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The Chore Coat/Work Jacket

johnniegold

"Proper Bob"
After taking a look at the current state of affairs with my wardrobe, I’ve been turning my attention to upping my “layering” game.

And after all the Thanksgiving Day Sales, Black Friday Sales, Cyber Monday Sales (and how about Soupy Sales? @Antique Hoosier. How about that one, eh, Mike? 😀🤪)
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I was able to pick up a few items.

From Brooks Brothers, I picked up two Portuguese flannel shirts (after Mrs. Gold appropriated a few of my flannel shirts to her side of the closet. She’s still adorable 😀😎😉) as well as a couple of their 1/4 zip sweaters.

From Faherty, I added a few of their Legend Sweater Shirts. From Bronson Mfg., an army fatigue shirt and most recently, a Fisherman Sweater from LL Bean.

All of these pieces of clothing focus primarily on comfort coupled with the ability to be layered with other pieces of clothing, whether it’s a heavier gauge T-shirt under a flannel shirt, or a OCBD shirt under a 1/4 zip sweater or a polo shirt under a crewneck/fisherman sweater.

These days, it’s all about comfort and versatility when it comes to clothing.

So… how many layers can we pile on? What’s next?

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(Who knows this movie? 🤣).

Enter the Chore coat….

(Most notably worn by legendary New York photographer, Bill Cunningham)

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But isn’t a Chore coat really just a shirt-jacket or as it’s commonly known.. a shacket?

Well… here’s an AI overview:

No, a chore coat is not exactly the same as a shacket, although they are both considered shirt-jacket hybrids, but a chore coat is typically more utilitarian with a focus on durability and large pockets for workwear, while a shacket is designed to be a bit more stylish and can be made from a wider range of fabrics, often prioritizing a lighter, more shirt-like feel with added warmth; essentially, a chore coat is a more functional version of a shacket.

Key differences:

Function:
A chore coat is primarily designed for manual labor with large pockets to store tools, while a shacket is more casual and meant for layering with a focus on style.

Fabric:
Chore coats are usually made from sturdy fabrics like denim, cotton twill, or moleskin, while a shacket can be made from a wider variety of materials like flannel, corduroy, or thicker cotton.

Fit:
Chore coats tend to have a boxy, loose fit for ease of movement, while a shacket can have a more tailored fit depending on the style.

Thank you, AI. 😀

So now that we know the difference between a chore coat and a shacket, I started looking at a variety of Chore coats.

One of the most popular is the Ojai Chore Jacket from Taylor Stitch.
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Another chore coat is one that is actually made in France, where this coat’s heritage lies as Mr. Alexandre Milan of Le Mont Saint Michel explains how the chore jacket became a wardrobe essential.


This is the chore coat by Le Mont Saint Michel in the iconic “French blue” version.
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Another popular chore coat comes from the NYC-based, Alex Mill, and their version of the “work jacket”.

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Each of these jackets, with their roomy, somewhat boxy silhouette, could easily be a 3rd layer over any of the above-mentioned combinations.

There is something about this jacket’s utilitarian style that gives it a kind of “old world” feel, especially given its history, that appeals to me.

So… while I can see any one of these jackets added to my wardrobe, I currently opted for the Alex Mill in the “Spruce” color pictured above for a few reasons.

First and foremost, I was able to stop by a store that stocks Alex Mill clothing so I was able to try it on and get the sizing right.

Secondly, after trying it in the store, I then ordered it online, directly from Alex Mill, taking advantage of their 60% off sale and getting this $195 work jacket for $78. The Ojai Jacket lists for $188 while the Le Mont Saint Michel lists for $275, respectively.

Granted, the Spruce color is not their most popular color, those being french navy, dark navy and thyme, which were not part of the sale but I don’t mind colors in the spruce/forest family.

Also key was getting the right fit since it was a “Final Sale”, so no returns and no exchanges.

After trying on the XXL, the XL and the L, I opted for the L. If not for trying it on, I definitely would have ordered one of the larger sizes based upon their Size charts, as well my previous experience with Alex Mill sizing. I find that their clothes tend to run on the smaller side, so being able to try on this jacket was a bonus.


So there you have it. More then you ever wanted to know about Chore coats. 🤪

The spruce green chore coat from Alex Mill is enroute.

When I get it… you’ll see it. :thumbup1:
 
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My grandfather was a dairy farmer. About all I ever saw him wear on the farm was a denim chore coat. He wore an unlined one in warmer weather and the same coat with a blanket lining in the winter. The only brand he wore was Pointer Brand. I have had one of the blanket lined ones for over 20 years. It's one of my favorite coats. Sadly, Pointer Brand is no more. I wore out a lot of their clothing over the years.

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I'm a big fan of shirt jackets and chore coats. I don't know what the formal difference is but I always think of chore coats as having patch pockets and being somewhat functional for work rather than styled for dress. Shirt jackets have the pockets on the side seams and a few more styling details that look good but don't really add function in most cases.

One of my favorites is in the dust coat end of the chore coat range. A sort of mini lab coat. It has buttons that mount with a pin and split rings. Good sized pockets and it's made from a tough cotton fabric in a faded greenish color. Great for messing with a lathe doing some light maintenance on a car. This one was from a charity shop in London about 40 years ago. It still has some life left in it.

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A more upmarket style is the Todd Snyder in an Italian herringbone linen. It's got a nice burnt out history professor vibe. Ideal for homeowner's association meetings and other events that demand a certain degree of gravitas but shouldn't be taken too seriously.

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I wear a heavier button up shirt as a jacket quite often. Most are unlined. Some are flannel. Some are denim. I wanted a lined denim that was a step up in warmth over unlined, but not as heavy as a coat. After a little shopping around, I found this Carhartt Shirt-Jac as they call it. I like the snap buttons and side pockets. I found it on sale for $47.00 and ordered one.

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johnniegold

"Proper Bob"
The chore coat from Alex Mill arrived last night.

Right off the bat, Alex Mill impresses with their packaging which includes a free laundry bag made from their excess shirting material. Nice, little clever touch.

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Along with an insert telling their story…

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And now on to the chore coat…

Since I already tried it on at a store, I felt confident that the sizing would be correct (and it is). The sleeves will either have to altered or the sleeves would have to be rolled. I will take it to the tailor later today. As for the fit, I went with the Large which provided a more fitted look. Wearing a lightweight shirt or a t-shirt is perfect. A sweater or a heavier shirt would be snug.
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I also like the small interior pocket…
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As well as a nice little pop of color on button fasteners inside the coat.

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For me, the only question was whether I would like the “Spruce” color since the color can vary from the website to actually seeing the garment.

And after seeing it and wearing it, I am quite pleased with the Garment Dyed Work Jacket in Recycled Denim from Alex Mill.

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I could see adding a few differently-styled chore jackets from Taylor Stitch and Le Mont St. Michel somewhere down the road. :thumbup1:
 
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Another chore coat is one that is actually made in France, where this coat’s heritage lies as Mr. Alexandre Milan of Le Mont Saint Michel explains how the chore jacket became a wardrobe essential.


This is the chore coat by Le Mont Saint Michel in the iconic “French blue” version.
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Reading your thread made me wonder what happened to my grandfather's jackets and pants. He would not be caught outside working in his garden or feeding the animals without one. I will assume that they ended up as shop rag at my uncle or cousin place. I am sure they would be highly collectible by now with their "patina" but you'd have to be on the small to extra small size to fit in.

And in case you wonder work wear attire regardless of color used to be called bleu de travail in France.
 
My grandfather has been dead 24 years. One of his denim chore coats is still hanging on a nail behind a door in our defunct dairy barn. It's in poor condition, though. I do have one a pair of his overalls left. They are in good condition, but huge. I believe they are 56" x 36".
 
I picked up my Carhartt brand denim shirt-jac today. From the online pics, the lining looked like old school blanket lining that a lot of work wear had it it. It's colored like the blanket lining, but is actually fleece.
 
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