If there’s one undeniable outerwear trend this fall, it’s the barn coat. The utilitarian style jacket has become a steady staple among the fashion set.
The barn jacket first emerged on the high-fashion runways at Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe Spring 2023 show, where the coat was reimagined as a cropped, peplum silhouette, shown in various shades of khaki, army green, and navy, and styled with floral minis and everyday trousers. The look appeared once more during Prada’s Spring 2024 show, on models clad in oversize barn jackets styled with eyelet-covered fringe skirts and sheer dresses. Today, contemporary labels from Toteme to the Row to Wales Bonner have reinterpreted the barn jacket, offering it in a variety of cuts, shapes, and colors.
The classic barn coat was first popularized in 19th-century France by laborers and farmers who prized the jacket for its durability during outdoor work. The jackets were known for their practical nature, featuring an exterior that could weather the elements. The coats were often made of a tough fabric, such as moleskin or twill, and covered in a waterproof wax coating for extra protection, while the collars were usually made of corduroy.
During the early 20th century, heritage labels such as Carhartt, Barbour, and L.L.Bean were among the first to introduce the barn jacket to a wider consumer audience. Despite its humble beginnings, the barn jacket has since taken a fashionable turn among royals like Kate Middleton, who has been spotted wearing the classic Barbour jacket on numerous occasions, while the barn coat’s resurgence can largely be credited to its recent appearances on the fashion runways.
Despite its utilitarian appeal, the humble barn jacket is a wardrobe staple in the making. Ahead, see six outfit formulas for how to style the look throughout the fall season and beyond.
1. The Heritage-Style Barn Jacket and the Floral Dress
Balance out the boxy, masculine shape of a barn coat with a feminine silhouette, like an autumnal floral dress. Style the look with a western boot and top it off with a crossbody bag for a day spent apple-picking this fall.
J.Crew Limited-Edition 1983 Heritage Barn Jacket
Dôen Rosalinda Floral-Print Organic Cotton-Blend Voile Midi Dress
COS Leather Riding Boots
Gucci Horsebit 1955 Mini Shoulder Bag
2. The Classic Barn Jacket With Dark Denim
A foolproof way to style your barn jacket is to pair it with your favorite jeans and a cozy scarf around your neck. Whether you’re headed out for a day of errands or looking for a quiet afternoon at the park, the look blends practicality with style.
Barbour Women’s Acorn Waxed Cotton Jacket
St. Agni Woven Mini Tote
Toteme Jacquard Monogram Wool Scarf
3. The Upscale Barn Jacket With a Check Skirt
Prada’s iteration of the barn coat is an investment purchase in the making. Elevate the jacket with a check pencil skirt and Alaïa’s newest flats for an outfit you can easily wear to the office.
Prada Technical Canvas Blouson Jacket
A.L.C. Cara Straight Houndstooth Skirt
Marge Sherwood Black Soft Baguette Bag
Alaïa Black Sphere Ballerina Flats
4. The Quilted Barn Jacket With Sleek Leggings
As the weather gets chillier, pair a warmer barn jacket—like this quilted version from Toteme—with split-hem leggings and pointy-toe boots for a night out to dinner. A splash of color like this crimson sweater will liven up an otherwise monochromatic look.
Toteme Quilted Barn Jacket
Zara 100% Wool Extra-Soft Sweater
The Row Thilde Slit-Front Skinny Pants
Ganni Black Eyelets Kitten-Heel Boots
5. The Khaki Barn Coat and a Denim Maxi Skirt
One of our favorite ways to style a barn coat is with a denim maxi. We especially love this denim skirt from Alexa Chung’s new collection with Madewell. Channel Chung’s style ethos and pair it with equally trendy boat shoes from Bally and a classic striped knit.
Mango Pockets Cotton Parka
Madewell × Alexa Chung Denim Maxi Skirt
COS Wool Crewneck Cardigan
Prada Buckle Medium Leather Handbag With Belt
Bally Pathy Leather Loafers
6. The Elegant Check Barn Jacket With Kitten Heels
Today, barn coats come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. A checkered fabric gives the workwear jacket an elevated touch. Style it with a slick pair of trousers, a ladylike bag, and kitten heels for a seamless day-to-night look.
Sandro Women’s Check Coat With Velvet Collar
We-Ar4 Pleated Boyfriend Pants
Ferragamo Hug Medium Leather Tote Bag
Dries Van Noten Femi Abstract-Print Scarf
Prada Satin Square-Toe Ballerina Mule Pumps
Shop More Barn Jackets to Wear This Fall Below
COS Leather-Collar Field Jacket
Alex Mill Chiltern Street Jacket in Waxed Cotton
Wales Bonner Alto Check Jacket
Barbour Allerston Corduroy-Trimmed Waxed-Cotton Jacket
Staud Estero Workwear Jacket
Loewe Trapeze Denim Jacket
Rag & Bone Cassidy Jacket
Everlane The Barn Jacket
The Row Black Frank Jacket
L.L.Bean Women's Adirondack Barn Coat
Miu Miu Waxed Canvas Leather Collar Oversize Jacket
Dorothee Schumacher Perfect Match Belted Cotton Jacket
Filson Women’s Dry Tin Barn Coat
Marant Etoile Joanna Cotton Jacket
Polo Ralph Lauren Cotton Canvas Jacket
Julie Tong is the Senior Commerce Content Lead at Harper’s BAZAAR overseeing digital shopping content across fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. She has over 10 years of fashion industry experience and is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism (B.A.). Prior to joining the Harper’s BAZAAR team, Julie spent five years at Vogue to launch their inaugural digital shopping vertical. She has honed her fashion expertise and skills at a variety of fashion institutions over the years from Interview magazine to Yahoo Style, Karla Otto, Who What Wear, and more.
