This One Closet Essential Is What Your Life Has Always Been Missing
Toss it on in the doorway, toast in mouth, hair unbrushed, and whoosh, you’re Audrey Hepburn.
Image from Gap
by The Candidly Team
If you’re here hoping for an inventive trend headed up by a sea of 23-year-old TikTokers, you should probably click away now.
But if you’re someone who’s drawn to the classic, the romantic, the universally flattering, the undyingly chic, you’re in the right place.
Because there is one style piece that embodies all of these things. A piece that looks equally natural and effortlessly glam on an Old Hollywood actress as it does on us…in jeans and a tee, dragging out our trash bins in on a misty morning.
We’re not here to waste your time. It’s the trench.
Are you with us?
Because here’s why:
A trench stands out amongst other outerwear for several reasons.
It flatters like nothing else. Name another jackety thing in your closet that nips as delicately at the waist. That isn’t so thick it adds bulk to our arms and shoulders. That covers our bum on days we’re just not feeling every angle of our skinny jeans. Or that just all-around creates the prettiest silhouette, whether open or shut.
It never stops looking chic. A trench is a foolproof, singular piece that you buy once, wear forever, and it will never NOT make you look put together and sophisticated and like you have incredible taste no matter what you’re wearing with it.
It’s classic but can be styled a million modern ways. As much as we get swept up in the cinematic history of the trench, complete with headscarf and enormous sunglasses, it’s not only for the Audreys and the Jackie-O’s among us. Sure, it can be a soft outer layer over a floral dress at an outdoor fall wedding. But it can also have edge, hanging open over a cropped wide leg-jean and a chunky lug-sole boot. It goes with everything, elevating our existing taste, but while making us look our very, very best.
So now that we’ve pleaded our case, here are our 5 most favorite trenches in all the world.
1. The Flawless “French Lady” Trench
Everlane The Cotton Modern Trench Coat
Right, so leading off with what might be called the Gold Standard in trench design. It’s from the ever-reliable Everlane, and every inch is nuanced perfection: the creamy color, the just right amount of drape, the thick tie that makes our waist whittle into oblivion despite the 4 croissants we’ll definitely be consuming on a street corner whilst wearing this coat. The back, in particular, is perfection, and it also comes in black and the prettiest green khaki color we’ve possibly ever seen.
Price: $268
2. The Ideal Everyday Trench
Madewell The Signature Trench Coat
To be fair, we had a hard time choosing between this exemplary trench from Madewell and the one above. They’re both equally luxe. But this one has a slightly fuller hem that gives it the prettiest shape from all angles. And it comes in plus!
Price: $218
3. The Between Seasons Trench
Behold, the airy movement of this unique trench. We LOVE that we can wear it year-round, whether we’re bundled in our coziest sweaters or running errands in a literal tank. It’s light and drapey and soooo flattering. The belt is soft and easily adjustable. We like it tied in the back to give off that subtle hourglass shape. It sizes up to 3X and also comes in an antique white that singlehandedly made us realize how glorious a white coat looks with everything we already wear.
Price: $81
4. The Laid Back And Layerable Trench
Are we hurting your brain you with yet another straight-up iconic coat? But what’s different about this one is that it has a slightly more relaxed fit that’s roomy enough to add lots of layers underneath. All those precious fall sweaters, perhaps? If you live somewhere chilly, this could be your coat.
Price: $84 - $168
5. The Supremely Special “Investment” Trench
If you’re truly and deeply ready to invest in what might be THE single most beautiful designer trench on this or any other planet, this is the one we can’t stop staring at, pinning, examining from every angle, putting on every wishlist, and picturing ourselves in, because we know this coat will end our quest to wear one thing and be chic. The stripes. We die.
Price: $498
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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