In T’s column 1 Piece, 10 Budgets, we share 10 perfect versions of an item in a range of prices. Chore coats — boxy utility jackets that originated in 19th-century France — have recently taken over both restaurants and the runways. Here are T market editor Angela Koh’s favorites.
1. H&M, $40
“This jacket is made partly from recycled cotton, the shape is as classic as it comes and the price is right.”
2. Madewell x MN Dye Studio, $138
“The Catskills-based textile artist Maegan Neubeck, known for her natural dyeing techniques, used a two-part dye bath of oak, pomegranate, logwood and iron to create this custom cool gray for Madewell. Each piece is hand-dyed.”
3. Alex Mill, $195
“This jacket from the New York-based brand Alex Mill has the look of a vintage piece — it’s in the classic blue of traditional French work coats (which earned them the nickname bleu de travail) — but is likely sturdier, made from midweight recycled denim.”
4. Vetra, $230
“The family-owned company Vetra has been making these jackets in western France since 1927. And while it now offers its signature style in nontraditional hues like pineapple yellow and poppy red, the classic dark blue is hard to beat.”
5. Carhartt WIP, $245
“Carhartt Work In Progress (WIP), an offshoot of the brand Carhartt, reinterprets pieces from the company’s archives with a younger, more modern bent. This take on a utility coat is made from untreated cotton canvas, a material designed to soften over time, forming to the shape of the wearer’s body.”
6. L’Usine Bleue, $258
“Vincent Tallec opened his shop L’Usine Bleue in Stockholm in 2019 after discovering it was nearly impossible to find work wear from his native France in Sweden. He imports classic pieces from French manufacturers and also offers updated versions under his own line, including this piece, which is sewn from a soft cotton for a more relaxed fit.”
7. Workaday, $336
“Workaday is a sublabel of the beloved Japanese brand Nepenthes, which opened a store in Manhattan in 2010 and has been many New Yorkers’ go-to for work wear ever since. Everything from Workaday is designed to be a foundation for everyday styling, and this piece is light enough to be worn as a shirt as well as a coat.”
8. Le Mont Saint Michel, $354
“This is the O.G. model. The French company Le Mont Saint Michel has been making versions for over a century — supplying them first to workers, artisans and farmers — and the brand’s cotton moleskin is among the thickest out there, meaning these jackets really last.”
9. Sacai, $1,155
“Chitose Abe, the founder of the Japanese brand Sacai, named her take on the chore coat the Bill Cunningham jacket in honor of the New York Times photographer, who would often be spotted cycling around New York wearing a vintage version until his death in 2016. The Sacai jacket, like all of the luxury brand’s pieces, incorporates meticulous tailoring and is exceptionally durable.”
10. The Row, $1,850
“Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are known for their luxurious iterations of classic garments, and this jacket is a perfect example. Its boxy silhouette is made from indigo Japanese denim so dark it’s almost black.”
The post The Best Chore Coats, From $40 to $1,850 appeared first on New York Times.
