I know I’m the type to run cold, but as we near the end of September, I think I can say without any doubt that the fall air is finally here, and you’re going to need a jacket. While I love a cute two-piece knit set and other cozy wardrobe staples as much as anything, those outfits won’t be complete without a quality top layer to pull them all together—and keep the windchill out. And what better way to do that than with a chic barn jacket?
As I’ve been putting together my virtual wardrobe for the season—which entails researching Substacks, scrolling through my Instagram feed and stories, and, frankly, my job—this particular workwear-inspired piece has been on the lips of many a fashion lover. Often defined by its sturdy, waxed cotton canvas and contrast leather or corduroy collar, the barn jacket has been on constant repeat among the fashion-obsessed. So, with my curiosity piqued, I set out to find the coolest ones worth adding to your wardrobe. Below, you’ll see the fruits of my labor. These will go just as well with your barrel jeans as they will with your fall work dresses. Shop them all now and start wearing them before the time comes for puffer season.
Dale Arden Chong is the senior fashion commerce editor at ELLE.com, where she edits and reports on the latest trends, labels, and designers in the fashion space to bring you the best items that will elevate your wardrobe. With a passion for great sartorial stories and getting dressed (as well as a knack for nerding out over the details), she has a robust knowledge of high-quality design, construction, and materials based on testing hundreds of products over her eight-plus years in the industry, writing stories for Glamour, Who What Wear, Entertainment Tonight, and others. So, if you ask her for a shopping recommendation, she’ll give you five picks plus her honest, unfiltered opinions. Dale graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Communication Design. In 2015, she was a finalist for the National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Award in the Online category of “Commentary/Analysis/Trend” for her article “Calvin Klein Underwear: What Is Plus Size?” Outside of the style world, her hobbies include cooking, playing tennis, ceramics, and watching BTS dance videos on YouTube, among other things. Follow her on Instagram at @dalearden.