Glastonbury may be done until 2027, but the barn jacket offers up transitional outerwear that transcends the great British festival.
There’s something exceedingly reassuring (and oh-so British) about the barn jacket. Originally designed to shield farmers from biting winds and the occasional disgruntled ewe, the barn jacket has since migrated far from its utilitarian roots.
Now, it occupies a curious place in the fashion ecosystem: rugged but refined, nostalgic yet oddly current. It’s the jacket that says, “I know how to fix a fence”, even if your idea of rural labour is carrying firewood from the car into the Airbnb.
Unlike the chore coat, often realised in a bright cobalt blue and reminiscent of the historical French Bleu de Travail developed following the Industrial Revolution, the barn jacket is a countryside staple – not a factory one. Should you stumble across another soul in the rolling hills during the colder months, we’d bet good money that your local farmers will be sporting the classic style.
The sartorial set has borrowed from utilitarian, vocational fashion for decades – the barn jacket is just one such example. Maybe it’s the waxed canvas, which wears down beautifully to provide a perfectly weathered look, or the corduroy collar, turned up just so, hinting at both pastoral credibility and a knowing sense of style.
Either way, when the air crisps and the pavements glisten with drizzle, this countryside staple feels like the only appropriate outerwear choice, whether you’re navigating Borough Market or an actual field.
This autumn, designers have leaned into the charm of the barn jacket with fresh vigour. Think classic silhouettes updated in surprising fabrics: quilted nylons, organic waxed cottons, even vegan leathers for those who prefer their heritage with a side of innovation. The colours remain satisfyingly earthy, though a few brands have dared to flirt with more vibrant hues.
Whether you’re layering over a rollneck for a pub garden lunch or pairing it with tailored trousers and boots for a city commute that involves precisely zero livestock, the barn jacket is proving its worth all over again.
Below, we round up the best of the season: jackets that nod to tradition without being shackled by it. Because if you're going to brave the British autumn, you might as well look the part.
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Aligne Oak Cord Collar Barn Coat
Relaxed and oversized, just as all barn jackets should be, we love this option from Aligne, cut from organic cotton. The corduroy collar is slightly different to most thanks to its subtly shirred finish, and the double-entry side patch pockets are brilliantly utilitarian.
Buy now £189.00, Aligne
Gant Waxed Cotton Barn Jacket
When it comes to preppy, countryside-inspired sartorial flair, Gant is quite the expert. This classic waxed barn jacket is an investment in longevity, so long as you take proper care of it and ensure you re-wax it every season. The dark, moss green colour is universally flattering, and the corduroy detailing on the collar and cuffs is particularly aesthetically pleasing.
Buy now £229.00, Gant
Miu Miu Cotton gabardine blouson jacket
Miuccia Prada has proven herself as an admirer of the barn jacket with the style featuring in both Prada’s spring/summer 2024 collection as well as that of Miu Miu. This blouson jacket comes from the creative director’s menswear range but can be worn by all. Logo lovers will appreciate the Miu Miu embroidery at the chest.
Buy now £2700.00, MyTheresa
We The Free Denim Barn Coat
Featuring satisfyingly clunky fireman-style hardware, buttoned pockets and a corduroy collar, you can’t go wrong with this vintage-inspired barn coat from Free People’s We the Free collection. It’s also complete with dropped shoulders for an in-vogue oversized silhouette, and a back pleat to add an extra bit of flair.
Though available in a variety of hues, we can see this turmeric/mustard colourway becoming wildly popular this season.
Buy now £158.00, Free People
Barbour Annandale Quilted Jacket
Master of English outerwear, Barbour has become synonymous with countryside fashion. Utilitarian and wonderfully stylish, the brand may be best known for its weatherproof waxed jacket offering, but it’s also home to a selection of contemporary quilted options which embrace casual riding-style silhouettes.
The Annandale Quilted Jacket combines an ever-so-slightly feminine cut with a boxy finish for supreme comfort. It’s available in navy and olive and has a lovely corduroy collar.
Buy now £119.00, ASOS
Ganni Camel Twill Midi Jacket
Complete with the exaggerated lapels that Ganni is so beloved for, this extra oversized barn jacket from the cult Scandinavian fashion house also features extra-large front pockets for keeping your mitts warm during colder months, as well as a contrasting collar and a stitched leather label.
Buy now £365.00, Ganni
Nobody’s Child Camel Barn Coat
We love that this barn coat from Nobody’s Child has a slightly olive-toned camel hue, which helps to bring warmth to the autumn and winter months. It’s equipped with an adjustable funnel tab collar to keep cold wind out, has extra-long sleeves that can be rolled up for a stylish twist, big side pockets and a concealed zip and popper fastening duo. The soft corduroy detailing makes this an instant must-have.
Buy now £135.00, Nobody’s Child
A&F Mid-Length Waxed Barn Jacket
There’s something inherently North American about plaid, and we’re certainly not complaining. Embrace your inner stateside farmer with this waxed barn jacket from Abercrombie & Fitch, made from 100 per cent cotton with a fold-down cord collar and front patch pockets.
Buy now £115.00, A&F
New Look Stone Contrast Collar Midi Barn Jacket
For the days you're not sure quite what the weather has in store, you'll be pleased to have New Look's cotton barn jacket hanging on your coat rack. The stone coloured woven design comes with a contrast collar and three practical pockets, two of which are large enough to stuff in a compact brolly.
Buy now £49.99, New Look
H&M Corduroy-collar jacket
A versatile take on the barn jacket with a Harrington-style silhouette, this autumn-ready outerwear staple is made with a cotton Oxford weave and features a stylish corduroy collar. The dropped shoulders give it a boxy, slightly masculine feel, while the adjustable press-stud fastenings at the cuffs allow for some customisation. Due to its naturally oversized fit, H&M recommends sizing down.
Buy now £44.99, H&M
