Field Coat Fall

Where to find a plus size barn jacket

I don’t know who to blame for it, but autumn 2024 seems to be Field Coat Fall. I’ve been fully sucked into this trend—maybe because I lived most of my life in New England so field coats don’t really feel like a trend. Despite weather in the west hitting record highs—Albuquerque temps are still in the upper 80s and 90s—I just can’t stop thinking about barn jackets.

I know I’m the only one. Cereal Aisle told us to buy one 6 months ago. I have seen a lot of people talking about the $3000 version from The Row and a much cheaper (yet still startlingly expensive) $900 one from Toteme. I would have a hard time justifying either of those prices—if they even came in my size, which they do not.

This style’s sudden popularity has me thinking more about what it even means to be coveting a barn jacket. I really appreciated Viv Chen’s essay on the resurgence of the J. Crew aesthetic and whiteness. And I loved Sarah Shapiro’s history lesson and helpful chart differentiating between chore/barn/army/field/ coats. Something interesting about this trend is that wearing one definitely reads as “rural,” but it seems like it can either go in the wealthy Barbour jacket direction or the more working class Carhartt direction.

Field coats are not a new trend, but they also don’t seem to be a trend that the usual plus size go-to stores (Universal Standard, Lane Bryant, Torrid) are onto yet. So I have been doing a lot of research about where to get one, and also considering what I already own.

Are you participating in field coat fall? Are you swooning over barn jackets or maybe just confused by everyone else’s lust?

Below the paywall you’ll find:

• A list of all the field jacket-adjacent coats currently in my closet

• What I’m still looking for to round out my coat closet

• Links to barn jackets that are available in size 3x and up

• Links to some good vintage options and brands to look for

Let’s Start With What I Currently Own