Consider Yourself A Shopper #37: What comes after the barn jacket?
A few housekeeping notes:
This will be my final newsletter of the year, so the next time you’ll hear from me will be the first week of January. I hope you all have a safe, joyful, and celebratory New Year! You can check out my Year in Review here, where you’ll find links to all the newsletters I’ve been featured in this year (If you’ve featured me and I missed including you, please don’t hesitate to let me know—I’ll happily update the list! ).You’ll also find a roundup of the top three posts from the year.
Lastly, a quick reminder: the giveaway with Sophie James Wine is still open! You can enter here, and to ensure that you are entered to win comment below or DM me what you’re looking forward to in 2025! Sophie and I will compile the entries and select the lucky winner from that group!
Let’s enough with the logistics, onto the meat and potatoes.
To shatter the fourth (or fifth—or whatever) wall separating us, dear reader, my brain has been simply mush. The holiday season’s relentless energy has turned December into an endless loop of Fridays, compounded by the dizzying chaos of moving. Yes, Nick and I are bidding farewell to the mountains—though we’ll always have Phoenicia Diner.
Amid this frenzy, I’ve gone into a sort of sartorial hibernation. Shopping has been on pause (sort of… I must confess I did buy cropped leather pants from the Fforme sale😬 but also 😃 ), and when it comes to getting dressed, I’ve streamlined my wardrobe to about 20 go-to pieces—a makeshift “capsule” to see me through the holidays, the move, and the first week of settling into our new space. Still, of all those pieces, this outfit has been the one that I keep going to. And when temperatures drop below 10 degrees, I throw on a VTG fur coat (If you’re in the market, I’d recommend Gramercy Thrift on 23rd & 3rd—they usually have a great selection at excellent prices.) and swap my sneakers for snow boots.
From Top to Bottom:
Muji flannel bucket hat, turtleneck (It has a touch of spandex, and while I typically recommend sizing down with Muji, in this case, I’d go down from your true size—I’m wearing a small.), and a Fair Isle sweater that immediately reminded me of something from Alex Mill.
A vintage flannel shirt that I’ve been practically living in since I got it. I’ve been on a noticeable flannel kick for about a month now.
VTG Sear Hickory Stripe overalls, which I first mentioned here, were a purchase inspired by the extraordinary stylist Brandon Tan, who styled them for GQ. I recently got them hemmed, and now I never want to take them off.
Stoffa leather and suede sneakers—sleek, understated, and endlessly versatile (I would size down).
The only thing currently in my shopping cart is a new coat (though I have my eye on this ring too—but let’s be honest, that’s more of a pipe dream):
The sight of my possessions sprawled across boxes, bins, and suitcases makes the idea of adding to the piles mildly nauseating, yet a few items have still managed to capture my attention.
One thing that is truly occupying my mind these days (okay, besides some irresistible knits and this wacky footrest) is the Lemaire Short Bathrobe Duffle Coat, It’s been on my radar for months! The coat's duffle style creates a relaxed, roomy silhouette, and the raglan sleeves, which position the shoulder seams lower on the arms, further enhance its comfortable fit. (So though I am typically a FR 40, I can fit into the 38 perfectly!)
One of the most distinctive features of this coat, and duffle coats in general, is the toggle closures. While most iterations include a hood, this one does not—a subtle deviation that creates a more streamlined look. The true standout, though, is the belt. I’m obsessed with belted coats; they add a certain louche feel that’s impossible to resist. Naturally, I’ve been scouring every corner of the internet and saving it to my Carted app, which alerts me when it’s back in stock, goes on sale, or—heaven forbid—sells out. Because this coat is the moment!
What comes after the barn jacket?
If I were to highlight one piece of clothing that defined 2024, it would undoubtedly be the barn jacket. According to LTK, searches for "barn jackets" skyrocketed by 1,000% over a three-month period. The barn jacket first caught my attention with Loewe’s SS23 rendition, which rendered the classic silhouette into a trapeze style. Then came Prada’s SS24 show, where distressed barn jackets with leather collars were styled alongside fringe and sequined pieces—a striking combination that became my tipping point. It sent me straight to eBay in search of a vintage J.Crew number.
The barn jacket's surge in popularity can also be tied to the growing fascination with the "old money" or "quiet luxury" trend, as well as the prevailing notion of nostalgia that has captivated both brands and the industry. But as 2024 winds down and we prepare to step into 2025—a year many hope will usher in a return to opulent glamour or at least something more vibrant than beige—I find myself wondering: Where do we go from here, and what options exist beyond the barn jacket?
At a recent Shabbat dinner, someone mentioned a new brand called Foris, launched by a friend, that focused on fishing apparel. When I took a quick look at the brand after the dinner, I found a selection of graphic tees, fleece beanies, and baseball caps—practical items for the sport. However, when I spoke with founder Colin McElroy, he shared plans to expand into cut-and-sew shirts and pants by spring 2025. Based on the teaser photos on their Instagram, the upcoming collection appears to seamlessly blend fashion and function.
A few weeks later, Pinterest released its "trends for 2025," and among them was the "fisherman aesthetic." At first, I’ll admit I scoffed at the idea. But then I began to recall all the nautical-inspired pieces I’ve released this year alone. These include my recap of the men’s FW24 shows, the “Beach Slob Chic” look I tried channeling this summer, and most recently, "The Wrong Jacket Theory," which focused on pairing causal outerwear and rain jackets—often associated with fisherman, especially in bright yellow—with more formalwear. Futhermore, as I began combing through my saved Instagram posts and wishlists, I realized I had unintentionally curated a wardrobe that perfectly embodied the aesthetic: Aran sweaters, enough boat and deck shoes to outfit a small fleet, and, most importantly a possible successor to the barn jacket- the duffle coat.
If the barn jacket symbolized rugged, rustic charm, the duffle coat refines that ethos- it’s preppy but not precious, functional but undeniably fashionable. In a world hopefully moving past "quiet luxury" into something more considered and enduring, the duffle coat’s balance of tradition and modernity makes it a fitting choice. ( If you’re still in the market for something similar to the barn jacket’s silhouette but with a nautical touch, I’d recommend checking out fireman clasp jackets. And if you have the $$$, Loewe has one that’s absolutely stunning.)
Likewise, the fisherman aesthetic could represent a natural evolution of the "old money" style. It thrives on timeless pieces that signal taste and purpose without excess, combining rugged practicality with an understated elegance that feels both nostalgic and modern.
When I asked McElroy what he thought it meant if the trend caught momentum he said, “I think it reveals that the outdoors is gaining interest in everyone’s lives. People want to escape the 9-5 and immerse themselves in nature.” When I followed up with him to ask whether this immersion in outdoor activities—and the pieces associated with it—was more about an interest in a certain aesthetic, he replied “People love to show off what they’re into,” he explained, “even if they don’t actually get to be in woods all the time.” He also connected the look to bigger conversations around environmentalism, adding, “I think with climate change and environmental degradation in the media, people are learning that conservation and mindfulness practices in producing goods are what will keep our environment healthy, and this boosts the whole outdoor style identity.”
On a deeper level, this cultural fascination with the fisherman aesthetic—and the symbols tied to it—could also be tied to something more mystical. When I reached out to Carmen Hoffert, founder of the jewelry brand Carm.N, which frequently incorporates sea motifs (most notably fish) into her designs, she observed, “The fish motif has become increasingly prominent in 2024, and it’s no surprise. Fish have long symbolized friendship, harmony, and happiness—qualities that feel more essential than ever in today’s uncertain world.” Perhaps, as we step into a year brimming with economic and cultural uncertainties, this burgeoning interest in fishing—or even just the aesthetic of it—suggests something deeper. Perhaps gravitating toward styles and symbols that evoke abundance and optimism serves as a kind of balm, and maybe, just maybe, we can find that sense of fulfillment tucked into the folds of a duffle coat.
Happy New Year!
JJ
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Happy new year, Jalil! Fisherman vibes, eh? I think I’ll pass, ha ha. I do think the duffle coat will be a practical and long lasting addition to your wardrobe, buy it! 💕😁
Already got myself a duffle in the sales and have also been eyeing some rain boots...