I tried five high street trench coats and one was 'better than Burberry'
If there is one item of clothing every woman should have in their wardrobe, it’s a classic trench coat. Popularised by designer fashion brand Burberry, the classic cut and elegance of the humble trench is one that has stood the test of time and seen it become a wardrobe staple that has never - and will never - go out of style.
And while for decades shoppers have often had to fork out hundreds, if not thousands of pounds for a high quality jacket that fits well, looks great and lasts well, all of that could be about to change.
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High street fashion has come a long way in recent years, and designer inspired alternatives are finding themselves more and more accessible on the rails of our favourite stores. And after heading to , , , and , we’ve found a couple of options that could give Burberry’s iconic Mid-length Kensington Heritage Trench Coat a run for its money (£1,800, if you were wondering).
Ranging from £38 to £90, I tried on trench coat styles in the top affordable fashion retailers to see if any could deliver a high street rendition that rivals the luxury of high end designs - and some were much better than others. Here’s what I thought:
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Mirror Choice best high street trench coat -
Mirror Choice best high street trench coat - River IslandOf all the trenches I tried on in my quest for the best, . Their is the epitome of sophistication and elegance, with impressive features that make it feel that bit more luxurious, and worth spending the extra money on.
The coat came in the most expensive of the ones I tried, , which was £11 more than M&S and £52 more than Primark. But its quality, cut and the way it hung was far superior to the others.
The was stunning and makes it look a lot more premium to the ones cut closer to the knee. It offered a double breasted button fastening with blonde tortoise shell buttons that gave it some added glamour, as well as a buckled belt rather than a tie, which again just gives it a more high-end feel in comparison to others.
Its chic , as it’s not a design feature I’ve notice elsewhere, the sleeves were finished nicely with buttoned cuffs and the pockets are deep, meaning you can easily fit your phone, keys and essentials without necessarily needing a bag.
And finally, it fits like a dream. I chose my usual size, and it wasn’t bunched up around the belt like I found with Primark and New Look. It looked well tailored and the skirt portion fell beautifully with a slight drape to it - honestly, as someone who's been on the hunt for a vintage Burberry, I think this one is better.
Posting it to Instagram, commented: “Make 2024 the year you invest in the perfect trench coat,” and shoppers were quick to complement the piece, writing: “I’ve just tried the navy on in store” alongside a string of heart-eye emojis, with a second adding: “It’s gorgeous.”
After sharing a clip of all the trenches to my TikTok, commenters were all in agreeance that the River Island one looked the best, writing: “That Primark one is like a sack. River Island has nice details and shape.” Another added: “River Island, H&M or Primark - New Look one is not great.”
The River Island trench is
Best trench coat alternatives
Marks and Spencer Cotton Rich Belted Longline Trench Coat - £79While the River Island trench was my favourite, , if you wanted to replicate a more authentic designer look for less. Coming in at £79, it was the second most expensive, and actually, you’ll find that my order of preference was in almost entirely price descending order, suggesting that you do really get what you pay for with this style of coat on the high street.
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The is undeniably similar to the Burberry number, with a timeless double breasted front and full lining, with traditional features that nod to it’s more expensive predecessors, such as smart epaulettes on the shoulders, buttoned cuff straps and a detachable belt. And the attention to detail is frankly impeccable, with faux tortoiseshell buckle and buttons that give it an even more high end appearance.
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Again, this one had a buckle rather than a tie, and I never thought it would be a dealbreaker for me, but it does just elevate it that little bit more than a tie belt. I actually sized down for this and went for a size 8, but if I were to make the purchase I’d probably take my regular size in order to be able to fit a jumper underneath.
The cut of this one is also very straight, and if I were to be super picky, I’d have liked it a touch longer. But I was very impressed with the quality of the 98 per cent cotton material (River Island’s is 97 per cent), which could explain why both of these coats ranked highly.
If you’re looking to add some quiet luxury into your wardrobe in 2024 with a trench coat that’s both beautiful quality and well priced, you can pick up Marks and Spencer’s for £79 here.
H&M Double Breasted Trench Coat - £44.99An under £50 option I really liked was from H&M, who’s cream double breasted trench has proven so popular online that it’s sold out - but you can still
Costing comes in a relaxed fit with notched lapels and tortoise shell buttons. It looks incredibly smart and the lighter colour is gorgeous, but the only thing that let it down was the tie-front, having clearly been converted to a buckle girly. Additionally, it was 100 per cent polyester so didn’t have quite the same quality feel to the fabric as M&S and River Island’s picks - that said, it’s still a fantastic budget option.
New Look Camel Formal Belted Trench Coat - £49.99This looked great on the mannequin - but on me, not so much. For me, this take on a trench was too short and felt like it cut me off at the knee and made me look short. The darker camel colour doesn’t feel as lavish as the lighter cream options, and I wasn’t a fan of the tie belt or polyester material.
I did, however, really like the buttons and the tab shoulder detail, but sadly, I wouldn’t have spent almost £50 on it when H&M’s is cheaper and much nicer. Shop the
Primark Paula Echevarría Belted Trench Coat - £38I have a chocolate brown faux leather trench from that I wear to death, so I had high hopes for Primark. Part of influencer Paula Echevarría’s collection, this trench coat is one of the cheapest on the high street at under £40, but when I asked my Twitter followers in a blind test which looked the priciest, they reckoned it was one of the more expensive ones. For me, though, this coat was really lacking any detail, which is why it scored lowest in my findings.
It’s got the classic collar and long sleeves, but it has no buttons and a tie front, which made it feel like I was putting on a polyester dressing gown. As someone so kindly told me on TikTok, it ‘looks like a sack’ and I can’t help but agree. Details on the front of the jacket such as buttons may have prevented this, so sadly, this one won’t be finding its way into my wardrobe any time soon. That said, some of the other pieces in the collection are giving old money - there’s a striped knitted cardigan for £19 that looks , which in turn has been inspired by high end designers.
If you’re keen to add a trench to your coat collection - and I recommend you do - then it’s definitely worth investing in one that is high quality and that looks great. With trending pieces you can afford to spend a little less, but a trench is something that will be in your wardrobe for decades to come. After trying five different trenches on the high street, I’d certainly suggest opting for a cotton-rich material as the quality is unmatched to polyester. For me, the River Island one just ticked all the boxes. It’s under £100, the length is gorgeous, the fit is flattering, the quality is premium and the attention to detail was flawless. You can shop the
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