Leather and Suede Trench Coats, Plus Classic Beige, Navy and Olive Styles

A trench coat is the jacket that makes any outfit look intentional. It works over a hoodie and jeans on the weekend and over a suit for work, and it handles the rainy, in between days of fall better than anything else.

 

The classic beige version is still the one to start with, but this season there are plenty of fresh options: deep navy and olive, cropped lengths that show off wide pants, and suede and leather versions that feel more evening ready.

 

Below I split them into long classic trenches first, then cropped, suede and leather ones.

The long beige trench is the one to buy first. The maxi length looks dramatic over jeans, while the knee length pairs feel easier with trousers and skirts. The camel and biscuit shades lean warmer, and the grey one feels a little cooler and more modern.

 

If you already own a beige trench, try a color. The navy one looks sharp with white jeans, the olive reversible pair gives you two coats in one, and the mustard and ecru versions brighten up a grey morning. I went deeper on a related idea in Cropped Trench Coats for Transitional Weather. I went deeper on a related idea in How to Dress for 50 Degree Weather: A Coat, a Knit and a Good Boot.

 

My fitting room test: wear your thickest sweater underneath and lift your arms. If the shoulders pull, size up. What I would skip: very thin fabric that wrinkles as soon as you sit down.

A cropped trench hits right at the hip, which makes it perfect with wide leg pants and long skirts. The camel and blush cropped styles are the easiest, the plaid one adds pattern, and the khaki one is the most classic. I also put together Short Trench Coat: Cropped Khaki and Twill Styles.

 

For a richer look, the khaki faux suede trench and the chocolate faux leather one feel very fall and still wear like a coat you can throw on. The houndstooth long trench and the brown belted one with a printed collar are the statement picks.

 

What I look for: a belt you can tie at the back when you wear it open. What I would skip: a cropped length that sits right at your widest point.

Throw a long beige trench over a grey sweater, straight jeans and loafers. On colder days, add a scarf and swap the loafers for knee high boots.

 

Tie the belt in a loose knot at the back instead of buckling it, so the coat looks relaxed and drapes nicely when you walk.