Thanks to Taylor Swift, Cottage Core and the fact that we’ve gravitated to the more functional items of clothing this year, the shacket has really been having a moment. From Zara to Isabel Marant, there’s no escaping this woolen checked shirt. But, if you’re panicking that your shacket’s days are numbered thanks to the upcoming spring weather, then do I have good news for you. It’s time, dear reader, to consider the chore jacket, also known as the worker jacket or French workers jacket. Created in a cotton or denim, it’s a boxy, loose-fit jacket that often comes with four pockets (hello, functional), and buttons at the cuffs.
Brittany Bathgate wearing a chore jacket. While it was designed back in the 19th century, its look hasn’t changed much and still includes those pockets, which, at the time was used for tools (I imagine that’s no longer the case). But, fashion historians will also recognise the blue iteration of this jacket as the late photographer Bill Cunningham’s uniform. And this coming season, it appears you can’t move for seeing the chore jacket. Whether in pink at Marc Jacobs or an incredibly chic denim iteration by Chloé, or the various pastel jackets on the high street, I’m convinced this will be the spring jacket of 2021. With that in mind, I’ve hunted down the best versions to invest in this season.
Bill Cunningham wearing his iconic blue works jacket
