admin Let’s get real for a second: everyone loves a trench. From the enduring luxury of a Burberry Kensington to something a little more sleek and simple, the allure of a hearty trench is hard to resist, especially given this year’s well-established rep for metrological unpredictability. In fact, the coat racks at GQ HQ are positively inundated with the silhouette almost year-round…but what’s caught our eye this season?
At $360, Percival’s Sherlock trench coat is quite simply an investment that just keeps paying dividends. This piece is waterproof, weather-proof and lightweight, providing a subtle but durable barrier between you and the elements. Of his design, Percival co-founder Chris Gove says, “The ‘Sherlock’ came about from trying to create a perfect trans-seasonal offering. I was thinking, can we create the everyday essential to last all year, for all situations?”
Where the traditional trench is rich with old-school flair, Percival’s take is defined by its simplicity. Cut with a fuss-free, single-breasted silhouette, it boasts a straight line of buttons and a clean, mod-like shape. Gove himself says, “Classic trench designs have a few bells and whistles left over from Victorian and military history. I stripped them all off and found a fabric that is unlined and bonded so there’s no bagged outlining, but still remains waterproof, ready for a couple of hours in the city rain.”
Despite its sleek design, however, the Sherlock plays host to some rather major storage, with a huge internal pocket capable of storing a 13-inch MacBook—or, as Gove stresses, a few bottles of red depending on your priorities. So, while the Sherlock might be named after the famed character that brought Benedict Cumberbatch to our screens, you don’t need masterful observational skills to spot that it’s a pretty slick piece of work.
But, the final (and arguably most important) question is, of course, how does one style it? There are two schools of thought here. The first is to lean into the piece’s neutrality and smart-casual feel, reaching for rich earth tones and straight silhouettes, finishing your fit with a polished pair of round-toe brogues. The other is one of more eccentricity, where the Sherlock’s minimalism is used to ground patterned polos, wide-leg trousers, and flashes of retro-inspired, heavy-chain jewelry.
Gove himself advises, “I’ve been pairing the tan or watcher check colorways with either cotton or toweling polo shirts for that sort of ‘Riviera, but make it London’ vibe.” It’s a big yes from us.
As if the list of approvals couldn’t get any longer, there’s one more crucial point that sends this demonstrably perfect coat to the next level. It’s well worth its $360 price point, no question. But the timeless tan colorway is currently on sale for just $250. And wait…there’s more!
For a few more hours, Percival’s letting you snatch a gaggle of colorways for a full 50% off. You get a lightweight, waterproof, perfectly tailored coat for just $180. The only catch is you have to enter through this secret door with a password. Sign up for the newsletter to get the code, or you can sneak in and enter SHERLOCK instead.
Shhh, you didn’t hear it from us!
This story was originally published on British GQ with the headline, “Percival’s ‘Sherlock’ trench coat: The Case of the Perfect Spring Layer”.
