Elevate Your Transitional Wardrobe With the Season’s Best Trench Coats

The classic trench coat was first developed in the 1800s and became practical military attire around World War I. It was designed to be worn in the trenches, which is where the piece of outerwear got its moniker.

Despite its origins, the trench coat soon trickled into mainstream fashion, which was surely helped by its appearance on many Hollywood stars—most notably, perhaps, by Humphrey Bogart‘s Rick Blaine in Casablanca and Marlene Dietrich in A Foreign Affair. And let’s not forget about what is perhaps one of the most iconic cinematic wardrobe pieces of all time: the trench worn by Audrey Hepburn’s Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Even among the most dependable wardrobe staples, the trench coat remains one of the most hardworking sartorial items out there. It’s a transitional season staple, which is entirely unsurprising when you consider how versatile this coat is, whether you’re throwing it on over crisp jeans and a T-shirt or pairing it with a breezy dress. Layering a trench coat can elevate even the sloppiest of ensembles into a more tailored and sophisticated look—just try it over your go-to workout set, and you’ll see what we mean.

You can’t go wrong with the traditional beige gabardine trench, à la Burberry‘s classic water-resistant style, though you don’t have to limit yourself to the expected neutral colors and materials. Today’s trenches come in a range of silhouettes, hues and fabrics, from futuristic leather jackets to preppy wool coats. Read on to discover the best trench coats of the season.