Cotton safari jacket from Banana Republic

This first coat is on sale at Banana Republic.  It’s a short sleeve short white trench.  It is so cute and you can wear it all summer and straight into the fall.  You can pair it with a cute little belt around the waist like this image or you can wear it alone.  You can also wear it with a cute mini skirt.  The white is such a great summer color and matches almost everything.  I like wearing it over jeans and a longer tank top (preferably in a bright color like fuschia or yellow).  It used to be $90.00, but is now on sale for $59.99.

Soia & Kyo Tulip Hem Coat from Nordstrom

When I went over to Nordstrom.com, I found so many trench coats on sale!  The designs are so cute and classic.  This first one is in black and it’s the Soia & Kyo Tulip Hem Coat.  It’s marked down from $225 to $139.90 – a great deal!  The oversized collar is adorable and the sleeves have a tulip effect.  It’s only one button which makes it very sleek, but I love how the buttons are off to the side giving it a really slim, but elegant look.  The belt in the middle is great since you can tighten and loosen it for different effects.  Oh, one other thing, is it me or does the girl look like a young Katie Holmes?

William Rast Belted Trench Coat from Nordstrom

This next one I found is so cute.  It’s the William Rast Belted Trench Coat in tan.  The bottom of the coat flows out like a skirt.  I tried it on and had on shorts underneath and it looked so cute!  Kind of like a trench dress.  It’s double breasted with a really cute belt that you can tie in front instead of belt at the waist.  I love this look because it’s casual, but still a little dressy.  You can dress it down with casual jeans or dress it up with black tights and heels.  It used to be $436, but now it’s only $259.90.  Although it’s a bit trendier, it will stay in style for awhile.

Weatherproof trench from Nordstrom

This final one is so cute and completely weatherproof.  It’s a pearly, transclucent color.  No buttons, just a snap closure, it is a shorter coat, but so fun.  It’s a great casual spring, fall or summer coat, especially if you live in an area with summer rains.  It was $118, but is now on sale for $78.90.  A great deal!

I found a lot of other trench coats on sale that I’ll share with you soon so start looking around and send me any great ones you’ve found.

Knee length trench coat

Knee length – Knee length trench coats are the most common kind sold, if you’re looking for something long.  A knee length one will usually hit around the knee, although if you are a bit taller or shorter, that length will change.  The knee length coat is very flattering as it allows you to show a bit of leg, but not too much.  It also has a great silhouette since it belts at the waist and then flows out from there, similar to a dress.  The coat is very slimming and you can match it with many different things, from dresses to pants to leggings to boots. 

Calf length – Calf length trench coats are very rare, although they are sold by some designers.  These basically fall below the knee but above the ankle.  They are good if you want the full coverage of a full length coat, but don’t want the trouble of the coat dragging around or hitting your shoes.

Full length to the floor – Full length trench coats that hit the floor are oftentimes hard to find.  Designers tend not to make as many and not as many women look for these.  On top of that, unless you are the standard 5’6’’ height that designers tend to make clothes for, the coat will be way too long on you.  If you are taller than 5’6’’, the coat may tend to hit your calves and you will end up with more of a calf length coat.  If you are looking for a full length coat, make sure you are prepared to be patient and are ready to shop around for awhile.

Trench coat dress

Trench coat dress – Most recently seen on stars like Katie Holmes, trench coat dresses are the perfect new trench coat style.  Basically, they are fitted like a regular trench coat above your waist, but then flare out from the belt on.  The flare is just like a dress, and the woman ends up looking very chic and feminine.  This style can be more forgiving for women with larger bottom halves since the flare disguises the butt and hips.  This coat is also really fun to wear since it is a whole outfit in and of itself.  You might not want to take off your coat if you find a great trench coat dress that fits you well.

Full length trench

If you are shopping for a full length trench coat, look around and know your price point.  These items range from $50 to $1000 and up for designer made coats.  They also come in leather, which will cost you a lot more.  However, the price you pay for the coat is definitely worth the value.  The coat will last you many seasons and will allow you to protect all of your clothing underneath.  It’s long, sleek style is also very lightweight, providing something easier to move around and maneuver in when you face harsher weather conditions.  A trench coat also makes a statement.  When you walk into a room in a trench coat, there is an air of mystery that surrounds you since nobody can tell what you are wearing underneath.  When you take off the coat, you provide your audience with a definite surprise.

Full length trench

The best time to shop for a full length trench coat is at the beginning of Spring or actually at the end of Spring, right when the summer fashions roll in.  If you need the coat right away, you may not be able to afford to wait until after the season is over.  However, if you don’t need the coat right away and you can make do, then you will find some fantastic bargains at the end of the Spring season.  Even better, since full length trench coats rarely go out of style, the purchase you make one year, will last you through the next year and the next 10 years.  Very rarely does the full length trench coat style change since it is already a unique pattern.  If you want one that is long-lasting, look for a simple one with a solid color pattern.  Black or tan are the usual colors, although some women opt for brighter colors.  Be careful of the brighter colors since you may not like that color the next year.

A full length trench coat is meant to last for a long time so shop carefully and browse through multiple stores before you make the big decision to buy.

Below is a list of great places to shop for a full length trench coat:

shopping for trenches

Overstock.com:  This site has tons of trench coats in different styles, colors and sizes.  It is an outlet so you will see a lot of different brands come through.  Snatch up the item quickly if you are interested because the items cycle through pretty fast.  Prices range from less than $50 to over $100.

Burberry:  This traditional store is a flagship of the trench coat.  Worn by many famous movie characters, Burberry trench coats are durable and long lasting.  Every detail of the coat is carefully laid out creating a fantastic silhouette for everyone who wears one.  You will pay a bit more for a Burberry trench, starting from approx. $600 to more than $1000, but the price you pay will be worth it.  These coats are timeless and will last you decades.

Nordstrom:  This store carries many different stylish trench coats.  If you are looking for something more trendy and fitted, try this famous department store.  Known for its quality and excellent customer service, Nordstrom is a fabulous place to shop online and offline.  Their trench coats come in a lot more colors and styles and many of the latest designers have made some excellent trench coats that are sold here.

Brooks Brothers:  This very distinguished store carries a number of conservative and classic trench coats.  Prices range from $200 to $700.  Styles are perfect for wearing to the office and wearing over suits.  There are some fantastic trench coats for men and women.  A Brooks Brothers trench coat makes a definite statement.

Spiegel:  This mostly online and catalog store carries some excellent trench coats for a low price.  Prices are around $100.  Trenches are stylish and made of good material.  The store carries mostly women’s trench coats.

Other department stores:  Most department stores will have a general coat area that you can take a look at both online and offline.  Be sure to check that area if you are looking for a trench coat.  Sometimes, the trench may just be labeled as a regular coat since the trench is a style that you will be looking for.

Other boutiques:  Almost every designer will make a few trench coats to display each Spring season.  If you are looking for a trench, time it right and check out what has come out for that season.

Audrey Hepburn in trench coat

Trench coats have been used to distinguish particular characters in movies, TV, comics and other famous figures. One of the most famous figures was Humphrey Bogart’s hero character in Casablanca. He wore a Burberry trench coat throughout the movie as did Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Starting from these famous characters, trench coats have been chosen by wardrobe designers to really make a statement about the character and to really make them stand out from other characters in the story line.

Long black trench coat from the Matrix

More often than not, full length trench coats are worn by hero characters that carry large weapons, mainly guns. The long coat allows the character to easily conceal their weapons and to carry any weapon they wish. The immortals in the Highlander series usually wore long trenches to easily conceal their knives. One of the most famous characters who wore a trench coat was Keanu Reeves in The Matrix. Him, and the other 2 key characters wore long leather black trench coats that distinguished themselves from other people in the world they moved in. The long black trench coat that Keanu Reeves wore was used in some amazing special effects as he moved and fought the enemy. After the Matrix series, the black leather trench coat made a definite come back in contemporary fashion.

On TV, many famous characters wore trench coats. In the TV series, X-Files, both Fox Mulder and Dana Scully were known for frequently wearing different trench coats as they worked. The vampire Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer as well as the vampire Angel in the Angel series, both wore trench coats to define themselves. Wardrobe designers cleverly used these trench coats as symbols of the long history of vampires, since vampires don’t age and live for a very long time. Because the trench coat has been around for more than a century, this piece of clothing could have easily been worn in the past as well as the present. Finally, one of the most famous current series, Heroes, had Peter Petrelli, a hero, wearing a white trench coat throughout the first season, while his nemesis Sylar wore a black trench coat. This showed the good versus evil of the two characters.

The long trench coat is a great way for characters to define themselves. It is a very sleek look and gives the character something defining, especially if they don’t have a superhero outfit to change into. The trench coat seems to have become the next best superhero outfit since it still allows the character to blend in, but also makes the character stand out.

Full Length Trench Coat Pros / Short trench coat cons

Long trench coat

1. Full protection:  A full length trench coat provides maximum protection for the wind, rain and any other harsh weather conditions.  Since it is so long, it will protect your pants and tights and you will remain warmer and more dry in one that is long.  Since a short trench coat is exactly that, you will find that your jeans, leggings and tights may become a lot more weathered than if you wear a full length one.

2. A full length coat covers your entire outfit.  If you are trying to run out to the store to buy something quickly and don’t want anyone to see your pajamas underneath, the full length trench coat provides the best protection for that.  A shorter coat will show all, at least everything below the waist.

3. A full length trench coat is something you will use forever.  Whether you are in your 20’s or in your 50’s, the trench coat is a fashion accessory that you can wear again and again.  The same can be said about the short trench coat, however, usually, manufacturers and designers make the short coats much more trendy so you may not want to wear it for longer than a few years.  The full length coat is much more classic and traditional and rarely changes from season to season.

Short Trench Coat Pros / Full length trench coat cons

Short trench coat

1. A short trench coat is a lot more lightweight.  It is easy to carry around with you just in case the weather changes on short notice.  On the otherhand, a full length trench coat is a lot heavier because of the length.  To carry around this coat requires more room and space.

2. A short trench coat becomes part of your outfit.  You can match it with most items such as knee length boots, skinny jeans, trousers, and other outfits.  On the reverse, a full length coat covers your entire outfit and nobody can see what you are wearing underneath.

3. A short trench coat is cheaper and therefore not as much as an investment.  You can buy these freely, knowing that you haven’t spent an arm and a leg.  A full length one is usually much more expensive and harder to find.