on a more classic length. The Hobbs Skylar trench has a stiffness to the fabric which gives a lovely smooth line to her silhouette.
Kathryn loves:
While my mum feels the cropped style trench is a little too young for her, it is right up my street. This belted sand number, from the Parisian-inspired brand Palome, is lightweight and super trendy worn over jeans and boots.
Both love:
Known for their outerwear, my mother and I can agree this short trench from Fairfax & Favor is a super feminine and modern take on a staple trench. Water repellent with a brushed herringbone lining – this coat is not only stylish but super practical too, so worth the higher price point.
Colourful
Kathryn’s mother loves:
To edge gently out of ‘basic’ trench coat territory you can start playing with colours. As my mother likes to stick to a predominantly neutral palette she loves this khaki one. Greens of all shades are also set to take over the coming seasons too.
Kathryn loves:
I’m far more happy to wear something more daring, but not garish. So this dark berry tone trench ticked the box for me. With chic buttons and a pleated back, this trench is perfect for pairing with denim and other everyday basics. Throwing this on is a simple way to spruce up any casual day look.
Both love:
Brown seems to stick around as a trendy colour to wear throughout all seasons, so my mother and I jumped at this one. Chic when paired with all colours and certain to hide any mud marks!
Fabric
Kathryn’s mother loves:
While this suede trench feels like a large outlay for something so trendy – when you break down its elements it shouldn’t go out of fashion. Suede is a fabric that looks luxurious all year round and in the form of a trench it’s the perfect combo my mother feels she should’ve been wearing for years!
Kathryn loves:
A real eye-catcher. I have been searching for the perfect faux leather trench for a while, so now that I’ve found ‘the one’ I realise it all comes down to the colour. In the wrong shade they can appear dated, but this one looks expensive and contemporary.
Both love:
Perhaps the quirkiest on our list and definitely the least practical – but this denim trench coat has got to be the most stylish. In a dark indigo it makes for a chic outerwear option while suiting all ages. Expect compliments galore – but do be cautious in the rain.