Barbour’s Take on This J.Crew Classic Looks Better Than Ever

Since its 2019 introduction, the Barbour x J.Crew Barn Jacket has become one of the American retailer’s most coveted items.

The jacket blends the best parts of both brands, and it has sold out and reappeared just enough times to stoke the scarcity factor. But one color has been missing since the initial limited-edition debut almost seven years ago, and it’s finally back.

J.Crew

To be honest, it has been so long since the waxed cotton Barn Jacket was offered in navy blue that I forgot the option ever existed. Now that it’s back, it’s hard to believe that J.Crew and Barbour haven’t kept in the annual rotation, because it is beautiful.

As much as I enjoy Barbour’s olive green Sylkoil waxed cotton, especially paired with the light-brown corduroy on the cuffs and collar, the Barn Jacket unquestionably looks better in full navy blue.

J.Crew

Navy is the most versatile color available, which is why it makes the best jackets. It is the most popular option for Barbour staples like the Bedale and Spey because it is as complementary as the fabric is durable.

Shades of dark blue work so well for waxed cotton because the fabric develops a patina much like denim. The deterioration and collection of wax on the surface create whiskers and creases, much like fading indigo on jeans.

J.Crew

J.Crew didn’t mess with a good thing. The only changes made to the revived navy blue Barbour Barn Jacket are visual tweaks on the inside. It is lined with a new tartan pattern and features the vintage 1980s J.Crew logo tag positioned below Barbour’s.

Best of both worlds

J.Crew’s Barn Jacket and Barbour’s Bedale are like transatlantic counterparts, representing the farm-to-city cultural crossover of the 1980s for America and Britain, respectively.

The 2019 mashup combined the best parts of both jackets to form a nearly perfect hybrid. Barbour applied its superior fabric and hardware to J.Crew’s time-tested blueprint.

J.Crew

The shell is made of Barbour’s four-ounce Sylkoil waxed cotton with hearty cotton corduroy lining on the collar, pockets and cuffs. The wood buttons from the original Barn Jacket design are replaced with Barbour’s solid brass snaps, and a two-way zipper is added.

J.Crew brings the overlapping pockets, a signature design feature of the Barn Jacket. Notably, the vertical hand-warmer pockets from the Bedale are added, bringing the total exterior pockets to six, plus one more on the inside.

J.Crew

On the back, the pleated shoulders of the Barn Jacket offer far more mobility than the raglan shoulders on a Bedale.

Availability and pricing

Declaring the Barbour x J.Crew Barn Jacket in navy blue the best jacket available from either brand would be a bold statement, so I’ll let you make that call for yourself. But it is unquestionably near the top in both cases.

The navy blue version is finally back in stock, sold exclusively by J.Crew for $425. The olive green version is still available as well.

J.Crew

Barbour x J.Crew Barn Jacket in Navy

• $425 at J.Crew

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