Memorable coats and the people who made them famous, from Rihanna to Queen Elizabeth

When it comes to iconic fashion moments, the coat has had more than its fair share of time in the spotlight. How else to explain the enduring appeal of the Burberry trench coat, which traces its roots back to 1879, the year gentleman’s outfitter Thomas Burberry created the breathable, waterproof fabric gabardine? Or any of the Michael Kors for Celine coats in The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), or Kate Hudson’s shearling coat in Almost Famous (2000)? The look remains eternal inspiration for wannabe Penny Lanes. Think too of Queen Elizabeth in waxed Barbour, the requisite uniform of the aristo country and the Glasto set.

The coat is central to many brands’ DNA – an idea as relevant to Max Mara’s camel-toned wool and cashmere 101801 coat, first debuted in 1981 and reimagined each season, as it is to the sculptural cocoons of Cristóbal Balenciaga.

The latter case is a shape that Demna referenced in his final couture show for the house in July. As he said at the time: “This collection is the perfect way for me to finish my decade at Balenciaga. I have come as close as possible to being satisfied in this endless pursuit of impossible perfection – the defining ethos of Cristóbal Balenciaga.”

Ah yes, the quest for the perfect coat, one many of us perennially find ourselves on. For Kay Barron, fashion director at Net-a-Porter, when it comes to finding such a coat, it’s hard to surpass the aforementioned Burberry trench.

“There are countless iconic coats, but the Burberry trench is of course the stand-out. It’s even more iconic now than when it launched over 100 years ago, and over the years, it’s been reimagined in leather, faux fur and cashmere,” she says. “It has been worn by everyone from Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s [1961] to Rihanna – solidifying its status as a cultural symbol.”

When it comes to famous coats, though, Barron says Gwyneth Paltrow’s as Margot Tenenbaum in Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) remains a favourite.

“Even though the film is nearly 25 years old, the outfit still feels relevant, and this is down to the abundance of faux fur coats on the autumn/winter 2025 runways, with major designers like Fendi, Gucci, Prada and Rabanne all embracing the trend,” she says.