Menswear is nothing without the military. Most staple pieces, from your suit to your T-shirts, have served time in the ranks before transitioning to civvy street. The trench coat is, unsurprisingly, no exception.

It found favour in the First World War, when soldiers sought something waterproof that wouldn’t weigh them down. In the ensuing century it’s become the go-to piece of outerwear for transitional weather, when you’re battling showers but it’s too warm for wool.

Yet staple needn’t mean samey. Look beyond the traditional double-breasted khaki trench to style yourself as an officer and a gentleman.

1. The Iconic Option

Burberry produced around half a million trench coats for British troops in the First World War. After veterans returned home still wearing them, founder Thomas Burberry recognised an opportunity to market them away from the front line as well. Though Aquascutum claim to have trumped him to the coat’s invention, it remains the checked brand’s most iconic piece.

Which means traditionalists should reach for Burberry’s timeless design, which has barely changed in the last century. Crafted from lightweight but waterproof gabardine, it’s double-breasted to keep weather at bay and boasts an oversized collar to protect against rain and epaulettes for displaying your rank – although simply owning this classic will do that job off the battlefield.

Image: Burberry

Get The Look

Sandringham Long Heritage Trench Coat, available at Burberry.

2. The Statement Option

It’s perverse in an actual trench, admittedly. But in the street style war, eye-catching outerwear is a potent weapon. With most men ditching colour as the evenings draw in, swapping khaki for burgundy or cobalt (last year’s big hitter, coming round for a second swing) ensures you stand out on a drab commute.

It also means your trench coat works for more than just keeping your suit dry. But the key to punching up your dressed-down outfits is veering muted elsewhere. Anchor bold colours with neutrals like black, grey and, of course, khaki, to prevent your outfit from becoming a form of psychological warfare.