Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
While I appreciate the summer as much as anyone, I do miss winter fashion: heavy denim, leather boots, and thick jackets. That’s why I’m such a fan of chore coats. While made of heavier materials than most pieces of hot weather outerwear, a chore coat’s baggy pattern allows them to remain breathable (especially when worn open). That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best, denim chore coats available right now. While you might not find yourself wearing one of these everyday, they’re perfect for those chillier summer nights.
1) LC King: Black Denim Chore Coat
No list of chore coats would be complete without something from L.C. King, and their Black Denim Chore Coat is one of the most interesting on the market. Made from 12oz. denim, this blacked-out chore coat features tonal stitching and hardware—a look I have not seen from any other chore coat makers. Finished with riveted arm seams and pewter shank buttons, this is definitely a unique piece that’s easy to work into most denim-centric wardrobes.
Available for $185 from L.C. King.
2) Kerbside Co: The Worker Chore Coat
Most chore coat patterns are pretty similar, and while Kerbside Co’s The Worker Chore Coat does have some more novel features, such as the a modified chest pocket, that isn’t what makes this coat so attractive. Kerbside’s choice of denim is impeccable, and this coat’s 12oz. unsanforized denim puts it in a completely different league than many other chore coats. The denim gives this jacket the appearance of vertical lines that makes this piece more visually interesting than many others, and the finished details, such as visible selvedge lines and contrasting stitching, just make it even better.
Available for $215 from Kerbside Co.
3) The Real McCoy’s: WW2 Denim Chore Coat
The Real McCoy’s does what they do best with their WW2 Denim Chore Coat: create reinterpretations of classic garments. Designed with raglan sleeves, the imperative patchwork front pockets, and button cuffs, this denim chore coat is made in Japan from 10Oz. unsanforized denim. It’s finished with bar tack reinforcements and white contrast stitching.
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Available for $435 from Lost & Found.
4) Krammer & Stoudt: Chore Coat
While chore coats are traditional made of sturdy fabrics, their baggy style means they are quite breathable and suitable in warmer climates. If you want something that’s every better when it’s hot out, Krammer & Stoudt’s Chore Coat is made in the USA from an 8.5oz. denim. It’s finished with gold thread and similarly colored hardware, resulting in a very cohesive piece that will look better each and every time you wear it.
Available for $153 from Sonder Supplies.
5) Knickerbocker: Four Pocket Chore Coat
If you are looking for something that is as functional as it is durable, then Knickerbocker’s Four Pocket Chore Coat might be right up your alley. Made form a 10oz. dark indigo denim from Candiani Mills, this coat features four large, square pockets for whatever your daily carry is made of. Finished with white contrast stitching and donut buttons, this chore coat is definitely more stylized than most—but if it matches your wardrobe than look no further.
Available for $265 from Knickerbocker.
Plus One – Iron Heart: 105J-IND Chore Jacket
It should come as no surprise that Iron Heart has some great chore coats given their predilection toward heavy duty work wear. This version of their Chore Jacket, the 105J-IND, features the same basic pattern of a chore coat with the addition of flaps on large, front hand pockets. It’s made from a 14oz. denim with corduroy collar, and is finished with white stitching and contrasting, polished brass hardware.
Available for $425 from Division Road.
