Different Types of Trench Coats for Men
Gone are the days when choosing a men’s trench coat was limited to one, and only brand. When the world of Trench was ruled over by a beige and flappy dictator.
In these more enlightened times, you can wrap yourself up in navy, check or forest green. You can choose a fully waterproof trench, a cord-style collar for a bit more texture, long or short, cropped or classic. The best ones hang properly too, with structure through the shoulders.
This is the golden age of the trench, and this is how to make sure you are living it.
Finding a Percival Trench Coat That Suits Your Needs
Trench coats aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some are built for storms, some for strutting, some for both. At Percival, each one’s got its own personality. Think of them as characters in your wardrobe cast… you just need to pick your lead.
Wilson Long Trench Coat
The long one. The Wilson gives you that classic trench coat length, with more coverage and a bit more drama when the weather turns. Easy over tailoring, knitwear or a shirt and tie, and long enough to make the walk from the station feel considerably more cinematic.
Sherlock Short Trench Coat
Shorter, sharper, and ready for everyday. Same waterproof wizardry as the Greyson, just cropped for on the move. Commuting, pub-hopping, or dodging rain in style. Sherlock’s your best mate with the emotional support. Comes in green, brown, cream, or navy, which is basically trench Pokémon. Collect your favourite, wear it daily.
Carter Cropped Trench Coat
The cropped option. The Carter takes the trench coat idea and trims it back into something shorter and punchier. A good shout with wider trousers, denim or anything where you want to keep the proportions clean without losing the trench detailing.
Minnesota Wool Overcoat
The classic Percival overcoat style. Cut from wool for extra warmth, with that structured, oversized feel that makes it easy to layer over knitwear, tailoring or both. Designed to carry you from cold mornings to winter nights without making you look like you’ve borrowed your dad’s coat.
Fit and Size
This depends on your personal style and where and how you are going to be wearing it.
If you’re going to be wearing it for its original purpose, digging trenches, you’ll want a snug fit, to stay warm and make sure it doesn’t get caught on shrapnel or guns.
If you’re wearing it to dig into a late brunch (See what i did there? Did you though?) then you can be a bit more casual. You should be able to move freely and comfortably in your Trench. You don’t want to look like the two guys who attack the strip club in Beverly Hills Cop One (I’m running out of references ok?), but you also want to be able to bend your arms.
If you’re still stood there staring at two sizes like they’ve personally offended you, the best advice is to come and try one on. Drop into one of our stores, have a look in the mirror, wave your arms about a bit and see what feels right. You can find your nearest one on our Store Locator.
How should a trench coat fit?
Put on ALL of your clothes, Joey Tribianni style, and see if your Trench glides smoothly over your arms. The trick to finding the perfect fit is to make sure you can layer underneath it. The Trench Coat is for all seasons, so you want to make sure it fits over your chunkiest jumper.
If you get it right, it will look light and breezy in summer. And you’ll avoid looking like The Hulk (specifically after he has hulked out if that was not clear) in the colder months.
How long should a trench coat be?
Whilst we’re not quite ready for the Trench Bolero, Men’s Trench Coats now come in all sorts of lengths. Long, slightly less long, and even short!
There is no right length for a trench coat, but you can choose one to flatter your body type i.e. tall or short. If you’re on the taller side, a shorter coat might make you look like, well, an adorable giant. If you’re on the Tom Cruise side of the height chart, go for a Trench that fits higher above the knee, with a closer fit. And a pair of platform heels, of course.
Are trench coats waterproof?
The trench was born in the rain, so yes, it knows how to deal with a downpour. Percival trenches are cut from a 10,000mm waterproof cotton bonded technical fabric with 2000g/sqm breathability, plus taped seams for added protection against wet weather.
Colour and Fabric
What colour trench coat is best?
We conducted a national survey amongst the several people in our office and the answers may shock you…
Beige may seem like the most obvious choice, but we got responses such as Forest Green, Midnight Navy, Espresso Brown and Stone Cream! Classic, neutral, earthy tones that complement any outfit.
Inspector Gadget would be turning in his grave (the extendable fist got him in the end).
What is the best material for a trench coat?
The original Trench Coat, created by, I want to say ‘Smurberry?,’was made from Garbadinem, a breathable fabric that ‘protected workers from the elements’.
Seeing as most of the elements you will encounter will probably be a slightly-too-high air con or a ‘nippy breeze’, you can be more flexible with your fabric choice. Choose from Italian cotton for Spring, water-resistant Italian cotton for literally any season, or wool for the winter months.
