Have you wondered how to style a trench coat for men? Trench coats are a crucial component of a sophisticated gentleman’s wardrobe. It is a classic outerwear design and a chic necessity for the spring and fall seasons. We’ll offer trench coat styling advice!
The first trench coat appeared in the 1820s, when Charles Macintosh introduced the mack, a ground-breaking rubberized article of outerwear.
Today, we’ll talk about the history, characteristics, and various looks that can be achieved with a trench coat.
Table of Contents
The History of the Trench Coat
The trench coat was originally a piece of clothing for army officers, just like many other types of outerwear.
Thomas Burberry, a British clothier, invented the fabric used to make trench coats in the 1870s. He created wool fabric that was chemically altered to be weatherproof. Gabardine was the name of the creation.
When World War I started, soldiers fighting in the trenches needed a protective garment that was resistant to being damaged. The trench coat was specifically created by Burberry to fit this need. Water repelled from its gabardine construction.
The trench coat was adopted for civilian use following the war and quickly gained popularity among both men and women.
How to Wear the Trench Coat?
Below are some tips for your reference.
Work Approved Trench Coats
The ideal trench partner is tailoring, whether it’s a full suit or separates. A camel or beige trench can add some warmth to a grey business suit. In the spring or fall, wear it open with the collar slightly popped to act as a homemade neck windbreak. Keep your lace-ups black to keep the look grounded, or switch to a pair of brown brogues (yes, even in “town”) to go with the earthen trench. A tie with neutral stripes and tortoiseshell sunglasses is a winning combination for accessories.
In warmer months, ditch the blazer entirely and wear a trench coat instead of a suit jacket. It is neater and more organized, making it ideal for the less formal workplace. Keep the shirt and tie combination classy; reserve the latter for muted colors and delicate patterns.
Coloured Trench Coats
The colored trench has become fashionable this season, despite the fact that tan, black, and navy are more typical outerwear hues. Raincoat yellows, forest green, and washed-burgundy are the main color blocks in this much more laid-back style, which is typically worn over all-black outfits to create a striking contrast with the drab urban environment.
The chic jacket, which comes in a sparkly shade, looks great layered over cropped pants, a shirt and sweater, or an unstructured blazer. To give the tailoring a streetwear edge, search for an oversized shape as well.
Belting Up Your Trench Coat
Think about your waistline for a moment. The built-in belt of the trench slims the waist for a tapered fit, adding a stylish finishing touch to a suit or roll neck. A little casual styling, like the Italians, is best. Take your time tying the belt and don’t be too meticulous. Instead, tie it in half at the front or twice, one on each side.
For purposeful styling that appears effortless in the summer, leave an inch or two between the jacket’s shoulders and tie the belt to the side. The last piece of advice is to pop the collar to reveal a built-in scarf and add some neck flare.
Sporty Trench Coats & Sneakers
If you didn’t already guess, the dress code for your trench will be determined by your trousers and, more importantly, your shoes. Sneakers and sportswear are now present. With styles like the retro runner and the white, low-cut trainer with perforations for a textural twist, this pair will get your trenchcoat moving.
Active-pants go best with colored sneakers, with joggers in jersey with a cuffed hem being the most obvious choice. However, elastane chinos and moisture-wicking wool pants are fashionable and useful options for people who don’t feel dressed unless they are wearing trousers.
The sporty look necessitates a fluid trench, worn open and carefree with the belt loosely knotted behind your back, ready to be wrapped up when the weather changes.
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Five Ways to Wear a Trench Coat
We list the most common ways to wear a trench coat.
1. Casual Way
One of the best things about trench coats is that they can be worn alone with just some basic layering underneath because of their light color and sharp double structure. An unstructured crewneck tee and a pair of straight-cut blue jeans are two of our go-to wardrobe staples. To best display these items, leave the trench open. The combined color wheel is understated but striking. A silk pocket square can be worn as a necktie to add a subtle touch of sophistication. If this look doesn’t appeal to you, you can tuck it into one of the pockets on your trench coat instead and let it hang loose. Add some Converse, and you’re done.
2. Summer Way
Look at Kim Jones’ SS20 collection at Dior for a summer styling tip on the trench coat. White outerwear was boldly paired with pastel tailoring and high-end combat boots, and the result was both fashionable and fresh. For the outfit pictured above, we went with a more understated approach: tuck a plain white vest under your statement trench into a pair of wide, high-waisted pants, and complete the ensemble with a pair of timeless slip-on sliders. The trench has two uses: when worn open, you can display your delicate jewelry and tonal layers, while when worn closed, you can highlight the trench’s impeccable collar.
3. Earthy Way
Even though beige is the obvious choice for a trench, a khaki design is equally as clever and pays sartorial respect to the trench’s military roots. Keep it buttoned while wearing to highlight the beautiful structure of this high-quality design from the London-based company Grenfell. Choose a denim shirt with the collar unbuttoned and pulled out for a subtle touch of pizzazz underneath to go with the earthy tones of the dress. Then, a pair of khaki-colored straight-cut white jeans and some suede desert-themed books.
4. Matrix Way
To anyone who tells you that head-to-toe black is boring, show them Keanu Reeves in The Matrix. He’s wearing a black T-shirt, black trousers, black leather belts, and a simple black trench coat on top of his tiny shades. He’s also wearing a pair of chunky black combat boots. Since then, we have become convinced that wearing lots of black and leather is the best option for exuding total carelessness. The best location to look for them? Of course, Bottega Veneta. Invest in the coat and boots, keep the styling simple and don’t forget the jet-black shades – we’ve suggested a funkier Prada pair so the look isn’t too obvious a reference.
5. Iconic Way
Some fashion icons can transform a wearable item of clothing into an essential component of style. For the trench coat, one was Alain Delon, whose role in Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1967 film Le Samouraï solidified the garment as a cool, reserved piece of armour. He wears it around equally classic layers: a crisp white shirt, skinny tie, slim-cut tailored trousers, leather brogues and, in true Samouraï style, a fedora. This type of ensemble, however, is the one that endures the test of time. The optional final piece is something we would definitely consider. For true movie-star style, make sure the trench coat is buttoned and belted.
Read More: How to Wear Combat Boots?
FAQs
Are Trench Coats Stylish for Men?
A trench coat is stylish and practical. It can be overwhelming to decide which style best suits you because there are so many different styles, materials, and colors to pick from.
What Pants to Wear With Trench Coat Men?
Additionally, navy trench coats go well with more relaxed looks. They look great with blue jeans and a shirt if it’s warm enough, or a sweater if it’s cooler. Alternately, you could wear white chinos in the spring for a lighter look or tan or grey chinos in the fall and winter to complement the jeans.
