Beat the In-Between Weather in a Trench Coat
The in-between days are always the hardest to dress for. Not cold enough for your heaviest layers, but cool enough that leaving the house without something over your outfit is a mistake you'll regret by 11am. That's where a new trench coat does its best work.
Our range gives you two ways to tackle it. There's an oversized silhouette for the days that stay cold, and a cropped style for the in-between moments when you need something a little lighter.
What Is a Trench Coat?
The trench coat started as military outerwear in World War I, designed for British officers in the early 20th century. Think lapels, a double-breasted front, and a belted or tied waist. From the trenches to the streets, it made the crossover and never looked back.
Over 100 years later, the women's trench coat is still having its moment. You'll find it across longline cuts, single-breasted versions, and cropped trench jacket styles, but the core functionality never changed. We've been dressing Australian women since 1948, and we know a timeless layer when we see one.
Does a Trench Coat Suit Every Body Type?
The short answer is yes. The cropped trench coat sits at the waist and elongates the legs, making it a natural pick for petite frames. Oversized silhouettes add relaxed structure and work across most builds, with proportions doing the heavy lifting.
Ours covers both silhouettes. Our oversized trench coat ties at the waist for shape on demand, and the short trench coat style layers over high-waisted bottoms for a longer, cleaner line. Sizes run from 4 to 18, and our What's My Size? tool is there if you need it.
Can You Wear a Trench Coat Year-Round in Australia?
Year-round? That's basically what it's made for. The trench coat is the original trans-seasonal layering piece, built for Australia's variable conditions: cool mornings, warm arvo, and the cool change that sneaks in without warning. It doesn't carry the bulk of faux fur or wool coats.
Our cropped trench in a 66% cotton, 34% polyester blend breathes well in the warmer months. Our 100% polyester oversized trench keeps things warm on the colder days. That cotton is Better Cotton sourced, which you won't find in every standard khaki and funnel neck style out there.
What To Look For When Buying a Trench Coat
When buying a trench coat, two things matter most: silhouette and fabric. Get both right and the decision gets a lot simpler. It helps to start with a B Corp certified brand like Sportsgirl, where those standards come built in.
Four things worth checking before you commit:
1. Cropped styles work for clean proportions, oversized cuts layer well and add relaxed volume, and mid-length is widely available in the market if you want more coverage.
2. Cotton blends breathe better, while polyester holds warmth and keeps its structure longer.
3. A waist tie adjusts your shape on demand, while a button front sits relaxed and open.
4. Make sure there's room to layer knitwear underneath without the coat pulling.
How To Style a Trench Coat for Different Occasions
Trench coat styling works across your whole week without much effort. From casual weekends to the office to after-hours plans, it's the kind of layer that earns its keep.
Five ways to make it work:
1. Throw it over t-shirts and jeans with sneakers for an easy off-duty look.
2. Pair with tailored pants and ankle boots for a polished workday outfit.
3. Layer over mini skirts and heeled boots for something after-hours.
4. Wear it open over knitwear for an easy layered look with added texture.
5. Style co-ords underneath for an instantly coordinated look that does all the work.
Find Your Next Go-To Layer at Sportsgirl
Shop now to browse new arrivals and best sellers, saving anything you love to your wishlist as you go. When you're ready to buy, orders over $100 get free delivery after any promotions are applied, with Afterpay at checkout to spread the cost.
Click & Collect is also available at selected stores, and you've got 30 days to return in-store or online if you change your mind. Gift cards are available, too, if you're picking up a layer for someone else.
Go on, add it to the bag.