Marks & Spencer launches ‘The Trench’ a £95 coat to rival Burberry – this is my honest opinion after trying both

Every spring, a trench coat inevitably becomes the coat everyone reaches for. This year, the spotlight has landed firmly on ‘The Trench’ from Marks & Spencer – and fashion fans are already calling it one of the best high-street finds of the season.

The reason? You get the timeless, polished trench look normally associated with luxury brands, but at a fraction of the price.

At first glance, it’s easy to see why the fashion influencers are obsessed. The design is classic in every sense of the word: a double-breasted front, a waist-cinching belt and traditional details like epaulettes and a storm flap. These heritage elements are exactly what make trench coats so enduring – and why this M&S version feels instantly familiar and expensive.  

Marks & Spencer ‘The Trench’

Made from 100% cotton with a full lining, the coat is designed in a flattering longline silhouette that works perfectly for transitional dressing. What’s more, it’s finished with Stormwear technology for shower resistance – perfect for the April showers. 

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But what’s really driving the buzz is how much it resembles one of fashion’s most iconic outerwear pieces: the Burberry trench coat.

Why everyone is saying it looks designer

If you’ve ever seen a classic Burberry trench – particularly the brand’s famous Kensington or Chelsea styles – the resemblance is hard to ignore.

© Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Burberry trenches are known for their heritage-inspired tailoring and military details: think epaulettes, storm flaps, cuff straps and a belted waist designed to create that signature hourglass silhouette. These elements date back to the coat’s origins in military outerwear and have become hallmarks of the design.

The M&S trench cleverly incorporates many of these same features. Like its luxury counterpart, it’s double-breasted with notched lapels, shoulder epaulettes and a waist belt that allows you to cinch the coat for shape. The longline cut also mirrors the elegant proportions seen in classic Burberry designs.

© Leanne Bayley

The biggest difference, of course, is the price. While a genuine Burberry trench can cost anywhere from £1,800 to over £2,000, the M&S version comes in at just £95, making it a far more accessible way to get the same timeless aesthetic. 

The Verdict

© Leanne Bayley

I’ve tried both – the Burberry trench and the M&S trench – and they’re both wonderful in their own special way. The beauty of this M&S trench lies in its simplicity. It isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel – instead, it leans into everything people love about the classic Burberry trench coat and delivers it at a high-street price.

It’s versatile, polished and incredibly easy to style. I like that you can also buy it in petite. I tried on the regular and it was a little long… but it definitely felt ‘cool’. I would stay true to size. 

I’d style a trench with wide-leg trousers and loafers for work, or throw it over leggings and trainers for a weekend coffee run. Either way, it instantly elevates whatever you’re wearing underneath. It will instantly make an outfit look more polished. 

It’s quite a heavy trench coat – and that’s not a bad thing. It retains its shape and doesn’t crease as much as lighter alternatives. 

If you’ve always dreamed of owning a Burberry-style trench, you might want to make the investment – they really do come back time and time again – and make the perfect transitional piece. But if you can’t justify the investment, this £95 Marks & Spencer version might just be the smartest fashion buy of the season.