The Cotton Trench Is This Fall's Trendiest Lightweight Outerwear Option

When it comes to fall fashion, certain staple pieces continue to trend year after year, such as Burberry scarves and black turtlenecks. These essential pieces are versatile enough to be worn with various other items but are still consistently fashionable on their own. One of the hottest outerwear options for the upcoming fall season is the longline cotton trench coat. This piece is a fall essential that trends every year.

The trench coat was originally created for soldiers in World War I, who needed lightweight, functional, and waterproof outerwear. Today, trench coats are still functional for everyday use but also serve as a fashion statement. Instead of soldiers, we now see off-duty models like Kaia Gerber wearing them. Model Elsa Hosk even told Who What Wear that she "just got an extra-long, floor-sweeping oversize trench coat from Saint Laurent" to add to her 2023 wardrobe. The cotton trench coat is here to stay, with new and exciting ways to style it constantly appearing on our feeds.

One of the newest and coolest ways to style the essential cotton trench coat is by wearing it over an athleisure look. This can include a matching sweatsuit or leggings and a t-shirt, and has proven to be a contrasting style that will turn heads. It's both comfortable and fashion-forward thanks to the rise of upgraded athleisure, making it a great option for running errands in the cooler months.

For a more sophisticated way to style the cotton trench coat, tie it with a belt around the waist. This will cinch your waist, giving your outfit more shape and the appearance of a dress. This look is perfect to wear with heeled boots in the fall.

One of the most popular ways to style a cotton trench coat is to pair it with denim and a white t-shirt. Although it may seem like a basic look, Fashion and Style Edit describes the trench coat as the "floaty, relaxed, icing on the cake" when worn over a basic tee and jeans.

All-black outfits are similar to cotton trench coats in that they will never go out of style. So why not pair these two classics together? Throw a khaki cotton trench coat over your favorite all-black outfit to extend the minimalist look to your outerwear. While basic, it creates a chic and far-from-boring outfit.

Nothing says "classy" like draping a coat casually over your shoulders. This look is especially appealing when done with a cotton trench. On Instagram, fashion influencer @marilynbracks shows us how it should be done by casually draping a trench over her plaid pantsuit, creating a layered look like no other.