Work Jacket

Both practical and effortlessly stylish, the work jacket has become a staple in the fashion world. It's safe to say it’s leading the trend, thanks to the spotlight cast by the likes of PRADA, MIU MIU, and LOEWE. This season’s ultimate “it” girl, Hailey Bieber, has also been frequently spotted in work jackets, adding to the allure of this hot item.

   

   
According to UK fashion search platform Lyst, Carhartt's "Detroit Jacket" has been among the top five best-selling items of 2024’s first half, with searches up by a staggering 410% compared to previous months. This surge in interest only confirms the enduring popularity of Carhartt’s iconic work jackets—true originals of the workwear trend.

     

Defined by its corduroy-trimmed leather collar, the “work jacket” has roots in laborers’ wardrobes. In English-speaking circles, it’s often called a "barn jacket," named for its original purpose as outerwear for working in barns and fields. The style dates back to the 19th century, when French farmers and laborers first wore it in fields and farms. But its journey away from hay and harvest fields began in the 1980s when it made its way to the American Midwest.

     

For American workers in hazardous conditions, this jacket was essential workwear. Built with rugged materials for protection and equipped with multiple pockets for tools, it was the definition of practical design. Later, Carhartt took this silhouette and turned it into an iconic piece in their collection, making it unmistakably their own. Once a working-class essential, the work jacket has now become everyone’s must-have—the ultimate jacket of today.

As mentioned, it all started with the original—Carhartt's Detroit Jacket.

       

Since its founding in 1889, Carhartt has dedicated itself for over a century to clothing designed for workers. Launched in 1954, the Detroit Jacket was crafted from heavyweight canvas, designed for durability and embodying the raw, utilitarian spirit of workwear.

   

But the Carhartt Detroit Jacket isn’t simply a trendy piece. In the 1980s, skateboarders began adopting workwear for its rugged appeal, and hip-hop icons like 2Pac made it a staple of street style, layering it with the cool factor of subculture. Today, it has cemented its place as a classic.

    

For devoted Carhartt fans, the brand’s collaboration with sacai is surely one to watch. Chitose Abe, sacai's visionary designer, shared in a VOGUE interview that her decision to collaborate with Carhartt came from an unexpected source of inspiration—Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar. She was genuinely struck by the effortless style of the Carhartt Detroit Jackets and overalls worn by the characters in the film.

The Detroit Jacket’s standout trait? It only gets better with age. There’s even a meme among Carhartt enthusiasts: while some might toss a worn-out jacket in the trash, Carhartt fans look at the frayed edges and say, “Yo, this hard.”

   

This Year’s Designer Stamp of Approval

From the SS24 season, Carhartt-inspired styles have been sweeping the runways. At this point, it’s hard to call Carhartt’s Detroit Jacket mere workwear. High-end brands are eagerly drawing from its influence, turning it into the season's most luxurious and on-trend outerwear.

   

Of all the work jackets to grace the runway, PRADA’s rendition was the showstopper. They captured the perfectly worn-in appeal of workwear with an artful touch. Just look at the beige work jacket in the image below, priced at over $4,500. The subtly frayed edges are so meticulously done that you might wonder if it’s even new.

     

PRADA SS24 ©vogue.com

PRADA SS24 ©harpersbazaar.com

    

The work jacket has become a mainstay at PRADA, showing up season after season. In FW24, PRADA’s take on the classic featured a white work jacket where the frayed detailing was replaced with a subtle vintage wash, giving it an authentic, lived-in feel without the wear. They also added a chest pocket, doubling down on practicality.

    

PRADA FW24 ©vogue.com

   

Meanwhile, Miuccia Prada’s rendition for MIU MIU offered a fresh twist. While keeping the signature structure—highlighted pockets and collar details—MIU MIU expanded the range with varied textures, giving fans even more options to choose from.

  

MIU MIU FW23 ©vogue.com MIU MIU FW24 ©vogue.com

    

At Louis Vuitton’s FW24 show, a model appeared pulling a cart, paired of course, with a work jacket that anyone could see was inspired by Carhartt. The placement of the logo patch and pocket details, so reminiscent of the Detroit Jacket, reflected Pharrell Williams’ playful touch.

 

LOUIS VUITTON FW24 ©vogue.com, VALENTINO FW24 ©vogue.com

     

In fact, the work jacket’s recent runway debut came at LOEWE’s SS23 show. Unlike the other high-end interpretations, LOEWE’s take featured a flared silhouette, bringing a feminine edge to the traditionally rugged work jacket. This subtle shift makes it a standout, offering a charming way to style workwear with a softer touch.

 

LOEWE SS23 ©vogue.com

   
When it comes to the essence of a work jacket, the collar is everything. Both FENDI and Alexander McQUEEN showcased burgundy-collared work jackets, adding a mature and sophisticated touch to pieces that could easily come across as stiff. If you want to make a single statement with your work jacket, focus on the collar color, it’s a key detail that can elevate the entire look.

   

FENDI FW24 ©vogue.com, Alexander McQUEEN FW24 ©vogue.com

    

One of the great advantages of the work jacket is how effortlessly it can be styled. Simply pairing it with casual trousers or a skirt creates a perfectly chic ‘effortless’ look. For a jacket in a bright color like WALES BONNER’s, consider opting for darker tones in your pants or inner layers to create a striking contrast, resulting in a more harmonious ensemble.

   

WALES BONNER SS25 ©vogue.com, MERYLL ROGGE SS24 ©vogue.com

   

With so many clothes in my wardrobe, why do I always feel like I have nothing to wear?

  

In the midst of this seemingly endless dilemma, I recently stumbled upon my own solution.

It’s all about investing in pieces you can genuinely wear. To achieve this, two conditions must be met: 1) it should be something you can easily reach for at any time, and 2) have just the right amount of style. While the world is filled with beautiful and chic clothes, the reality is that not many satisfy both criteria. So, if you find yourself in a similar predicament, I wholeheartedly recommend the work jacket. This practical yet stylish piece is a true essential. And just like that, I found myself at the checkout, hesitantly swallowing my excitement as I added PRADA’s white work jacket to my cart once again.