9 Trenchantly yours

The trench coat, long the most useful wardrobe item imaginable for those of us who reside in this green and pleasant – for which read “rainy” – land, is now bang on trend, as demonstrated by its appearance on catwalks as diverse as alexander mcQueen and Céline this season. You can play it straight down the line, with a classic take that your mother would wear. Or you can go for a new-generation tweak via a bright colour or some fresh detailing. This cunning two-piece from Benetton appears to fall into the former category but is definitively in the latter, breaking down into a separate sleeved jacket and sleeveless coat. Beyond practical. £119, benetton.com