How to Choose the Perfect Men’s Trench Coat

Gone are the days when choosing a men’s trench coat was limited to one, and only brand. When the world of Trench was ruled over by a beige and flappy dictator.

In these more enlightened times, you can wrap yourself up in navy, cinnamon or forest green. You can choose the classic Italian cotton, but also wool and water-resistant cotton. You can choose flaps or no flaps (I’m saying flap too much aren’t I), 147 pockets or 2 pockets, long or short!

This is the golden age of the Men’s Trench Coat. And this is how to make sure you are living it.

Fit and Size

This depends on your personal style and where and how you are going to be wearing it.

If you’re going to be wearing it for its original purpose, digging trenches, you’ll want a snug fit, to stay warm and make sure it doesn’t get caught on shrapnel or guns.

If you’re wearing it to dig into a late brunch (See what i did there? Did you though?) then you can be a bit more casual. You should be able to move freely and comfortably in your Trench. You don’t want to look like the two guys who attack the strip club in Beverly Hills Cop One (I’m running out of references ok?), but you also want to be able to bend your arms.

How should a trench coat fit?

Put on ALL of your clothes, Joey Tribianni style, and see if your Trench glides smoothly over your arms. The trick to finding the perfect fit is to make sure you can layer underneath it. The Trench Coat is for all seasons, so you want to make sure it fits over your chunkiest jumper.

If you get it right, it will look light and breezy in summer. And you’ll avoid looking like The Hulk (specifically after he has hulked out if that was not clear) in the colder months.

How long should a trench coat be?

Whilst we’re not quite ready for the Trench Bolero, Men’s Trench Coats now come in all sorts of lengths. Long, slightly less long, and even short!

There is no right length for a trench coat, but you can choose one to flatter your body type i.e. tall or short. If you’re on the taller side, a shorter coat might make you look like, well, an adorable giant. If you’re on the Tom Cruise side of the height chart, go for a Trench that fits higher above the knee, with a closer fit. And a pair of platform heels, of course.

Colour and Fabric

What colour trench coat is best?

We conducted a national survey amongst the seven people in our office and the answers may shock you…

Beige or khaki may seem like the most obvious choice, but we got responses such as Forest Green, Navy, Cinnamon and even Black! Classic, neutral, earthy tones that complement any outfit.

Inspector Gadget would be turning in his grave (the extendable fist got him in the end).

What is the best material for a trench coat?

The original Trench Coat, created by, I want to say ‘Smurberry?,’was made from Garbadinem, a breathable fabric that ‘protected workers from the elements’.

Seeing as most of the elements you will encounter will probably be a slightly-too-high air con or a ‘nippy breeze’, you can be more flexible with your fabric choice. Choose from Italian cotton for Spring, water-resistant Italian cotton for literally any season, or wool for the winter months.