I’m a fashion expert – where to buy the best trench coats on the high street to keep you cool AND dry during April

TRENCH coats were designed to keep out the pesky rain, but are high-street styles fit for purpose?

Clemmie Fieldsend put seven through a brisk shower and model Karen Meryerhoff, 45, tells which kept her dry and which were damp squibs, rating them out of five.

£85, Next

Dan Wiliams

Karen says the Next trench coat definitely was shower-resistant and loved the browner colour[/caption]

KAREN says: “This one is definitely shower-resistant and doesn’t feel wet in the slightest.

“Water droplets were easy to brush off like the other resistant ones, but the fabric of this one feels softer to touch.

“Even though it’s the most expensive, it is a browner colour which gives it more of a unique and luxury look. Plus it keeps you dry.

DRY TIME: 0 mins

RATING: 4/5

£75, Marks & Spencer

Dan Wiliams

Karen’s favourite was the M&S trench coat which costs £75[/caption]

KAREN says: “This isn’t just any trench, this is an M&S trench. It’s quality.

“This is completely water-resistant – water just ran straight off the coat and nothing seeped through. It’s pricy, at £75, but it is the best.”

DRY TIME: 0

RATING: 5/5

£49.99, New Look

Dan Wiliams

New Look’s trench coat was drenched after the experiment[/caption]

KAREN says: “This trench was drenched after the experiment and water seeped through. It felt really cold and very wet.

“There’s no way that you could wear this in a downpour, it’s soaked through the pockets too!”

DRY TIME: 21 mins.

RATING: 1/5.

£65, Asos.com

Dan Wiliams

Asos’ trench coat feels thick but was wet through from the shower[/caption]

KAREN says: “I was surprised. This one feels really thick and like it would be really top-quality, but it’s wet through from the shower.

“I can feel water collecting around my wrist but the lining isn’t wet.”

DRY TIME: 17 mins

RATING: 2/5.

£42, Tu at Sainsbury’s

Dan Wiliams

Karen loved the leopard print lining of Tu at Sainsbury’s trench coat[/caption]

KAREN says: “I feel cold when this is wet but water didn’t soak through.

“The water runs off in droplets. But it didn’t bead off as well as on the M&S coat. I love the leopard print lining.”

DRY TIME: 5 mins.

RATING: 4/5.

£32, Primark

Dan Wiliams

Primark’s £32 trench coat was completely soaking after the experiment[/caption]

KAREN says: “Ooh that’s soaking. Everything is stuck together from the outside through to the lining, a bit like the inside of a damp tent.

“I feel cold and soggy, this isn’t showerproof at all. I wouldn’t want to be caught in even the slightest bit of rain in this.”

DRY TIME: 45 mins.

RATING: 0/5.

£34, George at Asda

Dan Wiliams

George at Asda’s trench coat felt damp – but wasn’t soaked through at all unlike Primark’s[/caption]

KAREN says: “The water beaded off this one, but it was still not as waterproof as M&S’s. It feels damp when I have it on but not soaking wet.

“The water pooled in the pocket but didn’t soak through at all.”

DRY TIME: 4 mins.

RATING: 3/5.