J.Crew’s Trademarked Jacket Looks Too Good to Retire After Winter Ends

J.Crew updated one of its most beloved designs to handle the warmer months.

the collar and shoulders of a man in a brown jacket

Published February 26, 2025

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Updated February 26, 2025

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J.Crew literally owns the barn jacket. Its design is so distinctive and foundational that the United States Copyright Office actually granted the brand a trademark on “Barn Jacket.”

a man in a brown linen barn coat — The Barn Jacket in linen is a perfect warm weather layer.

Semantics aside, no one can argue that J.Crew hasn’t earned preeminence over this particular outerwear category. The New York retailer has been producing the design, defined by the distinctive overlapping pockets, pointed corduroy collar and adjustable cuffs, since 1983.

Dozens of colors and patterns have come and gone over the years, predominantly in a tough cotton canvas that has lent the jacket its reputation for durability. There have been some beefed-up examples in waxed canvas, but J.Crew has just released a rare lightweight Barn Jacket in a linen fabric.

The other half of the year

J.Crew’s Barn Jacket is a masterpiece of aesthetic and functional versatility. The look is simple enough to wear with almost anything but distinct enough to never get boring.

a man with a brown linen J.Crew barn coat — J.Crew’s Barn Jacket in line is only available in a mahogany brown.

A corduroy-lined collar, four large external pockets and durable construction make it useful for everything from maintaining a barn to commuting to work. It is light enough to wear in the fall and heavy enough to layer up in the winter.

The only time of the year that the Barn Jacket didn’t really fit in was the late spring and summer. Once the temperature outside tops 80 degrees, that hearty canvas is too warm.

JCrew-Classics-gear-patrol-Barn-Jacket — J.Crew’s classic 1983 Barn Jacket.

That’s where the new linen version comes in. The body of the jacket is made from 100-percent cotton linen that sheds some weight and enhances breathability.

The trademarked look

Besides the fabric, everything else about the linen Barn Jacket matches the iconic standards. It has the same slightly-baggy fit that drops just below the waistline.

the bottom half of a brown linen barn coat — The Ban Jacket has two sets of overlapping slanted patch pockets on each side of the front.

The standard Barn Jacket looked best over a flannel shirt, roll neck sweater or hoodie. This version pairs well with a linen button down, polo or plain white t-shirt.

the back of a J.Crew barn jacket — J.Crew’s Barn Jacket has a slightly slouchy fit.

Thanks to the neutral dark-brown color, the linen Barn Jacket fills a wide range of uses. It can serve as a casual blazer alternative for evenings out and be a versatile stand-by for brisk summer nights.