Barn jackets are fast becoming the only coat to wear right now. Here’s why they’re the perfect transitional cover up

While so much of fashion is about show stopping pieces that enter boldly into our consciousness until we can’t help but add them to our basket, sometimes it’s an unassuming item that takes hold. Occasionally a trend comes along so quietly that it isn’t until it gains momentum and you find yourself questioning why you don’t have one in your wardrobe already, you notice its influence. Such is the case with the latest jacket trend that I’ve been spotting everywhere as of late: the barn jacket.

Prior to its arrival on the fashion circuit, the boxy collared style jacket was most commonly seen on dog walks and countryside hikes. Serving practicality in spades thanks to its durable canvas (or occasionally waxed) fabric and low-maintenance appearance, it was definitely a sensible choice if not necessarily one made for its fashion prowess. That was until Miuccia Prada turned everything on its head, sending barn jackets down the Prada Spring/Summer 2024 catwalk worn alongside tasseled tops and sheer skirts. No longer did the barn jacket offer sense over style, now it was the whole moment.

Off the catwalks, it wasn’t until earlier this year that we saw how big our fashion appetite really was for the understated jacket style. Now the heatwave seems to have sadly departed, influencers have been grabbing their barn jackets for rainy days and balmy evenings alike. Most regularly worn alongside a classic white t-shirt or brightly coloured knit and straight leg jeans, the barn jacket has become the elevating accompaniment for all our favourite wardrobe staples.