The Old Money Jacket Trend London Fashion People Are Ditching Their Blazers For
It can be hard to accept sometimes, but even the mightiest trends have to fall at least a few notches eventually. There are simply too many unexpected and interesting new silhouette options for just one to reign forever. Case in point: Blazers, the fall outerwear style that's run unopposed in fashion politics for the last decade, have seen a slowdown in popularity ever since another luxe jacket option began rising the ranks among the industry's most stylish dressers.
The outerwear alternative I'm referring to is a barn jacket, an old money staple that's slowly but surely becoming one of fall's most sought-after buys. Long frequented by the royals—including Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Princess Kate—during their vacations away in the British countryside, the utility item typically features a corduroy contrast-color collar, multiple deep pockets, and a warm lining. (Bonus points if it's plaid.) The outer layer is almost always made of canvas or waxed cotton, two materials that are strong enough to withstand rainy weather.
London's fashion crowd, though, has successfully changed the narrative around barn jackets, showcasing ways to style options by Barbour and Whistles as well as high-end alts by The Row and Toteme for anything but hunting, fishing, and farm chores. For example, Dua Lipa recently styled an oversize green-and-brown option with short shorts and a baseball cap for a walk on the beach. For a similar occasion, London-based content creator Lucy Williams paired hers with a white tee, black barrel-leg jeans, and Onitsuka Tiger sneakers.
Back in the city, Marilyn Nwawulor-Kazemaks took a slightly more sophisticated approach, wearing her cream version with a white tee, cuffed jeans, socks, and loafers, and Belfast-based Marianne Smyth swapped out the loafers for ankle boots and added a Western belt.
Barn jackets aren't just beloved on Instagram. A number of luxury brands have caught onto the practical piece and its growing fan base, taking the opportunity to include high-end versions of the barn jacket in their runway collections. At the F/W 24 Hermès show, a model donned a belted longline version in olive green with matching tailored trousers. Back in London, Victoria Beckham styled a pair of flowy, caramel-colored pants with a turtleneck and an Aston Martin green leather barn jacket. Those are just two of the newcomers in this space that will be hitting stores soon when more fall collections drop.
If you're as smitten with barn jackets as every editor, influencer, and celebrity on my Instagram feed right now, keep scrolling. Everything you need to fill your closet with barn jackets is below. Sorry, blazers, but we need your hangers.
Shop the barn-jacket trend:
This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joinedBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
-
Katie Holmes's Tip for Looking Rich? Lose the Flip-Flops and Wear These Classic Flats (in *This* Color) Instead
A shoe trend to take from summer to fall.
-
7 Celeb Outfits That Prove You Can Look Stylish Even When It's Sweltering
If you're in a summer wardrobe rut, this is the inspiration you need.
-
This Shoe Color Trend Is Chicer Than Black, Burgundy, and Brown
Kaia Gerber agrees.
-
The Pretty Dress Trend L.A. It Girls Are Bringing Into Fall (and the "Basic" Style They Already Forgot About)
It's finally time to part ways with boring linen dresses.
-
Experienced Shoppers Are Styling Cowboy Boots With This Specific Denim Trend to Make Them Look Less Costumey
Take a page out of Kendall Jenner's style book.
-
Apple Martin Wore the Skirt Trend That Screams "East-End Elite" in the Hamptons
My ideal vacation outfit.
-
FYI: Sandal Haters in Ibiza Are Wearing Beach Dresses With This Unexpected Shoe Trend
Sporty and comfortable.
-
Black Heels Are Fine, But in Portofino, Everyone Knows That This Shoe Color Looks Chicer With Dresses
Just a suggestion.