Chore jackets are the Tim Duncan of fall outerwear: fundamental to any outfit, reliable, and built to carry your wardrobe for two decades. They’re workhorses of the jacket world, usually made from denim, moleskin, or heavy twill, with many featuring a corduroy collar to resist wear and fraying around the neckline. Lest we forget the pockets, the archetypal chore coat revolves around three main ones: a left chest pocket and two near the waist.
More often than not, there’s also an interior pocket for your EDC. No matter how many jackets might look better than the humble chore coat, it’ll always have a place in the garment gamut thanks to its enduring appeal. Here are some of the best to throw over flannels, thermals, or even pair with some busted-ass chinos.
If the appeal of workwear to you is all that baked-in “authenticity,” well, it doesn’t get much more authentic than this. The kind of chore jackets we're used to today were first donned by laborers in France in the late 1800s, and originally dubbed bleu de travail—“worker’s blues”—for that attractive, irrefutably French shade of indigo. Not long after, in 1913, Le Mont St Michel began crafting their iconic version of the coat.
Over a century later, its appeal has only deepened: the roomy patch pockets and hardy construction are as practical as ever, and something in the cut and drape and color lends the OG jacket all the ease and elegance of an impeccably tailored unlined blazer. And though the inimitable French blue will always be in-style, it’s not for everyone. So I’m glad to see that the old-school brand has expanded its color range considerably.
I’d easily wear these with jeans and a gray hoodie, or over a thrashed vintage T-shirt with a pair of wide-leg khakis. Perhaps the only real downside is that, being true workwear, you’ll have to put in the work to make it soft. Materials 100% cotton moleskin Fit Relaxed Pockets 3 outer pockets Sizes 44-52 Red Kap has been doling out hardwearing, affordable workwear for decades.
Case in point: their lapel counter coat. The French blue is just the right shade, and it's made using a lightweight but hardy blend of polyester and cotton. At just $25 a pop, I wouldn’t bat an eye at copping a few different colorways.
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