Fashion will always be obsessed with workwear, there's no getting away from it. Whether it be carpenter pants, denim, or Timberland boots, the classic shapes worn by workers have proven that they can stand the test of time and form the backbone of a wardrobe. One such item that has proven this is the chore coat.
Walking into any vintage store across Europe, you will normally be faced with the obligatory rail of blue-colored French chore coats, and they are the style that started it all. Dubbed bleu de travail (or "worker’s blues" for those who aren't fluent in French) those indigo-hued jackets were soon joined by a distant relative across the pond as Carhartt started creating its now-iconic Detroit and Michigan jackets.
Despite its workwear origins, the practical design with deep pockets and rugged materials has centuries later not only found itself as a contemporary wardrobe staple but also as one which you'll often find dressed up.
Sure, you can go the same route as Joe Jonas and pair your denim chore jacket with a pair of matching jeans, but what makes this style so special is its versatility. If you want to throw a chore jacket over a crisp white shirt for a fancy dinner, nobody will bat an eyelid.
From the workwear staples to Dries Van Noten's luxury designs, here's an A to Z of the best chore jackets on the market right now.
If you're looking for a luxury take on a chore coat, look no further. Dries has re-created the classic outerwear of French workers in the finest of fabrics.
YMC is an expert in re-working workwear staples and, with this chore jacket, it has added floral embroidery and contrast stitching for a twist.
Modular Chore Denim Shirt Jacket
For a full tradesman-inspired look, this jacket even comes with matching dungarees.
Phillip Lim has reduced the worker's chore jacket down to its essential properties to produce this minimal off-white design.
Tatreez hand-embroidery, hand-crafted hardware, and a satin lining — this is what happens when a chore coat goes luxury.
Sky High Farm Workwear is bringing fun to worker's staples, as is evidenced in the strawberry and moon embroidery on this jacket.
The Michigan is the daddy of all chore coats, the workwear OG that every product on this list has, in some way, been influenced by.
Walking the fine line between a jacket and a winter shirt, you have to check out the massive matching trousers that come with this.
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