"The barn jacket, also referred to as a chore coat, is rearing its head as the top-trending outerwear of the fall 2024 season. The workwear-inspired jacket was seen on this season’s runways from brands like Fendi and Prada, and now, with fall rapidly approaching, brands are staking their claim on the barn jacket and releasing their own interpretations.
Beginning as early as the 1920s, brands like Carhartt, L.L.Bean, and J.Crew began to revolutionize the barn jacket and took it from a work essential to a closet mainstay. Over the years, barn jackets have been spotted on everyone from Kate Middleton to Bella Hadid, and now, they’re gearing up to take over the outerwear scene for fall 2024. Despite its reputation for being an casual, outdoors-y jacket, brands are modernizing the piece to give it a country-meets-city vibe that makes it seamlessly fit into a wide variety of style aesthetics.
As a proud city-slicker, I’ll admit that I almost dismissed the idea of a barn jacket entirely for fear that the barn was included with purchase, but once I saw designer’s elevated styling of the practical piece, I immediately retracted my statement and ran to my husband’s closet to see if I could pull off his old Barbour jacket.
We’re breaking down barn jacket styling inspiration, plus the best barn jackets to shop while you can still get your hands on one, beginning at $60.
How to Style a Barn Jacket
The Traditional Route
At the end of the day, this heritage style was created with durability and practicality in mind. So on the days when you don’t feel like sporting a runway-worthy ensemble, put its wearability factor to the test and try substituting your favorite blazer or bomber for a barn jacket. While the season’s forecasts predict some out-of-the-box styling for the piece, we know that one of the best ways to sport this workwear trend is to take it back to its roots with jeans, a white tee, and a pair of loafers. Bonus points for adding a striped button-down to the mix.
The Feminine Route
This image of Olympia Gayot, J.Crew’s Design and Creative Director, has lived rent-free in my mind since she posted it almost a year ago. The juxtaposed elements of this outfit show that you don’t need to pair barn jackets with exclusively casual ensembles. With a dress, kitten heels, and other personality-popping accessories, the barn jacket gives an unexpected element that results in a fashion-forward look.
The Colorful Route
The best way to complete an all-neutral look? Topping it off with a pop of color. As a norm-core staple, barn jackets typically come in neutral colorways, serving as the perfect base for an unexpected pop of your favorite saturated hue. Try pairing your barn jacket with a red sweater, or opt for more a subtle color addition by completing your look with a colorful pair of socks instead.
The Best Barn Jackets of 2024
Tinsley Crisp, Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer
Tinsley Crisp is a Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer at The Everygirl and specializes in reporting on the season’s latest trends and hottest products. As a New York City-based stylist, she’s committed to injecting joy into the art of getting dressed and delivering attainable yet aspirational content to our readers.