2 min readTransitional weather calls for those just-right layers—and when it comes to the best spring jackets worth adding to your rotation, few are as quintessential (or as timeless) as the trench. Traditional khaki styles—Burberry’s being the most iconic—will always be classic, but this season, designers and brands are offering fresh twists that give the silhouette more range than ever. Think dramatic, chin-grazing necklines, billowing, royal-worthy shapes, and even delightfully vibrant patterns that deliver a much-needed serotonin jolt on predictably overcast days.
Ahead, the six top trench coat trends set to take center stage in your closet, inspired by the runways and today’s most stylish tastemakers.
Drop-Waist Delicacy
Spring’s answer to winter’s uber-cool drop-waist coat trend? The low-slung trench. Seen at Maison Margiela styled over an airy silk midi and at The Attico paired with a crisp button-down and pencil skirt, the silhouette feels undeniably of the moment.
Victoria Beckham Leather jacket
Now 30% Off
Maison Margiela Boxy Trench-Style Sports Jacket
Sandro Short Oversized Trench Coat
Mango Funnel Neck Trench With Belt
Funnel-Neck Forms
The trench is also getting the edgy funnel-neck treatment this season. The elevated neckline makes a statement on its own, but for something even more avant-garde, look to Chloé’s romantic gathered iteration or Tibi’s sleek asymmetrical take. (Pro tip: You can also simply pop your collar and button it up for a similar effect.)
Mango Oversized Funnel-Neck Trench With Belt
Zara Short High Neck Trench
Massimo Dutti Long Cotton Trench Coat
Chloe Gathered Cropped Cotton Canvas Jacket
Tibi Charles Menswear Trench Anorak
Cropped Cuts
For milder spring days that hint at summer, a cropped trench is the smartest piece to have in your arsenal. An elevated satin or eye-catching mixed-media version feels especially unique. And when light showers are in the forecast, Zara’s hooded water-repellent style strikes the perfect balance between aesthetic and function.
Favorite Daughter The Cropped Satin Charles Trench
Zara Short Water Repellant Trench Coat
Good American Cropped Trench
Manière De Voir Lelia Crop Trench Coat
Aritzia The Esquire Trench Coat
Lightweight Leather
Who said the leather trench only belongs in fall and winter? From Khaite’s feminine mid-length versions to Maison Margiela’s lightweight, body-skimming design, this season’s cropped options feel like the silhouette’s more daring, free-spirited sister.
Joe’s Jeans The Vegan Leather Long Coat
Mackage Carmela Snake Pattern Leather Trench
Reiss Bodie Petite Leather Cropped Trench Jacket
Aligne Aspen Leather Trench
Theory Cropped Trench in Sleek Leather
Now 41% Off
Playful Prints
For spring 2026, Burberry remixed its iconic tartan trench in a range of saturated hues, making it the ultimate head-turner. Whether you opt for punchy plaid, gingham, or a polka-dot motif, a bold patterned trench will instantly jazz up a neutral ensemble.
Lisa Says Gah Olson Caped Trench Coat Jacket
Eddy Melly Jacket x McKenzie DePinto
Damson Madder Anja Reversible Organic Cotton Trench Coat Jacket
& Other Stories Checked Buckle-Belt Trench Coat
Cascading Capes
Often defined by a sweeping silhouette and peplum-like shoulder details, the caped trench may just be the season’s most elegant iteration. Follow the Paris Fashion Week crowd’s lead and style yours the French-girl way: with black pumps, a matching handbag, and an effortlessly thrown-together bun that says “I woke up like this.”
Damson Madder Sofia Pleated Belted Trench Coat
Cos Cropped Trench Cape Coat
Beige Eugenia Trench Coat
Max Mara Water Repellent Gabardine Cloak
Karen Millen Cape Detail Trench Coat
Now 20% Off
Why Trust ELLE
Every product featured on ELLE.com is independently researched, tested, or editor-approved. We only recommend products that we stand behind, and the merchandise featured on our site is always driven by editorial and product testing standards, not by affiliate deals or advertising relationships. Any content created in partnership with advertisers is marked as such.