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 but has 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 autumn’s most sought-after buys. Long frequented by the royals—including Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Princess Kate—during their holidays 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 a green-and-brown, oversized 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, while Belfast-based Marianne Smyth swapped out the loafers for ankle boots and added a Western belt.

But barn jackets aren’t just beloved on Instagram. A number of luxury brands have caught onto the practical piece and its growing fanbase, taking the opportunity to include high-end takes on the barn jacket in their runway collections. At the F/W 24 Hermès show, a model donned a belted, long-line 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. And those are just two of the newcomers in this space that will be hitting stores soon when more fall collections drop.

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight)

(Image credit: Launchmetrics Spotlight)

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: