A chore coat is not just some handsome, tough outerwear; it is straight-up practical. Long before any of us living today was born, these hardy jackets have been used by honest workmen, including railroad workers, construction workers, engineers, mechanics, farmers, photographers, and just about all laborers.
Although those days are long gone, these jackets are still around. But instead of strict work clothes, chore coats have morphed into a fashion nirvana of some sort.
And because they are usually designed to be functional and last very long, it is common to find them in the modern man’s wardrobe. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how to style these jackets and an excellent selection to pick from.
Chore Coat: What Is It, Really?
Originally made from heavy denim, canvas, or denim, the men’s chore coat was one of the earliest jackets designed specifically for work. It wasn’t anything fanciful or chic because obviously it wasn’t meant to be worn on the red carpet. The chore jacket has one important purpose, which was to keep workers warm. It also served as protection from the elements, especially when working outdoors.
The origin of chore coats is traceable to France way back in the late 19th century. The quintessential rich blue hue pieces of clothing were originally designed for French workers and are known as “bleu de travail.” As you probably have guessed, the name stems from the blue hue color and translates to “worker’s blue” (and has now come to mean overalls).
In America, the chore jacket was designed for laborers sometime around the early 20th century.
Typically, the American version of chore jackets was designed with two oversized breast pockets and two hip pockets. The coats also feature exposed buttons closures, plus large collars that can offer extra protection in hot or cold weather conditions. This piece of clothing was worn loosely because of their typically boxy shape.
On the other hand, the French’s original iteration comes with only one breast pocket. On all earlier versions of the jacket, the patch pockets were designed to be roomy. This provided ample storage space to hold various tools.
The chore coat has undergone a few changes in more recent times to suit the modern man. The original boxy design that was strictly meant as work clothes for laborers is now slimmer, with some iteration having fewer pockets and smaller collars. Staying true to the original design, a lot of designers still make chore jackets with somewhat large patch pockets, even though no one really needs them for holding tools.
You don’t have to be a laborer to have one or more chore jackets in your wardrobe. The versatility, practicality, and comfort the clothing provides, make it a go-to piece of clothing for many gents.
And talking about a go-to jacket, ever heard of Bill Cunningham? He was a New York Times fashion photographer famous for his street photography. But that’s not why I’m bringing him up. Besides his passion for candid photography, Bill is also famous for wearing the blue chore jacket.
Perhaps no one in recent time was known for popularizing the chore jacket better than Bill Cunningham. You’ll hardly spot him without his bleu de travail and his beloved Nikon camera. The pockets of the chore coat offered him ample room for holding film and work-related items.
These days, it’s difficult to walk down the street without seeing someone donning a chore jacket. In fact, every modern man’s wardrobe needs at least one chore coat for it to be considered complete.
The workwear has fully transitioned from a humble beginning as a mere practical uniform for factory workers to a fashionable and famous garment worn by all.
Styling a Chore Coat
A chore coat is perhaps the easiest piece of male clothing to style. And it is the most versatile. Of course, this is not the type of jacket you want to wear to a formal occasion or business meeting. But because modern versions strike a balance between style and comfort, you can style them to give you the smart casual look.
Check out the following styling ideas. Keep in mind that there’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to chore coats (well, except you shouldn’t wear them to formal occasions!) You can only be limited by your imagination and personal preferences. The point is, these styling ideas are only a guide. Look at them and let your imagination take it from there!
The Laid-Back Artist Look
It’s only fair to start with the French chore coat since it has been established that the staple workwear originated there. The classic bleu de travail works particularly well with a plain white t-shirt and a pair of dark stonewash straight denim jeans. Add to that a pair of tan or darker shades of timberlands for a complete laid-back artist look.
The Casual Look
You simply can’t go wrong if you are aiming for a casual look with a chore jacket. Just remember that to make it look really casual, you should consider wearing a denim chore coat over a striped T-shirt with a beige, camel, green, or tan chinos. Complete the look with leather sneakers. It’s really that simple.
The Smart Casual Look
It may seem somewhat counterintuitive to wear a chore coat as a smart casual outfit, yet it is doable. And if done correctly, it looks absolutely gorgeous. The key is to think of this workwear as an unstructured blazer. That should inspire you to come up with great looks. Here’s a good example of how to style the chore coat as part of your smart-casual ensemble.
A canvas or twill chore coat is your best bet for a smart casual look. If you a pair of grey flannel pants, pair it with a canvas or twill chore jacket instead of your usual blazers. Any of reddish-brown or rust orange, maroon, and pale blue crew neck jumper will work just fine. And to complete the smart casual look, step into leather sneakers, loafers, or brogues.
The Stylish Smart Casual Look
Another way to achieve the smart casual look is by wearing a navy chore coat over a light wash denim shirt. Combine both with a pair of light brown chinos and a darker shade of brown leather oxfords, loafers, or brogues.
The Autumn Look
An indigo chore jack gives a particular rugged autumn look. Nail the look by wearing the workwear staple over a wool shirt and a pair of straight-legged khaki pants. For footwear, a dark shade of brown leather alpine boots should do the trick.
7 Best Chore Coats for Men
To save you a fair amount of time, here are 7 thoroughly researched chore coats with quick styling tips. If you’re looking to spend your hard-earned cash on any solid outerwear, you may as well choose from any of these.
1. Le Mont St Michel Stone-Washed French Worker Jacket
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First on this list is the chore coat that started this fashion trend. From the stores of Le Mont St Michel comes this jacket with that original baked-in authenticity of the French’s workwear. The iconic jacket has that hardy construction and roomy patch pockets that chore jackets are known for.
The color, cut, and drape of this Stone-Washed French Worker Jacket gives it the elegance and ease of a flawlessly tailored unlined coat. This navy blue chore coat goes well over a lightweight linen waistcoat and a plain white T-shirt matched with chinos.
2. Wellen Stretch Chore Coat by Huckberry
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This is one chore coat that doesn’t really feel like a chore jacket. Instead, Huckberry designed it to feel more like an everyday shirt jacket that can be thrown over any T-shirt and jeans, thanks to its slimmer profile and small collar.
Got a white T-shirt and a pair of faded blue straight jeans? That’s a perfect combo for the Wellen Stretch Chore Coat.
3. Levi’s: Made & Crafted x Poggy Denim Jacket
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This deep blue boxy denim chore coat comes with everything you will expect from a traditional chore coat, including four large pockets and a boxy cut. However, this one includes highlights of its main features.
The Levi’s denim chore jacket calls attention with its exposed stitch detailing, rounded corners, and button cuffs. Throw it over a lightweight grayish-green or dark ash turtleneck sweater and camel chinos.
4. The Chore Shirt Jacket by Everlane
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The Chore Shirt Jacket features four pockets like the original workman’s jacket, yet it is a slimmer version. Everlane made this piece of clothing from a sturdy cotton twill fabric to make it last longer. You can wear this jacket over a white T-shirt and dark-colored skinny or straight leg jeans as a casual outfit.
If you want an elevated look, go ahead and pair it with a button-down shirt and greenish chinos.
5. RRL Striped Indigo Twill Jacket
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RRL saved you all the long years of battering it takes to get a bluish chore coat to get its signature worn-out appearance. Made from Japanese cotton twill, this stripped chore jacket has been naturally distressed so well that it has the ideal patina.
And to perfect the look, it is dyed with original indigo. The result? It looks and feels like a rare vintage collection – you may even pass for an actual laborer. Style this with sage chinos for a complete vintage look.
6. Acne Studios Yellow Twill Three-Pocket Chore Jacket
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In constructing this yellow twill chore jacket, the good folks at Acne Studios somehow came up with the idea that seems to defy all pre-existing fashion codes, yet it made sense. This version has the traditional roomy pockets, boxy silhouette, unlined inner, and substantial fabric.
But here’s where things got a little bit “unusual.” The jacket borrowed parts from a handful of outerwear, notably, the yellow exterior from the classic waterproof raincoat, press-stud snap buttons from traditional varsity jacket, and also has lapels that resemble something from a trench coat.
In all, it comes out great! Wear this over an ash crew neck T-shirt and darker colored pants. Black or darker colored bottom will contrast nicely and reduce the loudness (if you will) of the bright yellow top.
7. Carhartt WIP Michigan Chore Coat
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Who doesn’t remember those oversized jackets from Carhartts worn by almost every male authority figure in nearly every home in America – those types that fit like a stiff cardboard box? Guess what? Carhartt Work In Progress (or Carhartt WIP for short) made a few changes and came up with this trimmer version.
The heavy blanket lining is absent from this modern and slim remake, meaning you can wear it all year round regardless of the season. But all the best parts such as the rivets, the cord collar, the though-as-hell canvas, and durability, have been retained. Wear this over a white turtleneck or crew neck T-shirt and black plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a French chore coat?
It is a staple work cloth that has its origin in France. Typically, it has a bright indigo color.
Which chore jacket is the warmest?
Thick chore coats provide adequate warmth. Keep an eye out for one with fleece lining. A classic example is the Carhatt chore jacket.
What pairs well with a chore coat?
For bottoms, you can pair a chore coat with chinos, jeans, khaki, or twill pants. For tops, Henley shirts, T-shirts, and sweaters are ideal. And for footwear, boots, loafers, and sneakers are perfect.
Conclusion
The factory worker in the early 1900s wouldn’t have believed it if anyone told him that in about a century’s time, his raggedy oversized work cloth would be a fashion classic for men.
But that time is already upon us. Although they’ve undergone some redesigning to suit our modern fashion sense, they still retain their original functionality, versatility, and durability.
These timeless jackets can take a beating without flinching. It’s time you grace your wardrobe with one or more.