The must have to counter the UK’s cruel summer? Meet the barn jacket

We might be enjoying a moment of relative balm, but it surely won’t last long if recent weather forecasts for the UK are anything to go by. Take Glastonbury next week: night-time temperatures are expected to fall as low as 11C. With that in mind, your shorts choice is less important. Instead, this is shaping up to be the summer of the jacket, and one in particular is leading the pack: the barn jacket.

Versatile and hardy, the boxy big-pocketed design – which has its roots in French workwear, with brands including Carhartt giving them an American spin from the 1920s onwards – it is the perfect outerwear for a summer that can’t make up its mind.

Carhartt’s Detroit jacket – a classic of the genre that dates back to 1954 – was the fifth Hottest Product of the first quarter of 2024, according to trend analysts Lyst, with searches up 410%. Searches for barn jackets are also up 18% on Depop, since Prada put a barn jacket on the catwalk in February. Other brands including Fendi (pictured above) and Loewe have made versions too, and there are more affordable options from Everlane and Other Stories. The endorsement of celebrities including Kaia Gerber, Katie Holmes and Hailey Bieber no doubt boosts its chances to become the jacket of the summer.

There are other factors in its favour. The barn jacket, as an American classic, could be seen as part of a wider trend that has also seen items like boat shoes and polo shirts become popular. “They’re loved for their comfort, functionality and durability, and also align with recent trends that we’ve seen on the rise, such as preppy attire and the workwear trend,” says Agus Panzoni, a trend specialist at Depop.

The barn jacket’s all-purpose adaptability means it hits the sweet spot for younger consumers, who like to experiment with different looks. It also ticks the heritage box, and its very ordinariness means it is ripe for a re-assessment by those who are more aesthetically inclined. “Originally worn by farmers for their weatherproof and functional design, [barn jackets] have recently evolved into a high fashion staple,” agrees Panzoni.

Fashion writer Erika Velunik is a long-term fan but has only recently seen the design beyond their traditional environment. “I grew up in the midwest, so I always associate farm chores with barn jackets,” she says. “They’ve mostly been utilitarian in my mind until I started to see them for the fashionable option they are.” She featured barn jackets in her popular secondhand-focused newsletter Long Live recently, recommending wearing them “over a frilly white cotton maxi shirt and a roll neck sweater.”

Best bought secondhand, vintage designs from classic preppy brands like LL Bean, Lands’ End and J.Crew are highly prized and reasonably priced – about £65 for LL Bean on Vinted, or £35 for Lands’ End on Depop. “They’re way cooler vintage and look lived-in,” she says. “That isn’t crucial for every piece, but for utilitarian pieces, it’s always my preference.”

What’s hot – and what’s most definitely not – this week

Going up

Organised fun | Too stressed to plan a holiday, gen Z and millennials are turning to old school travel agents. Bring back the holiday brochure, we say.

Toe taps | Celine is launching a pilates collection including weighted ankle bracelets and a branded reformer machine. And exhale.

Slop | A new noun to describe those unsolicited and fake AI generated images and videos. Remember Pope Francis in that giant white puffer coat and Joe Biden with a blond mullet? That was slop.

Going down

ASMR cleaning | Cow and horse hoof trimming videos are the new oddly satisfying watch on social media. Check out #farriersoftiktok to see them being filed, shaped and cleaned.

99 cones | Anya Hindmarch’s Ice Cream Project is back in London and this time around the weirdest flavour options range from Perelló olives to Branston’s piccalilli and Heinz baked beans. One scoop or two?

Chest hair | There was plenty of “heavage” but very little hair to be seen during the latest round of menswear shows in Milan. Smooth summer incoming.

Chloe Mac Donnell, deputy fashion and lifestyle editor, solves your wardrobe dilemmas

Q: I’m going to a beach side wedding in Mallorca in September. The dress code is casual chic. How casual can I go? – Sarah, London

A: It’s a tricky one to balance. One person’s casual can be another person’s scruffy. Think about it like this … you want to look, and more importantly feel, relaxed, but not stand out like a sore thumb in the photos. It’s still going to be pretty hot in September, so choose breathable fabrics such as cotton and linen. You don’t have to go for anything too form fitting but something with a bit of shape – a dress that nips in at the waist, say – will help to add a more dressed-up touch. Smart flats and a pretty pouch will also elevate more easy-breezy fabrics. This look from Massimo Dutti captures the mood.

Got your own style question? Send it to fashionstatement@theguardian.com.