Harry Styles + The History of the Chore Coat
The Chore Coat was first developed in France during the 19th century, and was commonly worn by laborers, farmers, and railway workers & engineers. Made from a heavyweight, sturdy cotton drill or moleskin- known in France as Toile de Chine. The fabric was dyed the distinct blue color using a French Benzoate based blue dye- purpose selected as it would hide the dirt and stains from daily work. As the jackets became more and more commonplace, they were referred to as “bleu de travail,” translating into “blue work.” For my fellow Americans, this is very similar to how "Blue Collar Jobs" was started here in the States. The pockets were designed to be large enough to hold everything that the wearer would need to complete their task, and the cut of the jacket was loose and boxy, to better fit over overalls and other workwear.
The jackets were often repaired and passed down through generations, as it was a sturdy, well made functional coat.
By the 1880s, the jacket had made its way to the United States, and versions were made by various workwear brands, including Levi Strauss (They called it a Sack Coat)
By the 1960s, the jacket was being worn in the film industry, as seen on actor Paul Newman in the 1967 film, Cool Hand Luke.
Famous Fashion Streetwear Photographer Bill Cunningham was often photographed wearing a blue chore coat up until his death- indeed, it was almost synonymous with Bill Cunningham. Cunningham appreciated the functional design of the coat, as it allowed him to carry all of his camera accessories needed- especially as Cunningham frequently traversed New York City via Bike (much like someone else we know)
Today, the jacket is seen as a smart casual piece, especially amongst the creative set.
Harry appears to own several different Chore Coats, and while you can purchase them in various colors today, he appears to prefer the traditional blue color.
