I’ve always liked the idea of the chore coat.
Three patch pockets. A French workwear heritage. A jacket designed to be used rather than admired. It’s the kind of garment that earns its place by being useful, which is exactly why so many men have started wearing one.
What I wanted to know was what happens when you blend it with a sport coat.
This is our answer.
Starting With the Cloth: Japanese Seersucker
Everything starts with the fabric. We made this version in a green seersucker from Japan.
Seersucker is casual by nature, which suits the chore coat. There’s also something in it that echoes denim, and the indigo blue of the original French work jackets, even though ours is green. It has the relaxed character of workwear without looking like a costume.
What We Kept: The Patch Pockets
The three patch pockets are the best part of the original, so they stayed. They’re practical, since you can put almost anything in them, and they give the jacket its identity. They also make it easy to wear in plenty of different ways.
What We Elevated: The Formal Details
The things I wanted to change were the formal elements. Here’s what we did.
The collar. A traditional chore coat buttons all the way to the top. We rolled the collar back as if it were a lapel, so the jacket reads closer to a sport coat.
The buttons. There are three. One is hidden under the lapel and the jacket rolls onto the second, the same way we build our sport coats.
The side slits. Instead of back vents, which you’d find on most suits, we added small slits at the sides. They look like a vent, but when you want to put your hand in your pocket they slide open.
None of these changes is dramatic on its own. Together, they move the jacket from workwear toward tailoring.
Where It Fits in a Wardrobe
A lot of men own plenty of casual clothing and a few very formal pieces, and very little in between. The tailored chore coat is built for that gap.
It isn’t super casual and it isn’t super dressy. You can wear it to work over a dress shirt or a good sweater, with dress trousers or with jeans. That flexibility is the point of the piece.
It Doesn’t Have to Be Seersucker
We made this one in seersucker, but because everything we do is custom, the cloth is yours to choose. It could be grey or navy. It could be flannel if you want to winterize it for the colder months.
The fabric changes the character of the jacket more than any other decision. Seersucker is breezy and casual, and flannel is warmer and more settled. Both are right for the right person.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a chore coat?
A chore coat is a boxy, utilitarian jacket that began as French workwear, traditionally recognised by its patch pockets and a collar that buttons up high. The French version is often called the bleu de travail.
What’s the difference between a chore coat and a sport coat?
A classic chore coat is built for utility, with patch pockets and a closed collar. A sport coat is tailored, with a lapel and a more structured, formal construction. A tailored chore coat blends the two.
Can you wear a chore coat to work?
Yes, if it’s tailored. A chore coat with a rolled collar and a softer, more refined construction works over a dress shirt or a good sweater, with dress trousers or jeans.
What is seersucker?
Seersucker is a lightweight cotton fabric with a slightly puckered texture, traditionally associated with warm weather. Ours is a green Japanese seersucker.
What are side slits on a jacket?
Side slits are small openings at the sides of a jacket, used in place of back vents. They look like a vent but slide open easily when you reach for a pocket.
Can a chore coat be made in other fabrics?
Yes. Because we’re a custom tailor, a chore coat can be made in almost any fabric. Grey, navy and flannel are all good options, especially for fall and winter.
Where can I get a custom chore coat in Toronto?
At Mr. Cavaliere’s studio at 63 Jarvis Street. You can view the product online or reach out to design your own.
A chore coat has the usefulness of workwear. A sport coat has the polish of tailoring. This jacket is meant to hold both, in a piece that fits between casual and formal.
If you’d like to design your own version, reach out. I’m happy to help.
About the Author
Jonathan Cavaliere is a custom tailor based in Toronto, Ontario, specializing in Neapolitan-style soft tailoring. With over 13 years in the menswear industry and the title of Canada’s Sharpest Man, he has been featured on Breakfast Television Toronto and has helped hundreds of men build wardrobes that work harder and last longer.
