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Remember when I talked about the coats that you need for fall? Well, you might remember that one of those coats was a trench! Since a trench is a staple for both fall and winter, I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about the different ways you can wear one.
(Also, yes, even though it’s December, the temperatures are so up and down right now, I feel like we’re still wearing more fall things than winter things. So I think it’s totally okay to still talk about fall fashion).
Back to trenches.
As I’ve mentioned with trenches before, they’re perfect for this time of year because they’re lightweight, but they block out the wind and rain. So you can layer as much or as little as you need to underneath, but know that you won’t get cold. They’re really the perfect completer piece for any outfit. Now let’s get into fall trench coat outfit ideas.
Everlane Coat c/o (Similar Inexpensive Option, Similar, Similar)
Everlane Turtleneck Dress c/o (Similar, $17 option!, Similar)
Blondo Knee High Boots (Similar, Similar, Similar)
Old Coach Classic City Bag (Similar, Similar, Similar)
J.Crew Bow (Similar, Similar, Similar)
5 Fall Trench Coat Outfit Ideas
Here are a few fall outfits, cold weather outfits, and a few style ideas in between to help you put together your perfect trench outfit!
The Classic Striped Shirt
Pairing a striped shirt with your trench coat is like wearing a trench coat 101. I think it’s what every girl pictures when she gets a trench coat. Maybe because it gives us all ideas of running around Paris? (And not Emily in Paris style.)
In the image below I’ve styled my striped shirt for more of a work look, with a pair of stretchy work pants and white pants. But if you want to hit this look on the head, pair your striped shirt with jeans and loafers. Bonus points if you cuff your jeans at the bottom. Also, while you should button up your trench if it’s chilly or raining, don’t do it otherwise! Show off your cute outfit!
A Turtleneck Sweater
One of the best things about the design of a trench coat is that it leaves room at the top for a cute collar. This was more likely in the past for women to tuck in their beautiful scarves, which you can still do. But, it also makes it perfect for an outfit with a turtleneck or cowlneck sweater! Then pair your sweater with skinny jeans and ankle boots, preferably ones with a heel. It’ll make your legs look even better.
In this case, I would suggest buttoning up and belting your trench (if that’s an option). That way it can really show off the neck of your sweater and draw attention there. It’ll also draw some attention to your longer legs.
Button Up Tops
Pairing your button up with a trench is another classic look that can not be skipped. It doesn’t matter if it’s striped (liked I’m wearing) or a white button up, both are classics. If you’re going to work, you could pair this with a pencil skirt and pumps or black ponte pants and flats. Either way, leave your trench open to show off your outfit. A shoulder bag is also a perfect Accessory to complete the look.
Dresses and Trenches
Dresses and trenches can go together so well, if it’s done right. Luckily, in my opinion, it’s not hard to get right. Just follow this one rule: no maxi dresses and trenches. Unless it’s a gown and your trench is purely functional to get you from one place to another (aka no one will see your trench), don’t do it.
Other than that, I think the sky’s the limit. With a dress, trenches look great belted or open. There’s a reason this coat is so popular!
Cap Toe Heels (And Other Shoe Options)
Yes, cap toe heels is all you need to know about an entire outfit. After all, don’t you build entire outfits around your shoes? Just me? Oh well. Anyways, I love the way cap toe shoes look with trench coats. It looks so classy, even if you pair it with jeans. (Okay, maybe it’s a little more casual chic then?)
Below I show a classic pairing of cap toe shoes and white jeans. The two work so well together because the beige in the cap toe shoes complements beige jacket. It’s an beige outfit, but it’s anything but boring.
A few more shoe tips for your trench coat style:
- If you wear over the knee boots, make sure to pair it with a short trench, not a long trench coat.
- Flats should not be paired with a long trench coat.
- Ankle boots will look best with skinny jeans or tights (don’t pair them with work pants).
- Sneakers can totally work (hello you street style star), but try them with jeans or nicer joggers)
- You can never go wrong with heels
- Loafers go great with work pants or jeans
- If you’re wearing your cold weather boots with a trench (like LLBeans)…should you be wearing a trench right now? Maybe switch to a warmer jacket.
Fall Trench Coat Outfit Tips
How long should your trench be
For a trench, you typically have the option of three lengths, similar to a skirt. These always fall slightly below
- Short: these typically fall slightly below the Hips
- Medium: this one will fall mid thigh or around the knees
- Long: like a midi or maxi skirt, this trench will hit mid calf or longer.
So how long should your trench be? Well, that depends on what you’re wearing it with! I’m serious though. Your height shouldn’t hold you back from trying a different length. But if you’re nervous, I’ll offer a few tips:
- The medium length compliments basically every body type
- If you’re short like me and you want to try a long coat, look for one in petite sizing. Then make sure to pair it with heels, NOT flats!
- Check out my tips above for styling your jacket!
Picking your trench coat’s fabric
Who knew there were so many fabric options for trenches?!
Cotton Twill
Cotton and cotton twill are the most popular fabric for classic trench coats. A cotton twill is a tightly woven and sturdy fabric. That tightly woven fabric helps to provide some water resistance, though it’ll need to be treated to be fully water resistance.
Wool/Gabardine
Wool is also a popular option, but it’s definitely on the more expensive side. However, it’s super warm and a good coat can last you for a long time. What is gabardine by the way? It’s a fabric made from wool blends that’s denser, but lighter than leather jackets. It’s water repellent and the strongest material to save you from rain and wind.
Leather
Yes, yes you can get a leather trench and look like a BAMF. Why would you want a leather trench? It’s heavier and warmer than gabardine, it’s also easy to clean and maintaine. Even better, it’s the toughest and durable material for a coat (there’s a reason bikers wear it). While I haven’t pictured it above, it is actually quite popular for trench coats.
Cashmere
So luxurious! And kind of pricey and difficult to clean. Honestly, it wouldn’t be my first choice for a jacket. I would stick to this fabric for sweaters and dresses.
Denim
Really, denim is made into everything nowadays. Which means you can get it in trench form. This is a less popular material for trench coats, but it is still an available option.
Where should a trench coat fall
A trench coat is one of those pieces that it’s worth it to go to a tailor for. You want to make sure that it looks like it was designed to perfectly fit for your body.
First, it’s a coat overall, so you want it to be a generous fit with room underneath for a sweater. It’s not a tight fit, it’s more like it’s draping or skimming along your body while wearing it. Can you move your arms around? Can you hug yourself? If the answer to BOTH is yes, then it’s a keeper.
It should be fitted in two places: the shoulders and the waist. The shoulders of the jacket should sit directly on your shoulders. The waist should be able to be easily buttoned with no pulling buttons (on the chest either!). In fact, you should be able to easily button it then still have room to easily tie the belt.
The sleeves of the coat should fall right on top of your wrists, right where the cuff of your shirt is. If it goes longer, than it shouldn’t go longer than the bottom of your thumb.
Trench Coat Color Styles
The rule about your trench coat color….is that there are no rules! The most popular color for a trench is a khaki/beige color, then black after that. But really, you can pick whatever color trench you like. Just make sure that if you pick a crazy color it doesn’t clash with your outfit, otherwise you’ll look like a “fashion week what not to wear.”
Okay, do you feel ready to put together your fall trench coat outfit yet? Let me know what it looks like or if you need help finding a trench!
Primary outfit photos by Taylor Phillips Photography
