While a classic beige trench might still be the safest bet for some, this autumn there’s a new contender to consider. Shiny trench coats of all kinds, whether glossy patent vinyl, polished leather or lustrous technical nylon, have become a favourite among the street-style set. We’re calling them the “anti-traditional trench” – a familiar silhouette with a decidedly less conventional finish.
’s pick of the best patent trench coats at a glance:
The first major outing for this iteration of the trench coat (at least in recent memory) came from Saint Laurent’s spring/summer 2026 runway, where Anthony Vaccarello reimagined the house’s signature rainwear in a kaleidoscope of high-shine colour. As ’s Sarah Mower wrote at the time: “Saint Laurent raincoat and day dress, classics of the house which once turned bourgeois, now redone in multiple shades of thin, slippery-looking body-clinging nylon, covered from neck to knee with quite obviously nothing much if anything underneath.”
The raincoats (of which there were many) came in rich aubergine, burgundy, olive and burnt orange, with varying hemlines and necklines that gave the familiar outerwear staple a more sensual feel. One look from the collection even found its way into Maya Jama wardrobe for the opening episode of the BBC’s .
Maya Jama wearing a shiny Saint Laurent raincoat for the opening episode of .
By the autumn/winter 2026 collections, high-shine trenches had become something of a recurring theme. Several houses opted for leather, arguably the most classic interpretation of the trend. At Bottega Veneta, Louise Trotter styled a tan version with an oversized, contrasting brown leather belt and matching warm-toned accessories, while Alberta Ferretti and Acne Studios kept things pared back with black leather belted iterations.
Burberry, the house synonymous with the trench coat, took a more experimental approach, sending crumpled silk and leather styles down the runway. Some, in shades of ivory, midnight blue and teal, featured gun flaps that fell into ruffles, softening the coat’s traditionally utilitarian lines. Tory Burch, meanwhile, used a high-shine black PVC trench to offset the tactile wool and liquid-satin separates that made up the rest of its collection. Sportmax rendered a similar style in cream, its glossy finish sitting harmoniously alongside the largely monochrome palette.
Tory Burch AW26.
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Sportmax AW26.
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Burberry AW26.
Launchmetrics.com/spotlightStyling an anti-traditional trench for yourself doesn’t require an entirely new approach to getting dressed in the morning, because the silhouette remains reassuringly familiar – a belted waist, storm flaps and generous lapels. But where a classic cotton gabardine trench feels quietly luxurious, a lacquered or leather finish will lend your outfits a little more personality.
With both luxury and more affordable options available now, there’s no need to invest in a runway piece to get on board; scroll on to discover our edit of the best anti-traditional trench coats to shop this season.
Shop shiny trench coats below…
Double-Breasted Belted Shell Trench Coat
