Look the business: Trenchcoats

For classy chic which can easily be thrown over a work suit you can't go wrong with a neutral trench. This one, from Next (£65), has been updated with a utility feel for extra fashion points Photograph: PR Photograph: guardian.co.uk A trench doesn't always have to be neutral – brighten up the new season with a pop of sky blue. This one is £160 from French Connection Photograph: PR Photograph: guardian.co.uk OK, so by its technical definition this isn't really a trench. But if military-style lapels make you feel too, well, manly, try this more elegant draped version for a spring coat. Reiss, £245 Photograph: PR Photograph: guardian.co.uk A cropped trenchcoat, like this one by Galliano at Christian Dior, looks super stylish and is a good choice for the more petite of us who are often drowned by the typical three-quarter length version … Photograph: Giovanni Giannoni/Christian Dior/Corbis Photograph: Giovanni Giannoni/guardian.co.uk … and here's one the high street made earlier: pick daffodil yellow to sing in spring. Cropped yellow trench: Oasis, £65 Photograph: PR Photograph: guardian.co.uk Guys can work the trench look too. Shrug one on and leave unbuttoned over a crisp shirt for a casual look as seen at Louis Vuitton … Photograph: ANTOINE_de_PARSEVAL/PR Photograph: ANTOINE_de_PARSEVAL/guardian.co.uk … or keep it neat with a fitted version, like this one from Topman (£70). Try knotting the belt for a touch of added nonchalance Photograph: PR Photograph: guardian.co.uk On the Celine catwalk the trenchcoat was worn sans belt, as a dress, in a slightly silky fabric to add a certain luxe quality … Photograph: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage/Getty Images Photograph: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/guardian.co.uk … a look you could mimic with Banana Republic's posh satin parka in midnight blue (£85). Teamed with stacked heels this could easily work as day wear in an informal office environment Photograph: PR Photograph: guardian.co.uk If you want to update your existing trenchcoat, add a thin knotted leather belt, as seen on the Burberry catwalk. Head to Uniqlo for the belt and you'll have a trench that's as good as new Photograph: Giovanni Giannoni/Burberry Prorsum/Corbis Photograph: Giovanni Giannoni/guardian.co.uk