Is a Burberry trench coat really worth it? This was a question running through my mind when I first visited Burberry’s flagship store on Regent Street in London’s West End. I entered the store and made a beeline straight to the trench coats, flipped over the tag and saw the price, four digits! My jaw dropped, I nearly fell over. I knew they were pricey but surely not that expensive? I have wanted the perfect trench coat for as long as I can remember. It is the wet weather garment of choice of celebrities and Londoners alike. As much as I have wanted one for so long, it is hard to justify a multi-thousand dollar coat purchase. Let’s talk about why the Burberry Trench coat is worth it…
Is the Burberry Trench Coat an Investment Piece?
The fashion industry loves to talk about “investment pieces”. A Rolex timepiece, a Hermès handbag, Manolo Blahnik pumps — in other words, pricey items that either depreciate at a snail’s pace or increase in value over time. The Burberry brand started in 1856 and developed their first cotton Gabardine Burberry trench coat in 1890. It is safe to say the iconic Burberry trench coat has quite a formidable heritage. A quick Google of ‘Vintage Burberry trench coat’ will yield hundreds of vintage trench coats for sale. Many of the coats from specific eras fetch hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Now look around your closet and find me another garment you own that will do that…I’ll wait.
What can I wear it with?
When I first considered buying the perfect Burberry trench it wasn’t a purchase that happened on the fly. It was carefully thought out, curated, and I made sure I could wear it with at least 987 different outfits before I made the investment.
Originally, the trench coat was manufactured and issued to British soldiers during the many wars of the 1900’s. It’s smart, yet practical design means it can compliment both formal and informal attire. Whether you’re headed into the office or out for brunch with friends, you’ll be hard pressed to make it look out of place. If your social calendar is more up and down than a ride at Disneyland then a classic trench is all you need. Hear me out. You can always wear it to work, no matter your profession a trench coat always elevates your look. You can wear it to the supermarket when you need a quick fix of Ben & Jerry’s, throw it over your PJs and no one will know. Or wear it over a sleek dress on date night and look high class and effortless. The options are endless.
Is the Burberry Trench Coat Waterproof?
The Burberry Heritage trench coats are water-repellent, which is a little different from waterproof. They are made from tightly woven water-repellent cotton Gabardine fibres which repel water in a similar way to duck feathers. When rain or water hits the fabric it tends to roll straight off instead of soaking in. I live in London, and as any Londoner knows, the weather is temperamental. There is rain on a weekly if not daily basis. With this raincoat, I’m protected from any sudden downpours. It is lightweight and breathable enough where I can layer under it or just wear it over a summer dress. It really fits with my wardrobe all year round. If it was good enough for the British military during wartime, it should be good enough for your lunchtime stroll through Borough Market.
What is the Fit Like?
I am lucky enough to be living in London, the home of the Burberry flagship store on Regent Street. The service is outstanding and the staff know everything there is to know about these iconic trench coats. After spending a good hour trying on all of the various sizes, lengths and colours I found the one. I opted for The Long Kensington Heritage Coat in Black. This one suited my body the best and of course, I loved the all black look to the coat. I found the sleeves were a little on the long side for me, which the staff said is rather common. Thankfully, Burberry offer a complimentary in-store alterations and tailoring service. They made all the necessary changes to my coat. After they were complete the coat fitted perfectly.
How to wear the Burberry Trench coat
These are a few helpful tips for getting the look right when wearing the Burberry trench coat.
How to Correctly Tie the Burberry Trench Coat
Tying the belt conventionally is a no-no. This is an equivalent faux pas as a gentleman buttoning up all the buttons on his suit jacket. Always tie the belt off to the side in a bow. If you are planning to wear the trench coat open, simply tie the two ends of the belt in a bow at the back. Firstly, tying the belt makes it much easier to get in and out of the coat. Secondly you can cinch the belt tighter for a more figure hugging look.
Regardless of how you choose to wear the belt, please remember to tie off your belt. The belt falls out of the loops very easily and you will lose it.
Tuck Your Scarf Into Your Belt
Pop your collar, throw your scarf around your neck and then tie the remainder of the scarf underneath your belt. Thankfully there is a video to help describe this tip.
Avoid Using the Top Clasp
Unless you are in a category five hurricane, you’ll almost never need to button up the jacket all the way. In all my time owning a Burberry trench coat I have never used this clasp.
Pop Your Collar
In colder, windier weather you’ll want to pop your collar for sure. The added advantage is everyone will see the iconic Burberry tartan hidden underneath.
Fold Back the Lapels and Roll up Your Sleeves in Warmer Weather
There are a few button holes running down the coat which will allow you to fold the lapels back on themselves. This will keep them from flopping all over the place when you choose to wear the coat open.
In Summary: Is the Burberry trench coat REALLY worth it?
The coat I ended up buying starts at over $2000 and it is hard to justify that kind of cost for one coat. That said, below I have summed up my thoughts into why you should get this coat.
Firstly, The Burberry trench coat is a timeless classic which has been made in England to this day. It isn’t an expensive single-season fad that will end up living in the back of your closet. It is a true investment piece, because you will get more wear out of it than other coats you own. Much with any investment, Burberry offer exceptional aftercare services. Apart from their tailoring service, Burberry offer a reproofing treatment that helps maintain the waterproof characteristics of the coat. Additionally, Burberry offer repair services to help keep your coat in tip-top condition for years to come.
The fit and finish of the Burberry trench coat is exceptional and will never go unnoticed. You’re guaranteed to always look chic and put-together. As much as fashion is about how you feel in what you’re wearing, it’s always nice to receive compliments about your look, so expect compliments!
When was the last time you treated yourself? Or at least made a guilt-free purchase that you didn’t regret the second you put your credit card away. For the longest time, I just couldn’t justify spending so much on a coat and I would always opt for buying a similar style for $100 or less. Trust me, I have been there and I always opted for the cheaper option until I realized that this investment was actually worth it.
So how do you feel? Convinced you need to add a trench coat to your wardrobe? If you are convinced on purchasing a coat I cannot recommend the flagship Burberry store on Regent Street enough! Alternatively you can shop the look in the featured products below.
Photography: Dasol Min
Beautiful photos and I absolutely agree…a Burberry trench is totally worth the price tag! Mine is probably my favorite piece in my closet 🙂
Very beautiful. But I highly recommend one size down.
Thanks for the tip!
Thank you for your review and pics! How tall are you? I ask because this looks like the midi length to me. I was under the impression that long went past the knees/mid-calf. Also, is it true to size? Do you wish it had a hood for the heavy rain days? Thank you!
Hi Dana. I am 5’1. The coat falls to my knees. There are different lengths of coats, you can get longer ones. I like the coat that falls at my knees because it is appropriate for my height. Anything longer might make me look shorter than I already am. I use an umbrella for the heavy rain and I do not like hoods.