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By Manish Puri

Not all chores are made equal. Some take longer, some require more exertion, and some involve going out into the cold. On a typical weekend you’ll find me frantically searching for loopholes in the chivalric code so I can cherry pick the best chores without guilt. “Yes, darling, why don’t you perform the task of taking the smelly bins out into the tundra and I’ll stand in the kitchen listening to a podcast whilst soaping dishes in lovely hot water. No, I understand your reservations, but my responsibility is going to take much longer.”

And so, it stands to reason that not all chore coats are made equal either. Traditional working models made from cotton twill are great – storied, hard-wearing, versatile and relatively affordable (especially if you go down the vintage/second-hand route). They’re also plentiful: most brands have a version.

But this guide focuses on the other chores, the chores of distinction. These follow the basic design template set out by Simon here – straight edges and triple patch pockets – but are fashioned out of unusual and luxurious materials, with considered points that elevate them into a real alternative to a tailored jacket.

In this guide I’ve selected six such chores for an in-depth look, and supplemented them with another six options at the end of the article. Brands are presented to you in ascending price order.

LEJ Cat Posh Plage Coat (£275 to £425)

I was fortunate enough to spend a few weeks travelling in Mexico this year and, with temperatures expected to be in the high-30s celsius for most of the trip, had to reconcile myself to the fact that jackets and outerwear would just be dead weight.

I did permit myself one piece for holding travel paraphernalia at airports, and to slip on as protection from aggressive air-conditioning. The item that I chose was LEJ’s Plage coat, largely because of how comfortable it is to wear.

The jacket is cut pretty straight through the body ,with the option to cinch the waist slightly using the martingale (half-belt back). The sleeve is fuller than any other chore in this guide and that’s something I really like (heck, if you’re ever required to do some actual chores you might want to be able to swing your arms a bit), though I appreciate some readers may prefer a more tailored sleeve.

It’s also something of a chameleon. The electric navy (above) is the sexy English cousin of the classic bleu de travail jackets. My green herringbone twill (presently out of stock but due back next spring) has such a strong jungle-jacket vibe I can virtually smell the DEET. This white cotton would surely be worn by the preternaturally attractive hospital staff of a US medical drama.

Because of the fuller fit and wide point collar (which is around 9.5cm compared to 6.5cm for The Anthology) the Plage coat does lean more casual and, depending on the cloth, possibly into outerwear territory.

That said, I wore a newly purchased black and white houndstooth tweed Plage to my office ahead of our evening Christmas party and I’m pleased to report it was well-received; alas, I can’t say the same for my dancing. I tempered the boldness of the check with the most neutral items in my wardrobe: white shirt, charcoal flannels and black loafers.

Two other details that I really like on the Plage are the finishing on the inside of the patch pockets, and the buttons. The former is a thick cotton ribbon, stitched on the inside of the coat to buttress the external seams at the pocket’s opening. The latter are a smoky and lustrous mother of pearl.

Should you consider fastening buttons (smoky or otherwise) to be an altogether tedious experience you could also look at LEJ’s quick release Plage coats. Identical to the standard Plage but with slim ties replacing the buttons and martingale. Yet another chameleon as the quick release element nudges it towards a mandarin jacket.

S.E.H Kelly Work Jacket (£396 to £480)

Simon memorably described SEH Kelly’s products as made of “materials…so lovely I could eat them”. Having been to the workshop, I completely understand that sentiment and, if I may extend the food analogy, I see their products as the midnight buffet at a wedding: there’s never enough for everyone so you have to be quick.

Which is to say there is currently limited stock of SEH Kelly’s Work Jacket (chores are too trivial a labour for something as hardy as this) available online. However, these guides were never intended to encourage a buy-now-think-later attitude (the reverse is so much healthier), and so I’m happy to feature the Work Jacket if it helps prepare readers for the restock due early January – expect to see jackets contrived from the same stay-wax cotton as the Duster Coats.

Details abound in the Work Jacket: the collar is beautifully shaped and aches to be popped; the standard left-breast pocket has crossed the aisle and now occupies the right leaving a faint shadow of its former self (created by the stitching of the left-hand internal pocket); patch pockets are replaced by deeply satisfying and deeply deep bucket pockets that run the width of the jacket front; an internal jetted pocket brings the count to five; the sleeves are inserted under a lapped shoulder seam with a small ventilation gusset near the armpit; the interior is partially self-lined and satin lines the sleeves.

Dark horn buttons are to be found in all directions: securing the thick cuff at the end of the sleeve, assisting the rear side-tabs to pinch away excess, and attached to the front with a ring-and-eyelet system (butcher’s buttons) that makes them removable.

In terms of cut, the Work Jacket is amongst the shortest in the guide – just a couple of centimetres shy of a blouson/bomber length – which works well for me given my penchant for higher-waisted trousers but might not be for everyone.

The colour options are uniformly excellent and put me in mind of deepest winter: moody and drab (those are compliments); I’m entirely comfortable gazing into the stunning Abyss Blue hopsack (pictured at the top of this entry) and having it gaze right back at me.

The Anthology Lazyman ($525 to $850)

I think it was the Permanent Style pop-up in 2019; Bryceland’s, Adret and The Anthology were all in residence, and I was trying on the first iteration of the Lazyman in a pale striped seersucker (above). From across the store, Bryceland’s Ethan Newton looked up from the counter, saw me considering the jacket and gave a silent nod of approval. I bought it then and there, and haven’t lived to regret the snap purchase.

The lapels nod to 1950s riviera style but with a restraint that allows the jacket to feel appropriate to most situations – suitably easy going for a holiday stroll on the beach but sufficiently elegant for a meal with friends. The waist is lent shape by tab adjusters on the back.

These details help to make the Lazyman, out of all the coats in this guide, the one I think works best with a shirt and tie (see Anthology co-founder Buzz in the fawn herringbone below).

In particular, the fuzzy navy bouclé (made of a mix of wool, baby llama and cashmere, with a bit of polyamide to bolster the delicate fabrics) and pale grey herringbone could underpin a fool-proof wardrobe for all but the most traditional of work environments.

Even though I think the jacket is well suited to shirt-and-tie getups, I should caution readers that it is short. Not by the standards of most chores and casual jackets, but if you’re fixed on a blazer alternative that covers your seat this isn’t the right choice for you.

The Anthology also offers the Lazyman in various cashmeres on a made-to-order basis. This isn’t something that’s readily available (the only other brand that I could find selling a 100% cashmere model was Zegna – discussed later) and I think it would pair well with the Lazyman style.

The other thing I’ve always loved about this jacket is the patch pocket shapes. The bottom corners curve almost imperceptibly through 90 degrees, while the short and stout breast pocket (set marginally lower than standard) reveals a flash of your sunglasses, which is a nice way to add some visual interest to a simple outfit of jeans, T-shirt and chore.

The jacket fits true to size. My purchase was an IT48 which serves well as a summer piece because I’ll usually wear it open with a light shirt or polo. However, were I to pick up one of the heavier winter options I’d go for a 50 to ensure there’s adequate room for some beefy knitwear.

Drake’s 5-Pocket Chore Jacket (£475 to £1295)

As one of their signature pieces, Drake’s is always a good place to start a hunt for a quality chore coat, and two things stand out to me from their offering.

The first is that their cloth range, size range and size availability is consistently stronger than the other brands in this guide. Over the years, they’ve made chores out of linen, wool, cotton twill, corduroy, denim, Tencel, canvas and suede. Right now, there are 14 different jackets to choose from, in seven sizes (34 to 48) and, even in the run-up to Christmas, there remains good availability in the most popular sizes.

The second thing is that Drake’s are the best at injecting personality and a sense of play into their chore coats, by stocking vibrant colours to supplement the core blues, browns, and greens. In the past I’ve had my eye caught by their fire-engine-red suede, rose-pink selvedge corduroy and tangerine Japanese linen.

Admittedly, the range right now is relatively subdued but I’m sure as we head into 2023 some fun colours will be unleashed.

Each jacket comes with five pockets – one internal pocket, three standard patch pockets and a patch ticket pocket. I’m generally not a fan of the Drake’s ticket pocket (I once unpicked one from an otherwise superb seersucker jacket) but I think it works for a chore, where the pockets are there to be filled.

Drake’s make minor style adjustments in recognition of the traits of each fabric. The rust suede jacket (pictured at the top of this entry and coveted by me for just shy of four years – sad aren’t I?) has a snap button on the cuff so you can tighten the sleeve opening like outerwear. The denim chores have rivet buttons to secure the pockets (just as you would find on a pair of jeans).

I tried both the size 38 and 40 and there wasn’t much between the two – the only place I really noticed a big difference was in the width of the arms. As with The Anthology earlier, I would recommend going with whichever size suits your style and layering preference.

Drake’s have also launched an Artists Chore Jacket which blends a chore with a smock. The result is a more generously proportioned fit (the size 38 was great), a mandarin collar, knotted buttons, and a curious round pocket with a vertical opening – if anyone knows its provenance I’d love to hear.

Anderson & Sheppard No. 2 Jacket (£1095 to £1395)

I’ve had an Anderson & Sheppard No. 2 jacket in linen tobacco for four years (snaped up after waiting 18 months for it to go on sale at Mr. Porter), and in that time it’s become a prized possession – so much so that I picked it for one of my three outfits when asked to be part of the Reader Profile series.

My opinion of the jacket echoes what I said in the summer about the Anderson & Sheppard polo, which is that there is no attempt to justify the price (high as it is) through extravagant or redundant details. The design exudes confidence through its simplicity, the proportions are bang, the finishing is great (the horn buttons are anchored by small backing buttons) and the cloth choices are, as so often is the case with A&S, impeccable.

My Irish linen (below) has enough heft but still flows over the body like an Italian linen. Other options include needlecord, a rugged handwoven tweed (above) and a lovely mid-weight navy flannel (I know Simon has written about the limitations of flannel tailored jackets, but I think an unstructured chore removes any stigma of excessive formality).

Of course, the RTW options online are just a jumping-off point with Anderson & Sheppard, given the range of MTO fabrics available.

Like many of the coats in this guide, I find the No.2 a little long in the sleeve. And unlike them the No.2 has a barrel cuff, which makes any alterations a little more expensive. I’ve not found this to be an issue on the linen jacket, which gets styled a la dégagé – buttons open, sleeves rolled up to encourage breeze on the wrists – but might be something to consider on the winter cloths if you have shorter arms.

The last thing I’d like to give a shout out to is the pockets, three of which have closing devices - a button on the breast pocket and zips on the two internal pockets. As someone who is of the firm belief that passports, credit cards and mobile phones love nothing more than leaping out of open pockets, I can’t overstate how much I appreciate the zip pockets (the only brand to have them in this guide).

Zegna (£1790 to £2890)

I agree, these are very expensive. However, I said at the outset we’d consider the most luxurious materials and that’s what these undoubtedly are - a fantastic dry-handled and lightweight wool, silk, linen and cashmere in steely blue (above £1790), a thick (almost spongey) wool (55%)/cashmere (45%) blend (£1990 – in three colours) and a mottled grey pure cashmere (£2890).

The front of the jacket has been shorn of its breast pocket: a decision that I’m sure will be simultaneously welcomed by those that like to keep things clean and minimal and agonised over by those with spectacles to deposit. This act of confiscation does give the coat the air of a Donkey jacket, but with these materials perhaps it’s fairer to refer to it’s a Thoroughbred.

Upon opening the chore you’ll find lining in the sleeves and across the shoulders. It’s a minor detail but, in common with the SEH Kelly jacket, it really does help the coat to slip on and off and obviates the need to rearrange your under layers after.

The interior also comes equipped with two small patch pockets by the hip – one with a button (nice).

As usual, I requested to try a size 38 and 40 in-store but ultimately only bothered with the former as it fit very well – despite wearing my thickest roll neck jumper at the time. Uniquely in this guide the Zegna coat has two shallow vents in the back which may have improved comfort - but only fractionally would be my guess.

The only negative on the fit was that (once again) the sleeves were a little long. Zegna’s coat has a button cuff at the end of the sleeve and so has the same attendant alteration issues as A&S. Mind you, if you’re able to afford this coat then the cost of an alteration is unlikely to be a dealbreaker.

I have to say I was quite taken by the Zegna offering. There’s no getting away from how expensive it is (even after allowing for the fact that Italian cashmere prices went up by over 40% between 2021 Q1 and 2022 Q1) but if you’re looking for a deluxe casual jacket option I’ve no doubt there are places you could spend more and get less.

Other options

Prologue (from HK$3398) offer a MTO chore jacket with a shirred back - recent commissions have been made up of vintage raw silk, linen canvas, and a milky terry cloth (above).

De Bonne Facture (€395 to €780) carry several chore jacket variants - the work jacket, the traveller jacket, the painter’s jacket, the architect jacket and an overshirt…with hip pockets. I wonder what happens if an architect gets on a train – should they change jackets? To be frank, the range is a bit confusing, and I’m not entirely convinced there’s sufficient differences to justify five models. But De Bonne Facture do use lovely cloths in soft, neutral tones and here you can choose between corduroy, wool (either twill, flannel, crepe or brushed) and yak (which I’ve not seen anywhere else).

Coherence ($925) make an unusual double-breasted chore coat inspired by a coat worn by the Dutch-French painter Kees Van Dongen in the 1950s. Perhaps not the best option for your first chore but certainly worth looking if you want a more individual take.

Scott Fraser Collection (from £295) is one to consider if you liked the absence of a breast pocket on the Zegna model but were less fond of the price. Scott’s two Partner jackets - the Corta (short) and Lunga (long) - incline towards a blouson and a safari jacket/robe respectively but retain the (mostly) straight hems and patch pockets of a chore coat.

No Man Walks Alone ($485 to $595) have designed a very light chore jacket in partnership with G. Inglese. The result looks more like a shirt jacket than a heavy-duty chore but, given how few brands offer chore jackets in patterned fabrics, I can forgive all for this delightful rusty brown gun club chore alone.

The Merchant Fox (£570 to £730) sell a classic French utility jacket (below) in a bulletproof coating cloth woven by Fox Brothers. Its material and cut make it less of a luxury piece, arguably, but we’ll look at this along with other Merchant Fox jackets in an upcoming article.

Manish is @the_daily_mirror on Instagram

The Index

The index is designed to collect the key information of each of the chore coats models featured. To aid comparison we’ve shown the chest, back length and sleeve length for size UK40/IT50/M - measurements taken from the brands.

Prices are correct as of time of writing.

Brand Model (Size) Price Pockets Fabrics Chest (cm) Back Length (cm) Sleeve (cm)
LEJ Cat Posh Plage Coat (M) £275 to £425 3 x front patch and 1 x internal patch - Cotton

- Tweed

- Wool/cashmere

- Wool/cotton

116 74 59.5
SEH Kelly Work Jacket (M) £396 to £480 1 x front patch

2 x front bucket

1 x internal patch

1 x internal jetted

- Corduroy

- Cotton sail canvas

- Hopsack cotton/linen

- Stay-wax cotton (due January)

112 71 89 (from centre back)
The Anthology

 

Lazyman (IT50) $525 to $850 3 x front patch and 1 x internal patch

 

- Cotton

- Lambswool

- Merino Wool

- Camelhair

- Seersucker

- Wool/Llama/ Cashmere/Polyamide

- Cashmere (MTO only)

118 72.2 63.6
Drake’s Five-pocket chore jacket (UK40) £475 to £1295 4 x front patch and 1 x internal patch - Suede

- Selvedge corduroy

- Denim

- Cotton

- Linen

115 72.3 65
Anderson & Sheppard Jacket No. 2

(M)

£1095 to £1395 3 x front patch (one with button) and

2 x zipped internal

- Corduroy

- Flannel

- Linen

- Handwoven tweed

- Many MTO options

112 71 47
Zegna Chore Jacket £1790 to £2890 2 x front patch and 2 x internal patch (one with button) - Cashmere

- Wool/Cashmere

- Wool/Silk/Linen/

Cashmere

TBC TBC TBC

 

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Chris

Paynter is another great brand to check out. Lots of attention to detail (hidden side entry pockets) and well-priced.

RT

I have a couple of Paynter jackets and they’re exceptionally good value fit money. Really good business model, too.

James Saldivar

I have their chore coat in ‘Bills Blue’, their 4th (or 3.5 as they see it) release which sold out in 86 seconds. Paynter was recommended to me by someone in the comments section a few years ago and I’ve often wondered how long it would be before PS reviewed them. The quality and attention to detail is borne out of an obvious passion for clothes from the very personable Huw and Becky. Worth checking out for sure!

John

Could you or someone else elaborate on the quality of the Paynter chore coat? What sets them apart from Vetra etc?

Manish

Agreed! The main reason for not including them here was because I think most of their batches are made from cotton (twill, moleskin, corduroy) so they’re a bit more traditional. However, there’s nothing wrong with that and they offer great value for money if you can get one before it sells out ?

Josh

As someone who’s got one of the new Applecross jackets on the way, you’ll probably hear a lot about it from me!

Amit

Hello Manish and Simon. Thank you for writing Manish. In your experience with the Mexico heat that’s above 30 degrees celsius, I think PS linen overshirts would’ve done a similar job, but of course we’re talking about Chore Coats here. I thought I’ll ask as that seems as possible option, especially in a tropical country. I myself was contemplating on one of the PS linen overshirts to wear here in India when temperatures are less than 30 degrees celsius and it’s wearable. Manish and Simon please let me know your thoughts?

Amit

Thank you Simon. That’s great.

Manish

Research fits incoming…

Manish

LEJ Plage (Medium)

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Manish

Zegna (wool, silk, linen, cashmere in 38)

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Manish

Zegna (wool/cashmere in 38)

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Manish

Drake’s Artist Chore (38)

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Bradley Tompkins

This fit on this one seems perfect….good length so as to not make one look “squatty” and perfect for the hand-in-pocket pose.

Aaron L

Is the collar meant to be miserly?

Manish

Drake’s Suede Chore (40)

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Stephen

Nice!

Manish

Anderson & Sheppard (M)

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Bob

This one looks particularly good on you Manish. Very classy!

Bradley Tompkins

To me, this and the Drake’s have the best fit…..maybe I just have a preference for the more relaxed/flowing drape of those options, especially looking forward to summer.

Will

Bradley, totally agree with you. Drake’s Artist Chore seems to suit Manish so well because its fit seems so unfussy – it’s a little louche and looks considerably more natural than most of the others. A close second is Anderson & Sheppard’s which is a step up in formality but still has something debonair and effortless about it. The Anthology jacket makes Manish look quite athletic (not something I imagined a chore jacket would ever do) and I have to say I like it too but it doesn’t have quite the versatility of the other jackets (e.g., I’d feel self conscious wearing this to the supermarket). Big thanks to Manish for another wonderful and informative piece – really appreciate it!

Manish

Many thanks to Will, Bradley, Bob and Stephen!

I appreciate the picture quality isn’t the best but it’s really nice knowing that the fit pics help illustrate some of the differences.

Will/Bradley – Your take on the Drake’s Artist jacket is spot on. I’d say alongside the LEJ it is the most natural and louche of the jackets.

Thanks all and have a great Christmas!

Manish

The Anthology (38)

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Amit

Thank you Manish.

Amit

Chuck the jackets for a while. Your salt ‘n’ pepper beards are a stand out in these photos. Cheers!

Manish

Haha! Cheers, Amit! More salt than pepper these days but it does accessorise the houndstooth nicely.

Ian Skelly

Can anyone recommend a nice quality navy merino chore? been after one for a while

Manish

Hi Ian

The A&S wool flannel could be a good option for you: https://shop.anderson-sheppard.co.uk/jacket-style-number-two-4023-6-navy

Cheers!

Ian Skelly

It would be great option but out of my league i’m afraid! sorry should have specified upto £300-400

John

What would be the trousers to go with this flannel chore jacket?
Jeans, chinos, flannel trousers? Will the material of this jacket limit its formality?

John

I meant limit it’s versatility?

Peter Hall

Super roundup Manish. Ideal for reading on a cold Friday with a hot chocolate.
I find as the quality of chore coats improve and the materials finer, there is a danger of the chore coat being neither fish nor fowl , so seeing them all laid out, so to speak, is really useful .
I do use my chore coats as a walk around replacement for tailoring(all those pockets!). But my preference is quite conservative…heavy cotton and blue.

Aaron

The Anthology jacket in grey herringbone is definitely something I’d like to pick up at some point. It seems perfect for having something on when you need to look a little smarter on a video call.

Manish

Agreed, and they’ve used a very soft lambswool which is really nice on the body.

Andy

Hi Simon,

I recall you posting a pic on instagram of you wearing the A&S handwoven herringbone jacket- whats your opinion on it, would you recommend it?
Is it possible to wear that underneath an overcoat?

John

Hi Simon,
Where should the shoulder seam be relative to your shoulder joint? Would it be acceptable to go a little past the shoulder (to look maybe a little more relaxed and allow for layering)? Is that the case with your large A&S chore jacket?
And how long should the sleeves be? Should they cover the shirt sleeve, or be shorter allow for the shirt sleeve to be shown?
Thanks

Andy

Hi Simon,
After a year since I asked you the question, I finally got the A&S handwoven herringbone jacket, and I’m really impressed with the wonderful material. What do you think pairs best with the jacket?

Andy

Amazing, sounds like a versatile piece. Do you not wear it with tailored trousers?

Saud

Hey everyone,

Question unrelated to this post but that’ what the contact side suggested – are there any tailors in London you would recommend for significant suit alterations?

I reached out to Chittleborough & Morgan based on the post on PS, but they said they only alter suits made by them,

Thanks!

Yash

Hi Simon,
Is best line the one on South Molton Street?
Thanks.

Stephen

Hi Manish,
Once again a well thought through, thoroughly researched and entertaining article. I’ve always been on the fence a bit with chore jackets. I bought an entry level one from – of all people Gap for about £30! – in a heavy French blue cotton, a couple of years ago, which I found out recently was a pretty traditional chore jacket colour. I thought it a way to avoid wasting too much money if it didn’t work out.
Whilst I liked wearing it in the summer especially with a Breton T-shirt, I didn’t find that many opportunities to do so, instead of other outerwear. Personally I’d never go with one that tends to the smarter end of the spectrum or that’s too unusual like the artist version.
That said, I’m with you on the Drake’s suede version especially with the blanket lining. An investment piece to consider one day.
Thanks again and early best wishes for Christmas.

Manish

Thanks so much, Stephen! Best wishes for Christmas to you too.

Jamie A

Hi Manish

Thanks for another really useful comparison article. I’d already been eyeing up the LEJ checkered jacket on your Instagram (which is always excellent).

Just to add a couple of ideas at the cheaper end of things:

Asket do a very nice Overshirt (which, to me, seems more like a chore jacket). Basic, cotton, fairly lightweight, but well made and with useful sizing options (short, medium, long).

Also, I think Simon has previously tried Informale’s Work Shirt. It’s moleskin which gives it a lovely, soft feel, and the cut is nicely tapered.

Thanks again, and good luck with the dishes this weekend.

Jamie

Manish

Hi Jamie

Thank you so much!

And thanks for sharing your recommendations on Asket. Being able to pick from three lengths is a great option to have.

Haha! I may have shot myself in the foot by writing about it. I have a feeling I’ll be taking the bins out from now on.

Have a great weekend!

Markus

I agree. The ASKET overshirt is actually a chore coat, and a quite classical one (thicker cotton, three pockets, etc). I owe one and am very satisfied. You cannot beat its price-quality, coming at only EUR 160 I believe.

Brendan

Thank you Mannish. I’m just wondering what you and Simon feel is the perfect length for a Chore? Some that are not much longer than a blouson seem unflattering, but at the same time one that fully covers the seat might look too long? Do you think a mid-hip length is about right?

Brendan

Great, that’s very helpful Simon thank you.

Manish

I agree with Simon, that’s a good rule-of-bum (sorry).

I think another way of gauging the right length is considering how comfortable it is to use the patch pockets. If the jacket is very short and the patch pockets a reasonable depth you’ll end up crooking your elbows quite a bit to get your hands in. However, with the right length, the hands should ease into the pocket and be comfortable enough to stay there.

Peter Hall

I think the deep pockets of the typical chore are a huge selling point. Especially if you use yours to garden in…
Although I suspect few will ever see a carpenter’s pencil and an odd length of twine.

Brendan

Thanks Mannish!

nicholas robinson

Timothy Everest has a very nice one in a basketweave, heavyish wool. It is similar to the A&S shape I think and very good value. I think these articles are great- thanks Simon, and also thanks to the excellence of his guest contributors.

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RT

Hi Manish,

Thanks for another really helpfulI review. I have a couple of chore jackets in corduroy (Drake’s and Painter) and one in denim (Drake’s). I’m now considering getting something in wool, probably a herringbone tweed of some kind. However, I’m not completely convinced by chore jackets in tweed. I find myself looking at the William Crabtree Lowgill work jacket which, I think, seems to more like Drake’s Games Blazer. Have you had any experience of the Lowgill, by any chance?

Richard

Mitch

More Manish please!

Philipp

Great and very useful article, thanks Manish! Have you, or anyone else ever tried the Berg+Berg chore coat called Nima?

Sam

Thanks for this article. What would be your suggestion for reasonably priced mto chores? I have a Solbiati winter cotton I love that I’d like to get made up. I’ve tried William crabtree and their chore coat pattern doesn’t fit me that well, so looking to try another. Thanks.

jason

collaro or yeossal do MTO chore jackets

Martins

Yeossal unfortunately doesnt do cut to measure. They only work with cloth they offer.

jason

I have the Drake’s rose pink selvedge corduroy mentioned above and think it’s really cool. the colour is dusty and goes well with washed blue jeans, linen trousers and chinos. it’s a non-shiny cord and lightweight. This version also had 6 pockets (additional inside pocket) and no button cuffs, making it easier to roll up the sleeves and give a cleaner look.
Other chores I have are a yeossal jacket in off white spence bryson linen and a Japanese style blue sashiko cotton with patchwork. This one leans more towards workwear than the ones in the article.

Alex R

Great read Manish, thank you, always enjoy what has become a semi regular series of comparison articles, long may they continue!

A couple of things, one it is always great to see LEJ popping up on PS. I appreciate they lean a bit more outré and attention grabbing than usual but the fabric choices are always amazing and the cuts make this reader just feel good. Nearly without fail when I am wearing LEJ it will get complimented, so although I don’t have a huge budget for clothes its become the luxury I can most frequently justify…

Second, I think a chore is a good piece of clothing to go for a non traditional colour or feature. Because they look good thrown over basics (t shirt/oxford, jeans, or chinos etc), a more unusual colour, fabric, pattern, or details like those on the Drakes artist chore can make it just a wee bit more interesting. If that is what you want, of course.

AK

The LEJ and anthology coats both look particularly nice. I picked up the Portuguese Flannel Labura coat from NMWA in a kind of dusty wine corduroy – lower price point and very casual but an extremely good look.

Rob

Manish – just do the bins and recycling you big old softie. I think your wife will love you more in the long-run. Best wishes, Rob

Oliver

Universal works do a nice tweed chore jacket. Its a great idea as you get the joy of tweed without the stuffy associations. They are also great to throw on and offer improved movement over a blazer.

Dan

I love my Drake’s chore. I got it in the heavy Japanese linen in burgundy. But… I also got it for $300, their full prices are kind of out of control.

TCN

I want to like chore jackets, truly I do, but am I the only one who thinks they just don’t look that great? I mean I just don’t think they’re that flattering on these guys (or anyone). I used to lust after an Arny’s Forestiere jacket, until I finally decided while it was indeed a “look”, it wasn’t a good one.

Chris S

Beware: The Drakes heavy suede chore coat is indeed decadent on the hangar but after buying one, I immediately sold it because the sleeves are not lined and until you try it on with a long sleeve shirt you won’t realize how annoying it is to put your arms into it without making the the second step of having to reach up your cuffs to pull your sleeves back down. The un-lined sleeves are simply very uncomfortable to wear with a shirt as the shirt fabric does not move well inside/against the unlined suede sleeves. Drakes/and the Armoury please make a more elevated chore coat with at least a half lining and lined sleeves.

Bob M

I have read elsewhere that tailoring is becoming less prevalent and especially so in smaller towns. My tailor will be visiting soon and I was all set to commission a tweed jacket for use in my small college town. It’s not an insignificant investment for me.
Is this a trend that I should seriously consider instead? I have a French chore jacket which I use quite a lot, almost as a uniform.
Any thoughts? I know it’s a personal decision but I’d hate for fork over a few thousand for a bespoke jacket if it’s going to be not received well by the local denizens.
Help!

Bob M

I wear a bespoke Navy blazer for receptions and going out for a nice dinner. No problem. Faculty (like me) typically wear a step up but not a ridiculous step up compared to students (which are mostly slobs).
Suits would definitely stick out – tailored or rtw. As a university town, probably 90% of men wear jeans or chinos. I don’t think a tweed jacket with patch pockets will be perceived as anything other than a casual jacket. But I am aware that menswear is accelerating in its drive towards casual.
I recently purchased the navy donegal as an overcoat and while it’s different that the synthetic wear the kids wear, it hasn’t raised an eyebrow at all. (And, it’s nice to dress different to all the others anyway.)

Winot

A very nice article – thank you Manish – though bad for my bank balance. Off the back of it I have bought the Zegna steel blue chore and a Drakes Games Blazer (and matching trousers) in olive corduroy.
The Drakes products are lovely but they really need to get their website sorted (or simplify their range). They have Mark I and Mark IV Games Blazers (amongst other offerings) which no clear explanation that I could find of the difference. And when you search for one colour you can’t easily switch to another, or easily find matching trousers without searching separately for trousers.
As a result I tried on what I think was the green Mk I in the Savile Row store but they didn’t have my size; I then ended up buying the olive Mk IV online which I think has a baggier fit. Anyway everything has now sold out so I’ll stick with what I’ve got.

Manish

Hi Winot
Thanks ever so much!
Yes, it’s certainly not the easiest thing to keep track of! Olive cord sounds like a great choice though.
I’d love to hear how the Zegna chore works out for you. I really liked that particular colour and fabric! A little like washed denim but with a much more refined texture.
Have a great weekend!

Brian

Hi Manish & Simon

Do either of you, or your readers have any experience of the Aldford cord Chore Jacket sold by Trunk?
Thanks, Brian

Pete

Hi Simon
I understand you have the AS handwoven chore.
Am I right to say it has abit or black in the herringbone?
Can this be paired with say black cords and black shoes?

Markus

I recently bought the PWVC Maker’s Jacket, a chore coat, in navy. Great quality and very versatile with a nice subtle Japanese herringbone weave. Watch out for sales at half price m.

George Warner

Railway Jackets from Flax London are worth a look. Made from linen there is a midweight for Summer and heavyweight for Winter
https://flaxlondon.com/pages/jacket-collection

BC

I’m straining hard to find an unstructured coat that I can wear instead of a sports coat for going out, likely with denim or maybe with something slightly more dressy. It seems that the Lazyman would work for that purpose, but I haven’t seen one in person. Could it serve that purpose? In a winter weight, can it be worn under outwear? What other offerings will work for that purpose, particularly in a spring/summer fabric (the Lazyman spring/summer styles are a bit flamboyant for me, and the tobacco seersucker is bit too earthy)? Maybe an Armoury no. 7 in linen? Would appreciate your advice; I’ve been looking for something appropriate for a while.

Daniel

Hello Simon

I have been wanting to pick up a chore jacket for fall/spring in grey; mainly because I neither have chore jacket or any jackets in that color.

https://www.ralphlauren.co.uk/en/burnham-hand-tailored-wool-jacket-100034000.html?dwvar_100034000_colorname=Medium%20Grey%20Melange
I noticed Ralph Lauren had a really nice one this season I am thinking of purchasing. Do you think it would be casual enough to work with jeans? Would love your thoughts!

Daniel

Hello Simon,

Thanks so much for the replies. Do you think it could go with the PS tapered tees; or a bit too smart for those?

Aaron L

Been waiting go for to the green LEJ chore to restock – and it came in and sold out while I was asleep 😭

Manish Puri

Hi Aaron L

I spoke to Luke and the green sold out unbelievably quickly.

I’m guessing you’re after a 38-40? That size is still in stock in the sand colour and white and green is expected back later this year 🤞🏾

Aaron L

Thanks Manish! I’ll hang out for the restock. My little heart is fixed on a green 🙂

Manish Puri

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, and if I heard anything before release I’ll reply to your comment

Aaron L

Thanks! P.s. I blame you. It’s all because you made it look too good!

Aaron L

Hi Manish, Luke has found a return for me, so no need to keep me in mind for future updates. Thanks so much for your offer of help!!

Guy W

Aaron, I emailed LEJ a few weeks ago to reserve the green Plage coat and Luke kindly obliged. I presume he’d be happy to do the same for you for any restock.

Aaron L

Hi Guy!
He just put aside a return for me (which is now winging its way to New Zealand). Hooray!