The Vintage Chore Coat That Major Brands Continue to Copy
I love chore coats and have worn them for years. The comfort, fit, functionality, and style are what make it the perfect all-weather jacket everyone needs.
Almost every major fashion brand has its own version of a chore coat. It’s an iconic workwear garment. But there is one particular chore coat that I’m especially fond of that is my favorite. And it’s my blue vintage French chore coat!
Nobody made this jacket more famous than the New York Times fashion photographer, Bill Cunningham, as he rode his bike around the streets of New York and other fashion-forward cities. In the 1980s, he was always sporting his vintage blue chore coat while photographing people and fashion. Even before that, Paul Newman wore one in the movie Cool Hand Luke in 1967. And in 1993, Tupac Shakur wore one to the 7th Annual Soul Train Awards.
Discovering the French chore coat (vintage workwear)
Three years ago while in France on a buying trip for my online shop, I noticed how many people were wearing the vintage blue chore jacket. It’s the kind of jacket that is worn, faded, and well broken in. You could tell they were old but you could also tell they were clean and stylish.
And then one afternoon while shopping at a Paris flea market I came across racks of vintage blue French chore coats at several stalls. I immediately bought one for myself and a bunch for my shop.
After I got home I began wearing it around and I couldn’t believe how many people asked where I had gotten it. Before I even had a chance to photograph and list the jackets in my shop, I had sold all of my inventory.
Now, on each buying trip to France, I purchase as many chore coats as I can find and bring back. They all have a button closure and external pockets. Some will be well-worn (the lived-in finish), and patched with a few frays on the cuffs or collars. Others will be faded and have some paint stains on them. And yet some will look newish. I guess that’s the beauty of vintage, no two look alike.
Why vintage chore coats are blue
The origins of the chore coats date back to 19th century France. Back in the 1800s, blue work jackets were the working uniform or workwear of all blue collar workers (le laboureur). They were worn by farmers, bricklayers, and factory workers. The bleu de travail, or work clothes, were made from heavy cotton or canvas with roomy patch pockets and durable buttons. It made them ideal for laborers.
The color comes from a benzoate-based blue dye which would help hide the stains on a work jacket.
The vintage French chore coat may have started as workwear. But today it’s a wardrobe staple that comes with a bit of history. If you’re looking to add one to your coat rack, I always try to keep a few available in my shop. Each one is hand-picked from my travels through France and all the flea markets.
