Shop the best transeasonal barn jackets from Sézane, Dôen, Ganni, Patagonia and M&S …

Ushering in an Irish summer means becoming highly-skilled at layering. With the weather unpredictable at best, and involving torrential rain at worst, then a great barn jacket is a no-brainer.

Shooting to popularity when Prada showed a selection of barn jackets in its SS24 collection, high street and mid-range iterations of the lightweight coat went viral last year. The jacket is still a favoured choice for SS26, especially for those seeking an edgier look than that offered by a traditional trench. Why do we love a barn jacket? It’s got a boyish tint, thanks to the chore coats which originated as workwear in the 1920s (it helps that Monty Don wears his with aplomb), plus it has an enjoyably bucolic undertone: shrug one on and it’s hard to tell if you’re popping out for a coffee or potting some seedlings (perhaps, joyfully, it’s both).

That being said, our favourite way to wear a barn jacket is to juxtapose it with feminine pieces: velvet Mary Janes, ruffled blouses and pretty printed dresses all make for a perfect contrast to its utilitarian flair.