It’s the first day of spring (hallelujah!), and a key piece for me during this season (and beyond) is a trench coat. One of my first purchases when I graduated college was a trench coat, and I wore to no end. It’s the most effortlessly chic layer to throw on when it’s a little chilly or raining that instantly makes you look pulled together. It’s like a hero hanging in your closet just waiting to make your outfit look good, whether it’s a pencil skirt and blouse for the office or a tee, jeans and sneakers on days off.

Although it’s always been a classic, I’ve noticed that trench coats are really big this year, and brands are creating versions that have unique twists to them. From pattern play to interesting oversized shapes, there’s so much to choose from. I have a classic long trench coat that I recently got at H&M because I had worn the one I had for 10 years to death, but I think I may add a sheer or checked one to my closet, too. All of the trench coats below the photos in the post are under $100, and I made sure to provide both straight and plus size options for y’all (which I will be doing on the regular with any outfit post moving forward). Happy first day of spring!