The trench coat is kind of like retinol: a little goes a long way. The comparison might feel tenuous, but as a guy who loves the former and swears by the latter, the analogy rings true. When I slip on a trench coat, the jolt of energy is immediate; within seconds, I feel alive. Instead of smoothing out my wrinkles or jumpstarting my nervous system, though, the trench coat’s primary byproduct is even more tangible: an instant improvement in personal style.
Indulge my analogy for a moment longer, and you’ll notice other similarities, too. In 2025, the first names you think of when you picture the quintessential trench—OG standbys from Aquascutum, Burberry, or Mackintosh—are far from the only players in the game. So allow me to introduce the trench coat’s drugstore equivalent, the affordable alternative that packs a whole lot of value into an eerily similar-looking package: Madewell’s Italian twill riff.
It isn’t lost on me that we write about Madewell…frequently. Don’t get it twisted, though—this isn’t a boy-who-cried-good-clothes situation; Madewell’s trench is the real deal. The cotton-poly fabric—a blend that shares more in common with its vintage predecessors than its modern-day counterparts—is densely woven, comfortingly stiff, and drapes so cinematically it’d make Bogart blush. The silhouette is roomy enough to layer a thick sweater (plus a jacket!) underneath without veering into Balenciaga territory—though if that’s the vibe you’re chasing, size up for a Demna-adjacent fit.
The exterior is nice and all, but the unlined interior is where Madewell’s trench really earns its rate. Removing a lining might seem like a lazy way to spring-proof a coat, but the Madewell squad put in the effort to ensure that every seam is finished, bound, and felled. The result? A trench that not only looks as good on the outside as it does on the inside, but will also last way longer, too.
If all that jargon means squat to you, I’ll put it more simply: a coat that feels this luxe at any price—let alone less than $400—is a genuine rarity. (Rip out the tags, and I’d have guessed it was born in an airy European atelier.) I wouldn’t go so far as to call Madewell’s trench the, uh, CeraVe of the genre, but considering the goodwill that brand has accrued in the GQ offices, the comparison isn’t far off—or, come to think of it, remotely unflattering.
Photo: Bowen Fernie
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