The Barn Jacket - Trend Report

Whether catching the subway in SoHo or trekking through the Smoky Mountains, this heritage staple combines rustic charm with refined style to achieve a look both equally practical and timeless. The barn jacket, born in the early 20th century, became the epitome of American workwear due to its functional design to withstand the harsh weather and labor-intensive conditions of the agricultural industry. Once inspiration spread across the pond, it wasn’t the wheat and rye farmers adopting this look, but rather Britain’s elite. Immediately following paparazzi footage of Princess Diana on a royal visit to Castlebay, Scotland, in 1985, the press, and Pinterest, for that matter, cannot get enough of the army-green waxed-cotton jacket, finished with a plaid collar and large patch pockets.
Since the runway revival of the barn jacket in Prada and Loewe’s Spring 2024 collections, styled with uncanny amounts of fringe and leather accents, luxury fashion houses have been unable to produce enough of the farm-inspired minimalist design. From Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s “The Row” to Swedish quiet luxury brand “Toteme,” shoppers can find anything from a $2,990, 100% cotton variation of the jacket on Net-a-Porter, to a $69.99 cotton and polyester blend from the Gap. Since the look has trickled down from Parisian runways to fast-fashion racks in suburban America, it is arguable whether the barn jacket has reached the maturity stage of the fashion cycle. However, with luxury lifestyle brands like DÔEN and Jenni Kayne selling the barn jacket season after season, it’s starting to look less like a trend and more like the next denim or leather jacket. With that in mind, fashion forecasters expect the outerwear staple to be hung up in closets for decades, rather than a fad waiting to be resold on The RealReal.
With the vast shift toward sustainability initiatives in the global fashion industry, it is no surprise that consumers are gravitating toward the concept of investing in a high-quality, capsule wardrobe. Stemming from the resurgence of the quiet luxury trend, the capsule wardrobe has been on the rise since 2023, in response to the logo-heavy craze that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s. By purchasing fewer items from slow fashion brands and luxury vintage resellers, consumers are becoming more conscientious about their purchasing decisions, in addition to considering the level of functionality in what they wear. From the trench coat to the little black dress and the straight-leg jean, the barn jacket has become a non-negotiable for wardrobe stylists looking to maximize versatility in their clients’ closets. Beyond socio-cultural influences, Gen Z’s hyper-digital generation has begun to show interest in analog technologies such as film cameras and record players. This appreciation for a vintage feel has also influenced fashion consumerism, inspiring people to invest in story-rich pieces. Unlike fast-fashion pieces made from cheap, synthetic fabrics, the barn jacket’s waxed cotton canvas and cotton twill enable the garment to develop character over time. In essence, it’s much more than a simplistic outerwear staple, but rather a tangible record of the wearer, which will never go out of style.